Why French children don’t throw food: Columnist Jessica O’Gara discovers

As a primary school teacher – I was thrilled to get an insight into exactly how primary schools operate in France compared to what I was used to. And the differences are many.

Before we relocated, I read a really interesting book called ‘French Children Don’t Throw Food’ by New Yorker Pamela Druckerman. She had her three children in Paris and gave a very entertaining take on Motherhood in Paris, as well as an insight into the structure of the school day in France.

In Ireland, in most cases the parents get to decide whether to put twins in the same class or not. When Ronan enrolled our older three kids in July 2013, he requested our twins to stay together, so that they would have some comfort in each other in a strange environment. But when we arrived at school on the first morning they had been put in separate classes! I asked the ‘Directrice’ who swiftly brought me into her office and categorically told me that in France, the school decides and, well, basically not to question it!

In hindsight, she was probably right, as they’re now completely independent of each other, and they each have their own friends. They had to learn to speak French a lot quicker too.

So, what exactly are French schools like compared to Ireland?

Well, Primary school is divided into two sections in France – the Maternelle for 3-5-year-olds and the Elementaire for six -ten-or-eleven-year-olds. The age that a child starts school depends on the calendar year they were born instead of the month. My three-year-old boy, Zac who was born in July 2012 has just started in the ‘petite section’ of the Maternelle, but some children in his class won’t turn three until December – they’re still babies, really!

Every day they take a little siesta for an hour in a dormitory in the school. My little fellow doesn’t nap anymore, so I actually bring him home for the afternoon instead.

Some children as young as three stay in school until 6pm as there is a ‘Garderie’ (after-school) in every school to mind them until their parents finish work.

There’s also a canteen in every school in France, which makes life so much easier for parents – no scrambling to make school lunches every morning. Add to that, the children get a wide range of French cuisine that includes a cheese course and plenty of baguette on the side. The menu is posted outside the school for all the parents to see, and it’s great fun reading what’s on it each day, and then getting the children’s description of what they ate that day! It’s super-healthy plus they aim for a well-balanced diet – they even tried snails once!!

I’m still waiting for the frogs legs to feature…

And then there’s the after-school activities, which cost very little. Parents just fill out a form selecting activities for each child – Molly goes to English after-school classes and loves them, Rua does yoga and delights in showing me how flexible he is.

Having taught and experienced the education system in Ireland, I can still firmly say the education system is of a great standard, but the Irish could certainly take a little leaf out of the French school’s books. I’m not sure if Irish kids would go in for snails for lunch, but a healthy lunch as standard and after-school for all wouldn’t be too bad at all, would it?

School-time today in Paris for the O’Gara’s!

Jessica O’Gara is a mother of five, wife of retired rugby player Ronan and a primary school teacher. She lives in Paris in a suburb outside the city centre. 

Join her for more ramblings on raising a brood in France.