French And The French Education System

Many differences exist between the French and the American education systems: from academics, to the school schedule, to the structure of the system itself. Three levels of schooling that exhibit the most differences include daycare or preschool, primary education, and secondary education. Compared to the American education system, French education places more emphasis on attending daycare or preschool, the importance of studying foreign languages and the arts as part of the core curriculum in primary school, and the opportunity for specialized study and career development in secondary school.

In the French education system, educators place a greater emphasis on children attending daycare or preschool before reaching the age of six. Many parents send their children to daycare provided by the city, known as crèche, from as young as three months old. Most of the time, crèche only accepts children whose parents work full time. It does cost money to attend crèche, but most of the time the city subsidizes these fees. If not, the amount of money a family pays for crèche depends on one’s family income. The ability for a child to attend crèche is so competitive that parents begin searching for enrollment opportunities once mothers become pregnant (About-France.com). Once children in France reach three years of age, most children attend nursery school, known as école maternelle, although children are not required to attend school until the age of six. During this three-year period, children progress through three levels of nursery school: Petite Section, Moyenne Section, and Grande Section (French Property). These classes consist of a “state-mandated curriculum” that provides students with a solid foundation of concepts that teachers buil...

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...itutions, most students prepare to receive their Certificate d’Aptitude Professionale or their Brevet d’Études Professionelles, which makes them fully qualified to work full time (French Property).

In conclusion, French education differs from the American education system starting at an early age. The French education’s heavy emphasis on learning before the age of six gives younger students a solid foundation for the work that will be expected of them further in their academic career. In addition, the importance of studying foreign languages and the arts in primary school gives students a well-rounded education with information that is useful in their day-to-day lives. Finally, the opportunity for students to gain work experience and have the freedom to study the areas of their choice during secondary education seeks to better equip these students for the future.