Bruno Le Maire's Plan to School Children from Age 1 Sparks Criticism
Listen to the story
French politician Bruno Le Maire has made a new proposal about school. He wants children to start school from the age of one.
Currently, children in France start maternelle, a form of pre-primary school, at the age of three. Le Maire's idea would move this start much earlier.
The proposal has caused strong reactions. Many professionals who work in early childhood care have criticised the plan.
One person said that at the age of one, this cannot really be called a school. This shows how much doubt there is about the idea.
The SNPPE, a group representing early childhood workers, also responded strongly. They said early childhood should not become a cheap, low-quality version of school.
The plan has been described by critics as 'completely absurd'. This word shows that many people think the idea does not make sense at all.
So far, no other details about the proposal have been made public, such as how it would work in practice.
The story shows a growing debate in France about how young is too young for school, and what early childhood care should really look like.
Vocabulary10 words
- maternelle
- school in France for very young children before primary school
- professional
- someone with training who works in a job
- proposal
- a plan or idea someone offers publicly
- criticise
- to say something is bad or wrong
- absurd
- very silly; without sense
- early childhood
- the first years of a child's life, from birth
- representing
- speaking or acting for a group of people
- low-quality
- not good; poor in value
- debate
- public discussion where people disagree
- reaction
- how people respond to something
Quiz
Answer key
1. Starting school at age one 2. A group representing early childhood workers 3. With strong criticism
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
French politician Bruno Le Maire has made a new _____ about school.
He wants children to start school from the _____ of one.
Currently, children in France start _____, a form of pre-primary school, at age three.
Many _____ who work in early childhood care have criticised the plan.
One person said that at the age of one, this cannot really be called a _____.
The SNPPE, a group _____ early childhood workers, also responded strongly.
They said early childhood should not become a cheap, _____ version of school.
The plan has been described by critics as 'completely _____'.
So far, no other details about the _____ have been made public.
The story shows a growing _____ in France about how young is too young for school.