Figure 1.--Catholic schools prepare the children for their First Comminion (Communion Solenelle ). This is a portrait of the boys doing First Communion at the Patronage Jus Saint Louis.
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Figure 1.--Catholic schools prepare the children for their First Comminion (Communion Solenelle ). This is a portrait of the boys doing First Communion at the Patronage Jus Saint Louis. |
We do not have a great deal of information yet on French school activities. Most of the images we have been able to find are class or school portraits. We also have a few classroom and playground scenes. We have been able to find fewer images of school activities beyond academic classroom scenes. We believe that this is in part a reflection of the nature of French schools. The French school system is highly focused on academics. We know far fewer extra-curricular activities than Americans associate with school. We do not notice the same programs for dance, music, sports, and other activities. One factor limiting school activities is that students, at least at the secondary (lycee) level received a substantial home work load leaving less time for extra-curricular activities that American students have.
Most of the images we have been able to find are class or school portraits. We also have a few classroom and playground scenes. We have been able to find fewer images of school activities beyond academic classroom scenes. We believe that this is in part a reflection of the nature of French schools. The French school system is highly focused on academics. We know far fewer extra-curricular activities than Americans associate with school. We do not notice the same programs for dance, music, sports, and other activities. One factor limiting school activities is that students, at least at the secondary (lycee) level received a substantial home work load leaving less time for extra-curricular activities that American students have. One aspect of French schools that we do see is religion. At least at Catholic schools. Hopefully our French readers will provide us some information on French school activities.
Scools in the19th century often featured drill as a form of exercise and discipline. This continued into the 20th century when modern physical education programsd were developed. We do not see drill in American and British schools much after World War I (1914-18). Drill sees to have continued in French schools somewhat longer. Here afactor seems to have been that many French chools lacled gyms or sports field. French schools appear to hsve been more narrowly academic than American and British schools.
One aspect of French schools that we do see is religion. At least at Catholic schools. The Catholic Church has played a major role in French education. We do not, however, have a good understanding of the role of the Church in French schools. The earliest schools were run by the Church. Theis changed during the Revolution when the Church as part of the Ancien Regime was attacked. I am not sure what
happened in French schools during the Revolution and Napoleonic era, but of course there was not yet a well developed state school system. With the fall of Napoleon, the Bourbon monarchy restored the position of the Church. We know little about schools in this era, but presumably they were again controlled by the Church. We do not know to what extent the role of the Church in education changed during the reign of Louis Phillipe and Napoleon III. After the disastrous French
defeat in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71), the new French Third Republic instituted major reforms, including important reforms in education. We do not yet have details in these reforms, including the role of the Church in schools. By this time France had established a major state education system. In many European countries, religion was taught in the schools. We are not sure about France.
We know that a variety of special events were heald at French schools. We do not have a lot of information yet about these events. We do know that the end of the school year was edspecially important. Each class seems to have put on a skit or performance of some kind. We note that in primary schools the children dress up in fanvu coxtumes, especiallyh the younger children. We do not yet know a great deal about other special events at French schoolls.
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Main Chronology Page]
[The 1880s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
[The 1980s]
