@The Library

A discussion with author Peter Gumbel about the relative strengths and weaknesses of French schools, and what can be done to improve them.

Peter Gumbel’s book about the tough classroom culture in French schools, “On achève bien les écoliers,” shot onto the French bestseller list within a week of its publication in September, and has sparked a widespread public reaction. Gumbel, a seasoned international journalist who has worked for the Wall Street Journal and Time Magazine, has lived in Paris since 2002, where he also teaches at Sciences Po, the famed grande école.

In the book, a reported essay, Gumbel draws on international comparative studies to show that French school children as a whole are more anxious at school than their peers in Europe or the U.S., that they have lower self-confidence and have been conditioned to keep their mouths shut in class. He ascribes these traits to antiquated teaching methods, including a counter-productive marking system, and argues that they are at least partly responsible for the recent decline in France’s vaunted school system.

Gumbel will discuss his findings, the reaction to his book and the various options for changing the culture of French education. The conversation could be of particularly interest to parents with children in French schools who are interested in discussing practical measures they could take to help their children.

Learn more about “On achève bien les écoliers” and author Peter Gumbel on his website.