French Children Rejoice! At Least For Now...

Recently from the Washington Post:

'...French President François Hollande has said he will end homework as part of a series of reforms to overhaul the country’s education system...He doesn’t think it is fair that some kids get help from their parents at home while children who come from disadvantaged families don’t. It’s an issue that goes well beyond France, and has been part of the reason that some Americans oppose homework too.'

Even granting the idea that some children are put at a disadvantage by not receiving the same attention at home as others do, it must also be true that the best way to deal with this isn't by having teachers teach down to the lowest common denominator. For undoubtedly that is what would need to happen under a truly egalitarian approach were no one to receive outside tutelage. On second thought, perhaps that is exactly what the socialist Hollande is striving for...

While many French students may embrace the notion of free afternoons, it is also true that being afforded less opportunity for self-study and actualization under the guiding presence of a parent will stifle many who may otherwise have gone on to achieve success, but who will now be relegated to the proverbial dust-bin in relation to more competitive global colleagues. Therefore, free afternoons aside, many may come to regret this in the long-run.