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So I will present the main advantages of the French educational system, that I believe to be great, and then I invite you in the comments to start a discussion about it and to compare it to the one of your country !
Plurality : The main thing on which the French is different from the others is that from the beginning to the end of the mandatory cycles, you have a very complete education. You of course have History, French, English, Maths, but also Physics, Sciences of Earth and life, Philosophy, a third language (either Spanish or German in general), civil Education, Sport, Music and Art. You can add options as well. This plurality, even if the more you progress you can decide on classes than will be more about Science or about humanities, last until your baccalaureate, the final exam in high school. I had around 10 tests for example ! While this plurality doesn't allow you to truly choose the things of want to study in depth, you do have a broad understanding of things. I do think it's better, university is the time for exploring in depth a subject, but before that, you should be exposed to the maximum of things to understand the world better and have all options opened to you before the university.
Secularism : So, it's might be what French schools are the most known for, but the rules and the reasons why are not fully understood. the goal is to assure to the children that they all share a common culture at school. Secularism (or "Laïcité") is not an opinion, it is the freedom for everyone to have an opinion regardless of where they come from, an not have an opinion imposed on them. Personally I think that in theory, this is a very great idea, but it need to be applied and explained correctly. It procures the children the chance to mix and not be separated on the basis of their religion. Children believe what you told them, and the school should not encourage religions of any sort. They still get an education about religions, but they are not shown in public spaces, as religion, for the French educative system, is supposed to be private.
Neutral and Free education : I put these two things together even if they are not the same because the are universal values I think should be applied to all schools. The education in France is neutral, that means that while we do get a basic political and philosophical education, it is never told us what to think or which opinion is the best. In fact, when we have to write about a philosophical question which supposed a political opinion, the best grades are the ones that consider all the opinion and question all of them, rather than the one defending one position only. I remember one of my teacher getting in trouble when I was 10 because she tried to explained to us the difference between the right and the left in politics but it got personal.
And the Education is free, now that is a personal believe I guess, but I think that if there is one thing that should be the priority of the state, it is to give a free and neutral education to everyone. If there is one thing that can guarantee a better society, it is this. How can you start to do anything if not all the person in your society had a long and great education first, free of all non-scientific knowledge ?
Now, I know all this points are debatable, so please tell me what you think in the comments and I can give more information or debate my position !
