Are the little Frenchies all stupid addicted to screens? Their reading level is regularly criticized and the subject is often wielded (and distorted) by politicians eager to win over an audience concerned about their offspring’s future.
However, if the numerous figures that appear each year reveal many gaps, they could be related to the learning methods applied in France since the 1970s.
Can French children read well?
In 2018, PISA (International Program for Monitoring Learning) ranked France 26th (out of 70) in the reading comprehension section. This result dilutes the idea of a catastrophic national school level, even if strong inequalities remain across the territory since according to official data, only 53.4% of CM2 pupils have the reading level required to access sixth grade.
It is up to the Ministry of Defense to identify the achievements of adolescents during appeal days: among them, in 2020 77.3% knew how to read correctly. educated in France.
When learning methods are controversial
The causes that can explain these shortcomings are numerous and do not always go in the direction of a downward leveling of a population accustomed to screens (cliché, hello). The method of teaching reading, which has been widely applied since the 1970s, is now being questioned by the authorities. This so-called “global” method is based on the recognition of certain words and on visual memory, rather than on the deciphering of syllables, then considered too rigid. However, according to the Scientific Council for National Education, the global method would be unsuitable for children’s cognitive abilities, and would lead to learning difficulties. It would even prove detrimental to young allophones, who are not exposed to these selected words on a daily basis.
Today teachers can choose their teaching materials and almost all of them combine syllabic and global methods. Sometimes in spite of them. The freedom to choose one’s own support is quite relative and depends above all on the material and means available. Indeed, they often have no choice but to use available textbooks, whether or not they meet the new educational recommendations.
Communicating instructions is good. Giving teachers the means to apply them and support their students would be even better.
Photo credit image of one: Getty Images
Source: Madmoizelle
Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
