tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18862674.post5153179980677825440..comments2024-01-12T00:24:35.544+01:00Comments on St Bloggie de Riviere: Ecole/SchoolSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195684182481935384noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18862674.post-1710695940058663082006-11-27T16:14:00.000+01:002006-11-27T16:14:00.000+01:00I don't deny, Richard that there are some very fin...I don't deny, Richard that there are some very fine associations in towns and villages. However, I have to take Wednesday afternoons off to ferry them about, and I am lucky I can do this. Some workplaces are not so flexible.<br /><br />Schools have a ready-made source of potential sporting teams and creative groups. School competitions were one of the highlights of my school career.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13195684182481935384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18862674.post-50923498531752954122006-11-27T15:25:00.000+01:002006-11-27T15:25:00.000+01:00It seems to me that to consider the small élite En...It seems to me that to consider the small élite English private schools, as ‘the English system’, is misleading since it only represents a very small percentage of the population. They do provide excellent education, but you have to remember that the resources are much greater per pupil. The boarding system has quite a few drawbacks and is not favourable for the stability of family units. <br /><br />The French private system is open to all. The agreement made between the private sector and the state is that in exchange for following the national curricula they receive their prorate portion of the taxes. If you are poor you finish up paying nothing. Private schools are increasingly favoured by parents because they are reputed to be better for discipline. Though since they are open to all, they have the general problems of society as well. Some public schools are excellent; the most famous Lycée in France, Henri IV in Paris, is public. As always it depends on the area. My children went to both public and private; I can’t say I noticed much difference.<br /><br />Certainly for English people the lack of extra curricula activities in the schools needs adapting to. Debating societies, sports, music are not part of school activities. As Ségo said recently it would be nice for the teachers to spend more time in the schools and perhaps supervise additional activities. But then it will be necessary to have additional resources, when not teaching the teachers are not inactive. They are preparing lessons and marking tests. If they are not in the school it is probably because they have nowhere to work.<br /><br />The children do no not lack facilities for the non academic activities. Near my home there are excellent facilities for the children t to learn all manner of activities. My children did football, rugby, tennis, swimming, riding, squash, orientation, scouting. Sports facilities are marvellous and there is excellent coaching available. Each year all the associations hold a fair in the village hall where you can find out what is going on.richard of orléanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17916405768158186733noreply@blogger.com