FRENCH PRIMARY SCHOOL: WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM IT?

The article presents experiences from the visit to a French primary school (L'école élémentaire). Education of six-year old children is discussed as well as their life at school. It is also considered why the Lithuanian “Good School Conception” functions perfectly in that country, while in Lithuania this does not happen always. The goals of French primary school are to develop learner independence and responsibility; to develop their observation, curiosity, creativity; to develop communication skills; to help a child to develop physically. The core of the primary school curriculum includes civic education and lessons of “discoveries“. The author of the article discusses the variety of learners' activities in the classroom, the teacher's work and issues of work organisation, learning environment. It should be emphasised that primary learners discover the scientific truths through experimenting, development of motor skills and creative imagination as well as reflections. The teacher's activity is directed towards development of the learner's personal ability to reason, evoking of the learner's interest in science, learning of living environment as well as perception of space and time.