The French educational system has many facets that relate to diversity; however, the three most prominent factors are social class, age, and religion. The French educational system is also taking many steps to improve diversity within the system. There are many qualities of the French school system that play a positive role in there society. However, their standardize testing system is one aspect American school systems should look into incorporating into there scheme. Though there are many positive traits in the French schooling, along with minor glitches that make it less than perfect.
A student's social status can often determine the quality of the education a student will receive which in turn will define social classes in France. For example, the working class is often placed in schools with less prestige than those of the upper class. The segregation of the working class students and the upper class students is due to discrimination. Discrimination is often portrayed by the instructor who unfairly uses social ranking to evaluate a student's performance; therefore, students of opposite social classes, who have shown the same academic performance, will have different chances of receiving a positive orientation. The more positive reaction is often shown to the student in the superior social class. The teachers are more apt to support people of a higher background and recommend them to a prominent school rather than recommending those students of a less prominent class. .
In France, a generation gap vaguely exists. A majority of children and parents agree on important topics such as religion, morality, and politics. However, two major generation gaps exists in the children's school lives and their entrance into the work field. At school the age gap has caused numerous violent episodes to occur. Vallis-Russell writes, "out of a total of 75,000 schools, 39 have been listed as seriously violent, and 300 as moderately violent" (1).
