Rise of French Laïcité - Paperbackby Stephen M. Davis (Author) Americans are often baffled by France's general indifference to religion and laws forbidding religious symbols in public schools, full face veils in public places, and even the interdiction of burkinis on French beaches. An understanding of laicite provides insight in beginning to understand France and its people. Laicite has been described as the complete secularization of institutions as a necessity to prevent a return