Protesting, Debating, Biting Your Lips and Eating Your Heart Out
People were out today protesting against a recent decree made by French President Hollande to add hours to kindergarten and primary school schedules by announcing half days on Wednesdays. Wednesdays have long been the day off for schools and the day when students participate in extra-curricular activities. The school hours the rest of the week are 8:30am - 4:30pm. And there's a 2 hour lunch break in there. One article I read said that on average French children spend about 850 hours a year in class which is more than other European kids who spend about 750 hours a year at school. By comparison the average in the USA is 950 hours. I mulled all this over as I watched the protesters file past. That's pretty much all I could do as they proceeded down major streets and intersections and the bus lines were interrupted.
It's Mardi Gras but the only evidence I saw of it was a tiny sign on one of the candy store windows. The other window in the shop was devoted to Valentine's Day. But what with issues like the addition of school hours, the Pope stepping down and the big "marriage for all" debate, no one has time to have fun. Take this exchange in the French National Assembly last week between the Minister of Justice, Christiane Taubira and Christian Jacob, leader of the UMP in the National Assembly (you don't have to speak French to get the point, which is : this debate has been a hot mess) So, I need to calm my nerves and look for signs of Cupid (or as they say here Cupidon). Picard, my favorite frozen food chain, is offering something besides the expected flowers and chocolate...lip shaped appetizers anyone?...
Or maybe some chocolate fondue with hearts made out of a cake in a variety of flavors...
Oh, if I were there I think I would be a lobbyist for the people protesting against more school hours. I truly believe they are right in their fight. My children had their childhood robbed from them due to too much school and homework. The famous John Rosemond wrote an article basically stating that parents just need to stay out of it and not complain. Really? I think his children have been grown for too long and he has lost his grips with what it takes to be a kid in school today. I drop my youngest off at 7:00 - 7:30 each morning. School dismisses at 3:35 in the afternoon. He then has ONE activity and arrives home around 7:30. He barely has time to eat and shower before it is already 8:30. That is when he is supposed to begin his 2 (sometimes a whole lot more) hours of homework.
I have been blessed by very independent, hard working children. Still, they had little time for fun. I was told that fun was not what school was about. True, but then where is it! FIGHT TO THE DEATH!!
2 comments:
Oh, if I were there I think I would be a lobbyist for the people protesting against more school hours. I truly believe they are right in their fight. My children had their childhood robbed from them due to too much school and homework. The famous John Rosemond wrote an article basically stating that parents just need to stay out of it and not complain. Really? I think his children have been grown for too long and he has lost his grips with what it takes to be a kid in school today. I drop my youngest off at 7:00 - 7:30 each morning. School dismisses at 3:35 in the afternoon. He then has ONE activity and arrives home around 7:30. He barely has time to eat and shower before it is already 8:30. That is when he is supposed to begin his 2 (sometimes a whole lot more) hours of homework.
I have been blessed by very independent, hard working children. Still, they had little time for fun. I was told that fun was not what school was about. True, but then where is it! FIGHT TO THE DEATH!!
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