Et oui, c’est encore la rentrée (des classes). (And yes, it’s back to school time!). This year, les élèves français (French students) across the country returned to leurs études (their studies) le lundi, 2 septembre (Monday, September 2).

Mais avant / But first (before)

Back to school (la rentrée) means back to school shopping. Chaque année, les parents reçoivent une liste de fournitures scolaires à acheter pour leurs enfants (Each year, parents get a list of supplies to buy for their kids). In addition to les crayons à papiers (pencils), les stylos (pens), and les feutres (markers) (not to mention la trousse/the pencil case to put them all in), parents will need to buy un cartable (book bag/satchel) et les livres pour chaque matière (and the books for each subject). 

While expenses for the little ones have gone down, according to this report, parents of older children (les collegiens / middle-school kids) can expect to pay as much as 361 €.

Une rentrée moins gaie / A less happy ‘rentrée’

In some parts of France, towns without enough élèves (students) have been forced to close their schools and combine classes with other rural towns with few students. It’s difficult both for the towns and for the parents, some of whom have their kids going off to different towns during the day. For those responsible though, combining classes is a way to save jobs and to keep up the quality of local schools.

Qu’en pensent les Français? / What do the French think?

A recent poll conducted by Ifop for Sud Radio (Radio South) of 1,010 Français revealed leur opinion (their opinion) of the current (and former) ministres de l’Education nationale (ministers of Education). Selon l’étude (according to the study), the French are divided over their current ministre, Jean-Michel Blanquer (41% pour, 51% contre / 41% for, 51% against), mostly along party lines.

Of all the former ministers, Jack Lang (2000 – 2002) is the most popular with 57% of those interviewed having de bonnes opinions sur son action (favorable opinions of his actions).

Photo from www.pexels.com [CC0].