It’s back-to-school (la rentrée) this Tuesday where guidelines from the French Ministry of National Education govern what and how students are taught across the country. The goal is to ensure that everyone has the same learning opportunities from 1st grade through high school graduation. While the expected topics—languages, math, science, and art, for example—are all there, one curriculum might surprise you: Moral and Civic Education. Overall, the intention is to explain what it means to be a citizen, keeping in mind “an idea of the public good that transcends individual interests.” And now, that includes animals.

A law was passed in 2021 (aimed at combating animal mistreatment), which mandated that “the principles of respect for and defense of domestic animals” be taught in schools. Teachers are provided with the overall concept to be covered, the teaching content, and even ideas of how to approach a learning situation. When talking to elementary age children about Equality and Responsibility and teaching respect, an educator could introduce extending that respect to pet animals, for example. An older audience, learning about democracy and voting, would understand animal rights as a campaign issue for candidates running for elected office.

Respect for the environment is a fundamental value for the French, who learn about the living creatures that inhabit the planet starting with the cat or dog found in many households. By recognizing a pet’s need for care and attention, students develop an empathy that naturally extends to the rights and well-being of their fellow humans.

The French Moral and Civic Education curriculum is built around three main concepts designed to turn students into informed, active citizens. Here’s a summary:

Concept	Focus	What students learn
Respecting others	Empathy & rules	the importance of rules, secularism, and rejecting discrimination
Acquiring values	French Republic	the French motto (Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité), national symbols, and human rights
Building a civic culture	Action & judgment	Critical thinking, learning how to debate respectfully, and understanding how to vote & engage in community life.

From what I’ve read, by including the protection of pets and domestic animals in the curriculum, the French Ministry of Education aims to prevent abandonment, reduce cruelty (animals are sentient beings, not toys), and foster responsibility (obligations come with pet ownership). I liked this analysis: “Combined with the curriculum’s focus on equality and civic duty, this addition suggests that a healthy democracy begins with empathy. By teaching kids to care for the vulnerable, France is cultivating citizens who don’t just follow rules, but who actively practice the responsibility and kindness needed to sustain a community.”

Photo notes: All photos today come from our local animal shelter, la Société Carcassonnaise de Protection Animale, thank you.