New french president plans to ban homework

French President François Hollande has proposed banning homework as part of a series of policies designed to reform the French educational system. "Education is priority," Hollande said in a speech at Paris's Sorbonne University. "An education program is, by definition, a societal program. Work should be done at school, rather than at home."

But after President François Hollande's latest education announcement, their British counterparts will really have good reason to be envious. Mr Hollande has said he will ban schools from giving their pupils homework as part of a series of reforms to overhaul the country’s education system.

Cutting homework is just part of an effort aimed at making primary and secondary school a happier, more relaxed place for children. The school week will be lengthened — currently, French children have Wednesdays off — but the school day will be shortened. Kids get out so late here there's no time for extracurricular activities.

In 2012, President Francoise Hollande of France proposed banning homework for all primary and middle school students, which was roundly ridiculed by The Wall Street Journal. In the same year, a school in Germany decided to actually do away with homework for students in grades five to nine.