France's Dirty Little Secret

In an article in the NYT on Friday, the current problems of universities in France was explored. At one point the article concluded that French universities are “overcrowded, underfinanced, disorganized and resistant to the changes demanded by the outside world.” One observer concluded that the reason American higher education is among the most admired in the world and our K-12 system is among the most criticized is that higher education in this country thrives because of competition.

One can look at US higher education and think of a thousand ways to improve it but the description of a typical campus in France in the NYT article does not sound like an American university. “Only 30 of the 100 computers in the library have internet access. The campus cafeterias close after lunch. Professors often do not have office hours; many have no office. Some classrooms are so overcrowded that at exam time many students have to find seats elsewhere. By late afternoon every day the campus is largely empty.” Doesn't sound to me like a center of enlightenment.