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$Unique_ID{COW01360}
$Pretitle{416}
$Title{France
Basic Values, Religion}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{French Embassy, Washington DC}
$Affiliation{French Embassy, Washington DC}
$Subject{french
million
research
part
interest
life
national
country
education
every}
$Date{1990}
$Log{Stained Glass*0136001.scf
}
Country: France
Book: The French Today
Author: French Embassy, Washington DC
Affiliation: French Embassy, Washington DC
Date: 1990
Basic Values, Religion
[See Stained Glass: Courtesy French Information Service, New York.]
An acute sense of solidarity often concealed under an outward appearance
of selfishness, a strong feeling for religion (80% of French people are
Catholics, 800.000 are Protestants, 650.000 are Jews and 400.000 are of the
Moslem faith), a passionate love of justice and liberty are among the
principal traits of the French, who believe in great and good causes and are
ready to champion them.
They are prompt to act when these values are threatened.
1789 represents a living symbol for the people of France, motherland of
the Rights of Man and which, today, is the country of asylum for 165.000
political refugees. In 1989, the service of peace, the protection of nature
and help for the under-privileged are high on the list of French priorities.
Whether they are believers or not, the French play an active part in the field
of humanitarian aid to alleviate the sufferings of their fellowmen. The work
done by the organisation of the Abbe Pierre, by "Medecins sans frontieres",
"Medecins du monde" or the "Restaurants du coeur" founded by the late comedian
Coluche are examples of this aid. Voluntary effort and help are ever to be
found in all fields and at all levels.
Education
In 1987, there were 2.400.000 three-year-olds attending nursery school.
School attendance is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 16. Free, compulsory
secular education has existed for over 100 years.
At the same time, the Constitution recognizes freedom in the matter of
education and 17% of pupils attend private schools (98% of which are
catholic).
After the primary school comes the secondary school cycle leading to the
baccalaureat, the examination which marks the final stage in the lycee. Every
year, some 245.000 lycee pupils pass this examination, i.e. 67% of candidates.
On leaving the lycee at the age of 16, some pupils follow vocational
courses whereas others, the bacheliers, enter higher education and attend
university or one of the establishments known as the "grandes ecoles".
Admission to university now takes place on a more democratic basis than
in the past. Registration fees are low and there are today five times more
students than there were 20 years ago. Of the 970.000 university students, 13%
are foreigners. As for the grandes ecoles, they have about 110.000 students,
admitted by competitive examination; some of these schools have long been well
known internationally, such as the Ecole Polytechnique (the renowned higher
engineering school) for example. The ENA (Ecole Nationale d'Administration)
and the Ecole Normale Superieure train students many of whom will later fill
some of the highest posts in the country.
The memory of the events of May 1968 is gradually fading but young people
continue to take an active interest in the problems of education and in the
tailoring of courses to meet the changing needs and challenges of society and
of the economy.
The young men learn also to defend their country. One year's military
service is compulsory from the age of 18. Every year, about 260.000 young men
are called to the colours to serve in one of the armed services. Others may be
assigned to civil defence or to cooperation and technical aid duties abroad or
in the French overseas departments and territories.
Working Life
France's human resources constitute her essential wealth, her driving
force and her strength.
The working population of 24 million (of whom 10 million are women)
represents 43% of the total population and is divided mainly between
agriculture (7%), industry (32%) and services (61%).
In the course of the last 30 years, the social and professional scene in
France has changed extensively.
First of all, women have considerably strengthened their position. Access
to certain posts - above all at the highest level - and to certain trades and
professions is still far from easy for them, but the rising generation will
doubtless witness the gradual disappearance of remaining differences. Women
predominate in the business and the services sector where they represent 58%
of wage earners.
Another important change has transformed the traditional picture:
wage-earners now make up 85% of the total working population.
The French, like their neighbours, are having to cope with the question
of unemployment, which affects 10% of the working population, and with the
problems of adaptation arising out of the current industrial restructuring
and technological transformation. Help for conversion, recycling and
vocational training are matters of growing importance and interest to the
French.
Money, Success
Lower inflation (a rise of 3,7% only in 1987) and a rise in purchasing
power have changed the attitude of the French in regard to money. Indeed,
they remain faithful to their habit of saving but they no longer hesitate
to dip into savings in order to invest.
The French devote most of their resources to improving their standard
of living and level of comfort. Over 50% of them own their own home and many
own a second home.
If savings show a downward turn in France in 1988, that does not mean
that money is not being "put to work". On the contrary, the rising level
and pace of consumption have led people to seek a higher return than that
provided by the traditional savings banks. The French have discovered the
stock market. The privatisation of large enterprises, coming after the
nationalisations which took place at the beginning of the 'eighties,
aroused tremendous interest and the public became fascinated. Thousands of
shares were sold in record time and many small shareholders became investors
for the first time in their life.
They also discovered that dealing on the Stock Exchange can entail risks
as well as profits...
Communication
The French have always enjoyed discussion and debate and the richness
of their language is, in this respect, very significant.
All the information media play a fundamental part in the daily life of
the French.
Television occupies a dominant position, having the highest daily
impact thanks to the 6 existing channels to which are soon to be added
broadcasts by D.B.S. Over 28 million television sets and 3 million video
recorders are in use.
Radio is ubiquitous: 73 million radio sets and car radios keep the
French well tuned in!
One out of every two Frenchmen reads a daily newspaper chosen from
among the 85 national or provincial dailies available. The real "stars"
of the French press are the weekly and monthly magazines, the specialized
reviews and the radio and T.V. magazines which have some of the widest
readerships.
The French are also keen on the new means of communication which
enable them to converse on the screen of a computer terminal. The Minitel
videotex is already used by some 4 million subscribers.
In the field of communication, advertising naturally plays its part.
Viewed as a means of information and as a form of spectacle, it entertains
or irritates but seldom fails to attract the interest of the public which
does not, however, allow its critical sense to become blunted.
To communicate is also to participate. Contributing to the life of the
community, taking an interest in the political evolution of the country are
other ways of communicating.
The age of majority is 18 and the various municipal, legislative,
presidential elections and referendums mea