This is Alex's third week at school. The first week was a bit rough--he didn't want to go and shuffled his feet and pouted the whole way there and then wailed when we left him. This week was much better! It's hard to know how things are going--there are 30 kids registered in the class and it's all a bit chaotic during drop-off and pick-up.
Public school in France is quite different from Alex's preschool last year in Charlottesville. First of all, basically all parents walk their kids to school and most actually go into the building to the door of the classroom. It's nice to see parents with their kids and particularly nice to see such a large number of fathers doing the morning duties.
Public school in France is quite different from Alex's preschool last year in Charlottesville. First of all, basically all parents walk their kids to school and most actually go into the building to the door of the classroom. It's nice to see parents with their kids and particularly nice to see such a large number of fathers doing the morning duties.
Second, the school schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 8:30 - 11:30 and from 1:30 - 4:30. We pay an extra fee for Alex to stay during lunchtime, but can only do so because we provided documentation that we both work. Most schools have a daycare center associated with them so kids can stay until 6:30 if the parents work; unfortunately, ours does not. There are no classes on Wednesdays. Luckily we've found a babysitter from Ghana who has two boys close to Alex's age, but I just don't understand what most families do. I guess since most French only work 35-hour weeks, there's some flexibility. Something tells me, though, that this strange schedule is difficult for working parents--state support or not. I leave work early twice a week to pick Alex up and Roque picks him up the other days. Don't know what we're going to do during the long and frequent vacations (2 weeks in fall, 3 weeks at Christmas, 2 weeks in winter, and 2 weeks in spring).
Third: diversity, diversity, diversity. The school is like a little United Nations, with kids and parents of all colors and nationalities and linguistic backgrounds. I regularly hear English, Spanish, Italian, German, Arabic, Russian and other languages. Grandparents who are obviously from the "old country" are also quite visible.
Fourth, things seem quite flexible at the school. I don't know of any rules so far (although I can't say for sure that there aren't rules that I am already breaking). Alex's class went on a field trip to the circus in Geneva yesterday and I forgot to bring his passport. I wanted to run home and get it (we're just around the corner), but the teacher told me not worry "on va essayer" (we'll try) to pass the border without it. Imagine that in the U.S. However, having said that things are flexible, I have to admit I found it odd that we had to buy liability insurance for Alex. It's only $25 a year, but you have to have it in case your kid rides his bike and causes an accident or she needs to get psychological services because she is bullyied or the school bus has an accident, etc.
Fifth: the kids sure ain't gettin' hot dogs and french fries for lunch. They have a proper five-course meal, beginning with their starter (paté, tomatoe salad, etc.), followed by a main course with meat and vegatables, and then two courses of fruit/cheese/yogurt. I'll have to copy the menu one day--it's all so French.
Third: diversity, diversity, diversity. The school is like a little United Nations, with kids and parents of all colors and nationalities and linguistic backgrounds. I regularly hear English, Spanish, Italian, German, Arabic, Russian and other languages. Grandparents who are obviously from the "old country" are also quite visible.
Fourth, things seem quite flexible at the school. I don't know of any rules so far (although I can't say for sure that there aren't rules that I am already breaking). Alex's class went on a field trip to the circus in Geneva yesterday and I forgot to bring his passport. I wanted to run home and get it (we're just around the corner), but the teacher told me not worry "on va essayer" (we'll try) to pass the border without it. Imagine that in the U.S. However, having said that things are flexible, I have to admit I found it odd that we had to buy liability insurance for Alex. It's only $25 a year, but you have to have it in case your kid rides his bike and causes an accident or she needs to get psychological services because she is bullyied or the school bus has an accident, etc.
Fifth: the kids sure ain't gettin' hot dogs and french fries for lunch. They have a proper five-course meal, beginning with their starter (paté, tomatoe salad, etc.), followed by a main course with meat and vegatables, and then two courses of fruit/cheese/yogurt. I'll have to copy the menu one day--it's all so French.
