French high school students have been blocking their schools for a week, demanding better resources, more teachers, and improved learning environments. They are also calling for a reduction in their school schedule, which they argue is excessively long—currently ranging from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on some days. The students are highlighting what they see as an unsustainable workload, which they say affects their well-being and ability to learn effectively. According to data from Eurydice, the European Commission’s education website, France leads Europe in the number of class hours per week, averaging 28 hours. This is higher than countries such as Spain, Germany, and Finland. While Spain has a higher total annual number of hours—1,058—it ends up with a slightly lower weekly average of 27.7 hours because its school year is longer. Other countries, such as Portugal, Bulgaria, Italy, and Hungary, have weekly averages between 22 and 24 hours. Finland, often cited as a model for its educational system, has a much shorter weekly schedule, with an average of 15.5 hours of class per week, based on an annual total of around 600 hours. Germany, by comparison, has 21.6 hours of class per week. These differences reflect varying approaches to education across Europe, with some countries prioritizing longer school years and others focusing on shorter, more intensive learning periods. The student protests in France highlight broader concerns about the state of public education, including poor school infrastructure, insufficient staffing, and overcrowded classrooms. Students argue that these issues, combined with the long hours, are negatively impacting their education and mental health. Their calls for reform have drawn attention to the need for a more balanced approach to schooling in the country.