"Compulsory Schooling" Despite the Law: How Education Policy Underpins the Widespread Ignorance of the Right to Home Educate in France. Issue 3 (2nd July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bongrand, Philippe
• Is Part Of: Journal of school choice. Volume 10:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 320
• Page End: 329
• Publication Date: 2016-07-02
• Subjects: education policy -- France -- homeschooling -- social production of ignorance; School choice -- United States -- Periodicals; School choice; United States; Periodicals; 370
• DOI: 10.1080/15582159.2016.1202071
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1558-2159

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Everyone in France takes for granted the existence of compulsory school attendance ("école obligatoire") while home education remains very exceptional. Yet school attendance is not, and has never been, legally compulsory in France. How can one explain the fact that the right to home educate is little known and practiced? This article researches how public policies may foster this widespread ignorance. Drawing mainly on archival records of French Parliament debates about compulsory instruction in 1882, 1936, and 1998, it depicts various ways for lawmakers to contribute to this ignorance.