French children don’t go to school on Wednesdays (!?)

One interesting fact I learned on my recent trip to Paris was that French children don’t go to school on Wednesdays. Which, if you’re American (or any other nationality, for that matter), sounds completely ridiculous. But if you’re French, apparently it’s perfectly normal (expected, even) to get a day off after TWO days of school. 

I confirmed this with a couple Frenchies in Paris, and also with a French coworker in my office just yesterday. Below was how our conversation went.

Me: Hi Gerard.

Gerard: Hi. How’s it going?

Me: Splendid. So I’m really curious…you grew up in France, yes?

Gerard: Yes.

Me: Did you go to school on Wednesdays? 

Gerard: You mean for elementary school? No.

Me: Wow. That’s crazy. You do realize that’s not normal, right?

Gerard: What do you mean?

Me: Um…nobody else in the WORLD does this. Everybody goes to school on Wednesdays.

Gerard: Really?

Me: Yes.

Gerard: Like for the whole day?

Me: Yes.

Gerard: Poor kids…they don’t get a break, huh?

I found our interaction rather hilarious. And I’m still incredulous that French children need a break in the middle of the week.

* Full disclosure: So they do make up for it (somewhat) by going to school on Saturday mornings, but that’s beside the point.