AMERICAN AND FRENCH SCHOOL SYSTEMS COMPARED: A SEARCH FOR THE IDEAL EDUCATION
Rachel D. Smith Abstract Students know no other schooling system than the one which they attend. As a result, they conflate the concept of “education” with their own experience. They do not learn from the school systems of other countries. With only this limited understanding of what education is and can be, students cannot think critically about their own education. Educators, psychologists, and policy makers find themselves in a similar situation. Seeking to expand this restricted view of education, I compare and contrast the American and French systems of education using my own experiences in the American classroom. Introduction Educators, psychologists, and policy makers are always searching for the way to provide students with the “best” education. They engage in research, consult with teachers, and review standardized test results. But they often forget to look beyond their own countries’ borders. As a..