Japan and France are far from each other in terms of distance and culture. Similarly, there are considerable differences in the education system. Education is very important in the future life of children. For this reason, the education system occupies an important position in every country. However, different countries have different specific educational methods.
This time, I will focus on the educational situation in France.
No Entrance Ceremony & Graduation Ceremony
In Japan, it is quite common to have an entrance ceremony in April and a graduation ceremony in March every year. The appearance of a child going to school with anxiety and anticipation on the road where cherry blossoms bloom is a typical picture of an annual event in Japan, isn’t it?
Simple new semester
By the way, in France, the new semester is September. In French, it is called “La Rentrée”, which means “return”. You may feel like you’re coming back to school. By the way, the big difference from Japan here is the presence or absence of a “ceremony”. In Japan, it is a common practice for children carrying shiny school bags in brand new uniforms to gather in the schoolyard to sing the national anthem and school song at the entrance ceremony, and the principal gives a greeting for the new semester. Then I don’t do that at all. The instructor will give a brief greeting and the class on the first day will begin. We never raise the national flag or sing the national anthem. It’s a very simple and concise new semester. Isn’t it somewhat tasteless for Japanese people who lacked the tension of their original intentions? It is admission.
Easy end of semester
Similarly, there is no graduation ceremony in France. Every June is the last month of the education period in France, but the teachers in charge of each class tell us that the semester is over, and it ends with “Hi, everyone have a good vacation!”. After that, I will go on a long summer vacation for almost two months. Unlike Japan, there is no solemn graduation ceremony that sheds tears and spares goodbye to alumni and homeroom teachers. Once again, it’s a graduation that feels uncomfortable for Japanese people.
No playground and swimming pool
Every Japanese school has a large playground and students are very active in the field, but in France, a small courtyard-like space is the playground. Moreover, it is a lonely playground that is cemented and somewhat lacking in vitality. Of course, during recreation time, children go out and play, but of course it is impossible to play baseball, volleyball, soccer, and other sports that require a certain amount of space like Japanese children.
Swimming class at the municipal pool
Of course, the pool is out of the question because the playground looks like this. Then, what is the time for physical education in France? I use the nearby municipal pool and gymnasium within walking distance. Therefore, physical education time is once a week, and even 30 minutes.
You can’t think of it in Japan, right?
France without uniforms
In French schools (public only), the lack of uniforms is quite natural and commonplace. Well, the reason is as follows.
1. Respect the individuality of children. It is truly individualistic France.
2. Will there be a difference in the cleanliness of uniforms in each home? ?? It’s a little difficult to understand, but in short, even if the uniform itself is free, the cost of washing and cleaning is the responsibility of each household. Unfortunately, discrimination is created among children in poor families who cannot even make up for it.
3. Insufficient education budget. In my opinion, this seems to be the real reason …
However, recently, there has been a movement to revive uniforms in France as well. Until 1968, in France, uniforms (blouses, simple upholstery clothes) were required even in public schools, but after 1968, wearing blues was no longer mandatory. .. However, recently, the habit of competing for branded items such as sports equipment has emerged, and the act of extortion to steal them has become more frequent, so the number of parents who want to wear uniforms has increased. By the way, even in France, some private schools are obliged to wear uniforms.
Almost no tuition fee
Compared to Japan, France is characterized by an overwhelmingly small out-of-pocket cost of education. Public schools in France have no tuition fees from elementary school to university. Moreover, even preschools and kindergartens before the age of six, which are not compulsory education, are completely free of charge with state support.
Insufficient budget
On the contrary, it can be said that the budget for aid from the French government to educational institutions is excessive. In recent years of financial difficulties, France is in the process of developing a teacher reduction policy to somehow maintain this system. So far, 52,000 posts have already been reduced. As a result, for example, the number of students per elementary school class has reached 20, the burden per teacher has increased, and there are concerns and anxieties that the quality of education will decline, and the phenomenon of transfer to private schools is increasing.
There is no cram school
In France, studying is done at school, and you rarely go to school or learn from a tutor after school. To that extent, it is the role of the parents to assist with their homework, and I feel that it is almost the duty of the parents. However, even in France, there are many homes where both parents work, and for children who have no parents when they return home or children who have parents of foreign nationality who have poor French proficiency, the new government will set up classes to assist with homework after school. I proposed a system.
Speaking spontaneously is important
How was it? It was an educational situation without a lot of “nothing”
In France, children who do not reach a certain level are mercilessly retired, but on the contrary, children who can study well are promoted more and more. However, unlike Japan, I feel that the emphasis on children’s individuality and voice is far greater than in Japan. Either way, French children are studying hard at school and at home.
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