Laïcité? Not so much.

So France is cool because it has this thing called la loi laïc, which doesn't have a direct translation in English, but basically means a strict legal separation of church and state. No big deal, right? Same thing in the US? In theory. In the US, one isn't supposed to mix up one's religious beliefs with, say, the government. But in France it means that as far as the State is concerned, one doesn't even have a religion. One is more than welcome to practice whatever religion one pleases, but thanks-all-the-same, the State doesn't want to know what it is, or even if you do choose to practice.

Where this played out in the media in recent history was about 5 or 6 years ago in France when headscarves were being challenged in school. According to laïcité, there should be utterly no manifestation of one's personal religion while one is in a public school. Now, without getting into all of the arguements about headscarves, let's just suffice it to say that by French law, religion has no place in public affairs, like at a public school.

Except in Metz.

And all of Moselle and Alsace as well.

I had a mini history/civics/culture lesson today at school when I asked just how it was possible that religion classes are taught in all the schools around here. I've noticed this, never asked before, and just assumed that it was something like "World Religions" (as opposed to catechism). But no. In Moselle (the northeastern most of the 4 départements in the région of Lorraine) and in the département of Alsace, religion is still allowed to be taught in schools. This is because this particular patch of France (frequently referred to as Alsace-Lorraine) was once (really more than once, but that's all that matters here) a part of Germany. While Moselle and Alsace were German, religion was taught in school. When Moselle and Alsace were given back to France, they were sort of "grandfathered in" and allowed to continue teaching religion in schools, despite the laïcité everywhere else.

And in my school? Religion is optional for students (in all schools). Someone comes in a certain number of times per week and gives catechism lessons to those who have signed up. According to one teacher, he thinks it's really supposed to be more like "World Religions," but that the teachers don't have the training/knowledge/experience (not to mention interest) to teach anything other than a Catholic catechism. Also according to this same teacher, the teaching staff appreciates having religion taught purely because it gives them an extra hour to do planning/preparing, but on a moral level, they all think it's absurd. He also mentioned that it will probably go away at some point, and no one would really be upset.

About half the student at the school take religion class.