Inspired today by a talk with one of my friends on the way home (Hi N!) I have decided to write a brief informational post about the German school system. Now I'm no expert (I've been going to school for only two weeks now) but I find the different views on the matter quite interesting and the system itself is so different from the one we have in the US that I find a post on the matter essential .
Germany is a federal republic which means much like the US they have different regions that are given governmental powers to run themselves on selected matters (think states in the US), since schooling in Germany is fundamentally the responsibility of the separate Bundeslands school systems within may vary slightly . There's one thing however that's uniform throughout Germany and that's the division of schools. Schools in Germany after the elementary level (K/1-4th ) are divided into Haupschule , Realschule , and Gymnasium .
Students are divived based on "intelligence" and the teachers interpretation of where they will most likely succeed . Haupschule being the lowest for of schooling and Gymnasium being the highest. Now they are able to move amongst these levels through test and what have you and many people, however Im not sure how easy it is to move up and the fact that you are receiving a slower paced education in a lower level obviously hinders you . Students in the Gymnasium have to take an Abitur, the "Abi" is the deciding factor of college admission and it also delineates what you can study for example to be a doctor you would need a higher Abitur than you would to study for a basic degree .
Now maybe its my stereotypical unrealistic American "dreams can come true if you just believe" mentality but I dont agree with many Germans mentality that deciding "how smart" a kid is in 4th grade is okay. I know many people who have changed a great deal since 4th grade myself included . I think its safe to say that you never know who people are going to be at a young age but what you do know is if you treat a kid like he's dumb he'll eventually believe it and act that way.
Now even though I dont neccesarily agree with the system dosnt mean that its not a good system. Is it fair I'd say it isnt but many dont agree and what they have in their favor is the undeniably high level of public education Germany has weilded year after year. Due to the divisions in the school system private education in Germany s a lot less wide-spread as it is in the US , this levels the playing feild on a diffrent level. It's important that while we look critically upon the German system we dont forget the inequalities that exist in our own country even if they are caused by private investment. What it comes down to is this German schooling is divided by "intelligence" and this decision is backed by the state , wile American schooling is in most cases divided by money and allowed by the state.Obviously there is no perfect system like we exchange students have found its not good its not bad its just diffrent.
Germany is a federal republic which means much like the US they have different regions that are given governmental powers to run themselves on selected matters (think states in the US), since schooling in Germany is fundamentally the responsibility of the separate Bundeslands school systems within may vary slightly . There's one thing however that's uniform throughout Germany and that's the division of schools. Schools in Germany after the elementary level (K/1-4th ) are divided into Haupschule , Realschule , and Gymnasium .
Students are divived based on "intelligence" and the teachers interpretation of where they will most likely succeed . Haupschule being the lowest for of schooling and Gymnasium being the highest. Now they are able to move amongst these levels through test and what have you and many people, however Im not sure how easy it is to move up and the fact that you are receiving a slower paced education in a lower level obviously hinders you . Students in the Gymnasium have to take an Abitur, the "Abi" is the deciding factor of college admission and it also delineates what you can study for example to be a doctor you would need a higher Abitur than you would to study for a basic degree .
Now maybe its my stereotypical unrealistic American "dreams can come true if you just believe" mentality but I dont agree with many Germans mentality that deciding "how smart" a kid is in 4th grade is okay. I know many people who have changed a great deal since 4th grade myself included . I think its safe to say that you never know who people are going to be at a young age but what you do know is if you treat a kid like he's dumb he'll eventually believe it and act that way.
Now even though I dont neccesarily agree with the system dosnt mean that its not a good system. Is it fair I'd say it isnt but many dont agree and what they have in their favor is the undeniably high level of public education Germany has weilded year after year. Due to the divisions in the school system private education in Germany s a lot less wide-spread as it is in the US , this levels the playing feild on a diffrent level. It's important that while we look critically upon the German system we dont forget the inequalities that exist in our own country even if they are caused by private investment. What it comes down to is this German schooling is divided by "intelligence" and this decision is backed by the state , wile American schooling is in most cases divided by money and allowed by the state.Obviously there is no perfect system like we exchange students have found its not good its not bad its just diffrent.
p.s. I will write more about whats going on in my life soon . Im set to get my definite schedule by tuesday and will be more than happy to share that and other experiences in a couple days so check back soon ;) .
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