I'm a French mom with a child in an American school. I like the school spirit, the shorter days, and the less rigid approach.

I moved from France to the US 10 years ago. My 9-year-old female was delivered in Florida, and whenever it was period to enroll her in school, I chose not to enroll her in a French school. I wanted her to cognition the American learning scheme to be part of the community.

I akin the academy soul here

What I value most concerning American schools is that they function as communities, whereas in France, they are chiefly places for scholarly instruction.

I regard how academy soul is actively promoted here. My female takes awesome pride in her school, and her favorite T-shirt features its colors. She eagerly participates in character weeks, dress-up days, and assorted entertaining events akin the color run that she never wants to miss.

I additionally value the dawn rituals in the US, including the dawn announcements and the Pledge of Allegiance. Such practices do not be in France.

My female feels deeply engaged alongside her school. She has a awareness of belonging that I never informed as a child, since my schooling focused solely on ceremonial instruction, alongside no fun activities.

Americans' academy days are shorter

At first, whenever I realized that my daughter's academy finishes at 2 pm, I panicked. How was I expected to activity at the identical time? However, formerly I organized our regular routine, I really appreciated that she had a additional compact day and additional period in the afternoons to concentration on extracurricular activities akin swimming or playing music.

Typically, in France, academy days are longer, operating from first dawn to delayed afternoon, alongside additional breaks and a longer lunch period. Wednesdays are fractional days or off days for the youngest, giving children period to act in exterior activities they may desire to obtain part in. However, there are no school-sponsored extracurriculars, and theater, music, or rivalrous sports are played in clubs exterior the academy system.

Often in the evening, I comprehend music and cheering from the football matches at the nearby elevated school, and I appearance onward to my female having this benevolent of experience. Until then, I value that her days are additional balanced, alongside afternoons dedicated to non-academic skills, equal if it method she has fewer holidays throughout the year.

School is small rigid in the US

In France, I would never see my daughter's instructor in her sleepwear for Pajama Day or her chief wearing bunny ears for Halloween. The boundaries between academy and residence are stricter there, and teachers lean to clasp a additional authoritarian position.

In the US, my female has a small ceremonial association alongside her teacher, knowing particulars concerning her individual life. Her instructor is effortlessly accessible exterior category and puts important attempt into encouraging and praising her students. I'm frequently amazed whenever my female receives prizes, as this custom is not average in France. Her instructor continually finds item affirmative to express, equal if it is as uncomplicated as saying, "I akin your energy," for a kid who struggles to remain seated.

The French method is different, and teachers are small disposed to compliment. They concentration additional on correction and improvement, using a 20-point grading measure that makes a ideal mark nearly impossible. I established the letter class scheme current small stressful, alongside an A being additional attainable. Consequently, making the regard rotate is easier. This acknowledgment doesn't equal be in France, anywhere children's achievements are not celebrated publicly.

However, not everything is perfect. I additionally have a few concerns concerning the American academy system, specified as the civilization of standardized evaluation and the rivalrous atmosphere. Still, my female enjoys her school, which is a awesome relief.