My host father was a high-level government employee when he was in the workforce. His life is a political sphere: he has friends running for office, weekly outings to different departments in France, and exclusive access to some of the country's most elite gatherings. One of these get-togethers was last Tuesday. A spectacle featuring one of Paris' most beloved rappers and actors of the generation and crawling with celebrities and important political figures, the night was meant to capture the history of France through its different texts in the elaborate setting of the Assemblée Nationale. And I was lucky enough to attend.
My host father spends his free time guest lecturing at a "professional" high school down the street. This term is what we attempting Parisians like to call a "faux ami", because it translates directly to an English word yet means something totally different. In France, there are two different tracks you can take when you are in high school: the general track or the professional track. The general refers to all students who wish to attend college and pursue a career with an academic prerequisite. The professional, therefore, refers to "vocational learning", and tends to be comprised of the underprivileged student population. In France, you are sorted into these different paths early in your high school career, and from there, your life is laid out for you. Unforgiving to those who do not bode well with the school system during a certain point in time, it seems that in my opinion, the French tracking system is concrete and determinant.
My host father took his "professional" students to this event at the Assemblée Nationale last Tuesday, an impressive opportunity for them to see their representatives and legislation in person. However, these students did not seem to take much interest in the tour of the building, and seemed restless throughout the whole night. Their teacher told me personally that they don't have the desire to travel like I do during my study abroad experience, and that they rarely sign up for trips like this one if they are not required to.
Honestly, I don't blame them.
They got to see the building where change takes place, where laws are made and important government officials work. However, with a school system that decided their fate years ago, how could you be excited about that?
Last Tuesday, the performer artistically laid out the history of France for all of the spectators. The words of infamous Frenchman like Victor Hugo and Robespierre rang throughout the intricately decorated event hall, with the gold linings of the wall shining with every change in light. I couldn't help but feel a little dismayed for the students, watching academics and scholars take in every speech in this over-the-top room while they won't even be granted the opportunity to go to college. But we all sat and watched the spectacle together in the same space, maintaining the same level of poise and professionalism the whole time.