Childcare in France

No matter how good Or bad a school system is, being private or public, you cant expect it to instill a good value network of ethics. This can only begin at home.

Karen,

My problem was not with your comments, so I hope no offense was taken. I re-read your post just to make sure.

I hope that Philippe is able to locate a job in another city in the US (or at least another state) so he can compare something other than CA. He say's you must "work a lot for them (kids), otherwise you can't live in the USA" and that is just not the reality for millions of Americans.

Suzy: You are absolutely (100%) right and I stand corrected. I should have prefaced my comment with LARGE cities. And even that's not always the case.

As for public school graduates not being admitted to Harvard, that's not the case either. Qualified (stellar) public school graduates have a head start over private school students when it comes to admissions at that Cambridge, MA. institution.

These formerly rarefied schools are trying to diversify their student populations.

I hate to get into a battle of words but you've touched a subject I care about. First of all, I think anyone in the world would agree you couldn't live in CA on an income of only $14,000 a year.

But to use ONLY California cities as the examples proving that it's impossible to live in the USA on one income and send your kids to a good public school is so far out of whack. There are hundreds of towns in the US where a family can afford a house and get a good public education. There are many families in my town in New Jersey that have one income and the school system is good.

I would agree that generally private schools provide a better education than a majority of public schools, but a blanket statement that "public schools are bad" is very far from the truth in many, many places. They may or may not lead to Harvard but they certainly don't have police or metal detectors at the doors. And I'm not talking about schools in the desert, either.

I've lived in Indiana, Illinois, and New Jersey and I can tell you that there are decent public schools in all those states. I'm not blind, so I also know there are bad schools in all those states too. I just get a little upset about all-encompassing comments when a direct complaint about a specific experience was probably all that was needed.

PS Kids are not the "king of the house" and beginning adulthood spoiled and in debt when they live with parents who care about teaching responsibility no matter which country they call home.

I agree

I live in New York and I don't get the "read" that Phillipe gets about all American schools. Though I am not qualified to get into a real discourse of France vs US in this subject I don't think the issue is as cut and dried as he pictures it.

May I also say on presenting an issue of interpretation of a situation, that to say " I've been there, ergo I know" doesn't work that way. Karen and I couldn't agree on the price of lettuce in the US. If all of us agreed on what we think we see there wouldn't be a BP.

Philippe - I do not know where you lived in California, but there are many cities, and suburbs, in the US where the schools are quiet, there are no police or guns and the teaching is on par with many of the best private schools. Much of California's problem, where I have also lived, is a product of the tax revolt (cap on property taxes) in the 1970s & 1980s which resulted in less money for education. And, the US does a better job than most countries in providing quality eductaion for handicapped children.

BTW, what is the correct spelling of your name since it appears different each time.

we don't pretend teenagers or adults are better or worst because our childcare is not so bad !!!

but school are quiet, no guns, no policemen at the door

and only a parent is able to work, the other can stay at home

this, is not possible in california,

public school are very bad, and private school, very expensive in CA

if you want to have children you must work A LOT for them,

otherwise you can't live in USA... maybe in small village lost in desert lol

that's it

Philip: That is impossible in big cities in the US. However, I think you need to differentiate between big cities in France and smaller towns.

Plus, some school systems are definitely better than others.

EVERYWHERE.

However, I'd sure opt for the French system over that in the U. S.


PS - Please register!

Philip...

You're little complaisant!
I agree that this conduct would be less dramatic here (in France) than in USA. But it is growing up, alas. In my opinion, that is consequent to TV shows trivializing violent scenes.
New generations tend towards imitation of American life.

Maybe Yes, maybe NOT, BUT I am shure it makes very for happy Parents!

BP Chuck

Please access http://EXPATICA.com on the right had side of Bonjour Paris' HOME page.

It has a very interesting article:

A Guide to childcare in France

France has one of the most generous childcare systems in Europe. Does this make for better teenagers and adults?