Education in France(a)|法国教育面面观

Education in France

by William Ryan

Plagued by poor performances and threatened with burnout, students in French public schools stand on the brink of change.

　　The educational system in France is like no other. Classes are held only four days out of the week, and students have nearly two hours for lunch each day. In addition, they have more vacation time than their counterparts in the developed world. This may seem like a pupil's dream, perhaps modeled after the leisurely work pace of their parents. However, each school day lasts as long as their parents' working hours, with French workers legally permitted to work no more than 35 working hours per week. French grade school kids actually spend more hours per year in school than the average among wealthy countries, and even six-year-olds must attend class from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM. Research indicates that the ability of young children to concentrate deteriorates as the day progresses. In addition, most young students say they are tired and uninspired.

　　This situation has prompted France's newly elected government to declare that elementary school children are at risk of classroom burnout. French Education Minister Vincent Peillon is charged with the decision of how to implement the needed reform. Shortening the school day and summer vacation, along with adding a fifth day of classes on Wednesday, might seem like a logical solution except for the existence of a certain weighty tradition.

　　The mid-week break in French primary schools dates back to the 19th century, when children in predominantly Catholic France studied religion on their day off. Modern French society is secular, and Wednesdays are now for sports, music, or in the case of more affluent families, tutoring. Struggling working parents have either had to find childcare or send their kids to a state-run leisure center for the day. This all may be about to change.

法国教育面面观

由于受到差劲表现的困扰及精疲力尽的威胁，法国公立学校的学生正面临改变。

　　法国的教育系统相当与众不同。学生们一星期只有 4 天要上课，而且每天的午餐时间将近两小时。除此之外，他们的假期比起其他已发展国家都来得多。这似乎是学生梦寐以求的，而这也许是仿效自他们父母悠闲的工作步调。然而，学生每天的上课时间和父母工作的时间一样长，而法国法律规定劳工每周的工作时数不得超过 35 小时。事实上，法国的小学生每年待在学校的时间比起那些富裕国家的平均时间都要来得长，而且就连 6 岁的孩子都必须从早上 8 点半上课到下午 4 点半。研究指出，幼童的专注力会随着时间而下降。此外，大多数年幼的学生表示他们很疲倦而没有精神。

　　这种情形使得法国新当选的政府宣称小学生正处于在教室精疲力尽的危险当中。法国教育部长文森．佩永受命决定如何实施必要的改革。缩短上课及放暑假的时间，还有增加每周第 5 天，也就是星期三的课程，这些似乎是除了某些有力传统的存在之外最合乎逻辑的解决方案。

　　法国小学在星期三休息的作法可以追溯至 19 世纪，当时法国是由天主教占主导地位，因此在休息日孩子们都要研读宗教课程。而现今的法国并无宗教信仰，因此星期三是用来从事运动或音乐活动的时刻，而比较有钱的家庭则会在这一天让孩子上家教课。辛苦工作的父母不是要找安亲班，就是要把孩子送到公立的休闲中心。而这所有的情形可能都即将有所改变。