High School From Exchange Student Perspective: France v. America
Being a French student at The Galloway School is a unique experience. I arrived just a few days ago, and the disparity between the school system here and the French educational system is immediately noticeable.
Firstly, the way they organize schedules is quite different. In France, we stick with the same classes throughout the year, following a set schedule from September to June. It was surprising to find here that my timetable is based on a rotating schedule of subjects, depending on "blue" or "gold" days. What's even more surprising is that we're placed in classes where the ages differ depending on the subjects we choose. In France, subjects are predetermined, and we're grouped solely by age.
Additionally, our class sizes in France consist of 35 students each, whereas here we're only about fifteen. This is intriguing because it allows teachers to better address their students' issues.
The kindness of the teachers has also left a mark on me. Here, the teachers genuinely seem attentive; we take walks in the hallways to clear our minds between lessons. In France, teachers are very strict; we have rules for everything. At the beginning of the year, we receive a handbook outlining all the school's regulations. Moreover, if we misbehave, teachers note it down, and we must have our parents sign it to acknowledge our wrongdoing.
Galloway doesn't enforce any dress code; they just want their students to wear shoes (even flip-flops are allowed). Girls stroll around in mini-shorts paired with crop tops. People come in pajamas and slippers, and sometimes even bring blankets to school. Here, the number one priority is comfort, well-being, and practicality. Nobody carries a handbag; instead, they have huge backpacks where they stash everything. They always carry a massive water bottle with them instead of having just one glass of water at lunchtime. In France, we have a very strict dress code that requires skirts/shorts to be below the knees, and no exposed midriffs or tank tops allowed. We're not allowed to wear ripped jeans or sportswear. French people are too focused on their own aesthetics, often investing all their money into clothing. Here, they take pride in wearing the school-provided attire. In France, we aren't given clothes with school logos.
Another significant difference is sports. When doing sports in the US, the goal is to become an athlete. At Galloway, we have two hours of sports every evening, and it's only for those who want to participate. Where I live, we have two hours of mandatory sports per week; otherwise, we do sports outside of school. Most young people don't engage in sports because our school day ends at 5 p.m.
The disparities between Galloway and my school are numerous and intriguing. I really enjoy living here because it allows me to compare two very different cultures.
By Emma Charfas