EDUCATION IN

FRANCE
B Y. J O S E P H C O M A R E L L A A N D A A L I YA H
M C G R AW

INTASC STANDARD #2: LEARNING

DIFFERENCES
Brief Description: This project is about education in a culture outside of the United
States. It begins with basic information about the country, France, and advances to a
more in depth comparison between school systems.
Rationale: To document my understanding of InTASC Standard 2, Learning
Differences, I have selected to include a PowerPoint presentation and short speech
because it is an effective way for me to present the information that I have learned to
my colleagues. By conducting research on the education system of another country,
it aids in not only learning differences, but in future job opportunities. It is important
to know what the school system is like in other countries because you may teach or
have a student from there. By researching, learning, and presenting, you are able to
be sensitive to every students needs as well as remain well informed in the field.

COUNTRY
Geography:
Land- 640,427 sq.
kilometers
Water- 3,374 sq.
kilometers
Climate- Cool winters,
mild summers
Natural ResourcesCoal, iron, fish, gold
deposits, clay
Natural hazardsFloods, avalanches,
hurricanes, volcano
eruptions
Located in Europe

Government:
Conventional Long
Form- French Republic
Conventional Short
Form- France
Government TypeRepublic
Capital- Paris
French ConstitutionOctober 4, 1958
Executive Branch
-Chief of StatePresident
Francis
Hollande (May 15, 2012)
-Head of GovernmentPrime Minister Valls (April
1, 2014)
(president can be elected

The People:
NationalityFrenchmen/man,
Frenchwomen/wo
man (adjectiveFrench)
Language: French

COUNTRYS FLAG (THE TRICOLORE)

Adopted February 15, 1794
(2:3 ratio)
Established as the France flag
after French Revolution of
1789
Colors represent liberty,
equality, and fraternity
White- The clergy
Red- The nobility
Blue- Bourgeoisie

CURRENCY
Currency Name- European
Union Euro
Subcurrency- Cent
Division- 1 Euro= 100 Cent
Symbol-
Currency Codes- Alpha: EUR,
Numeric: 978
Denominations
-banknotes: 5, 20, 50, 100,
200, 500 (Euro)
-coinage: 1, 2 (Euro); 1, 2, 5,
10, 20, 50 (Cents)

ENTERTAINMENT
Sports- Football (American
soccer), Cycling, basketball,
handball
Festivals- Festival of the Pig,
Mardi Gras Festival, Cannes
Film Festival
Museums: Musee du Louvre,
Musee dOrsay, Aquarium La
Rochelle
Tours: Eiffel Tower, Cathedral
Notre-Dame ole Reins, Loire
Valley, Disneyland Park Paris
Music: Bagpipes, accordion,
classical, modern, jazz

RELIGION
Predominantly Roman
Catholic- 80%
Muslim- 10%
Protestants- 2%
Jews and Buddhists- 1% each
No Religion- 4%
Other religious groups
throughout France include
Christians and Mormons

POPULATION
Population: 66, 259, 012
(Metropolitan France and
5 oversea regions); 62,
814, 233 (Just
Metropolitan France)
Growth Rate: 0.45%
Life Expectancy: Male- 78
yrs., Female- 84 yrs.
Birth Rate: 12.49
Death Rate: 9.06

Age Structure

0-14: 18.7%
15-24: 11.9%
25-54: 38.6%
55-64: 12.5%
65 and older: 17.9%

EDUCATION
Structure
Timetable
Primary
Dates: Mid-SeptemberLength: 5 yrs.
Late June/Early July
Ages: 6-11 years old Days: Mon-Fri
Cost
No cost of schooling,
(sometimes excluding
Upper Secondary
Wednesdays)
but parents must pay
Hours: 8:30am-16:30pm
Length: 3 yrs.
for insurance to cover
Ages:11-15 years old (4:00pm)
risks at school or at
Grading System
school outings
Numerical Scale from 0 Vocational
Curriculum
20
Length: 3 years
20 is the highest grade Created by the French
Ages: 15-18 years old
Ministry of National
16 and above are
Education, Youth and
average
Professional
Community
10 is minimum passing
Length: 2 years
First is foreign languages
grade
Ages: 17-19 years old
and math
Below a 9 is failing
Followed by history,

ETC

National Anthem: La
Marseillaise (The Song of
Marseillaise) by Claude Joseph
Rouget de Lisle
National Bird: Rooster
National Flower: Fleur de Lis
(yellow iris)
National Day: July 14th
Transportation: Plane, auto,
subway, bus

Emergency Numbers
-Police Department:
17
-Fire Department: 18
-Ambulance: 15
-Operator: 13
Unemployment:
10.2%
Inflation Rate: 2%
Total Trade: $2.276
trillion

Workweek
Mon-Fri, Sat-Sun: CLOSED
Offices: 8:00, 9:00am-12:30pm and 2:00pm6:00pm
Banks: Mon-Fri 9:00am-4:00pm, Holidays and
Sundays: CLOSED
Government: Mon-Fri 9:00am-12:00pm and
2:00pm-6:00pm, Sat-Sun: CLOSED

RESPONSIBILITIES OF PUBLIC
EDUCATION
Provide a versatile education (Professeur des coles n.d.)
Language, math, and science
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFrb-0PQrAE
Personalization, active engagement, and application in authentic settings
(Rogers, Bertrand, & Perez, 2012)

FRENCH INFLUENCE ON AMERICAN

EDUCATION
19th Century New Education
Influence of Emile Durkhiem
French influence was inspirational, philosophical, and concerned the
importance of ideas in a cultural-political context (Paulston 1968).
Not much American influence

TEACHING LICENSURE: COMPARE &

CONTRAST
Similar to United States
Must hold a masters degree
Professeurs certifies hold CAPES (Secondary Education License)
Professeurs des ecoles (primary education) pass a competitive exam

CAREER CHOICES OUTSIDE OF THE

CLASSROOM
Teaching English abroad
ESL
Administrative work
Opportunities in France

REFERENCES:

Global Road Warrior."France: Demographic Summary."Retrieved April 21,

2016, from
www.globalroadwarrior.com.indianapolis.libproxy.ivytech.edu/#mode=co
untry&regionId=52&uri=country-content&nid=1.03&key=demographic-summa
ry
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/flags/countrys/europe/france.htm
Top Attractions, Things To Do In France. (n.d.). Retrieved April 18, 2016,
from http://opentravel.com/Things-To-Do-In-France-Attractions
Global Road Warrior."France: Government Leaders."Retrieved April 21,
2016, from
www.globalroadwarrior.com.indianapolis.libproxy.ivytech.edu/#mode=cou
ntry&regionId=52&uri=country-content&nid=1.08&key=government-leaders
Global Road Warrior."France: Religion."Retrieved April 22, 2016, from
www.globalroadwarrior.com.indianapolis.libproxy.ivytech.edu/#
mode=country&regionId=52&uri=country-content&nid=20.28&key=country-r
el-religion

REFERENCE (CONT.):
Professeur des coles. (n.d.). Retrieved April 26, 2016, from
http://www.education.gouv.fr/cid1052/professeur-des-ecoles.html
Paulston, R. G. (1968). French Influence in American Institutions of Higher
Learning, 1784-1825.History of Education Quarterly,8(2), 229.
doi:10.2307/367354
Rogers, J., Bertrand, M., & Perez, W. (2012). Finding Common Ground in
Education Values: Influential Californians Speak on the Purpose of Public
Education. Retrieved April 26, 2016.