Editor’s Note: I have often wondered what exactly the law in France is about funding Catholic schools and other faith based schools. It is well known that France has a secular funded public school system many believe akin to the American system. But this survey by Angus Reid Global points to a very different reality. In that sense it both supports the funding of a multi-faith regime while maintaining a publicly funded model.

December 23, 2009 (Catholic Education, Catholic Schools)

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The vast majority of people in France still agree with a 50-year old law which allows private schools to enter into contracts with the state, according to a poll by CSA published in La Croix. 84 per cent of respondents think the Debré Law was a good thing.

The Debré Law of 1959—introduced by then prime minister Michel Debré— regulated the relationship between private and state schools. Under its terms, the salaries of private school teachers are paid by the state.

Catholic schools were amongst the most benefitted with this particular law, since they were noticeably short of funds. At the same time, the government managed to offer more schooling options to a growing population.

On Dec. 18, Éric de Labarre, general secretary of Catholic education, said the Debré Law “allows guaranteeing school pluralism while respecting the unity of the nation.”

Polling Data

In France, since the passing of the Debré Law in 1959, private schools can enter into a contract with the State so that their operating expenses are dealt with under the same conditions as public schools. Do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing?

Source: CSA / La Croix
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,009 French adults, conducted on Nov. 9 and Nov. 10, 2009. No margin of error was provided.

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