education

Like I had mentioned in one of my previous posts, I will talk about some of the differences between the US and Germany. So today I want to talk about education! I will try not to sound too opinionated, but simply portrait my personal experiences and my own opinion about this topic.

In Germany, from first until 4th grade, students go to something very similar to the american elementary school - "die Grundschule". Students normaly have one class teacher, and depending on the size of the school, a different teacher for other subjects. The usual classes include reading and writting, math, geography (or something simlar to it), music, P.E., art and even classes like Philosophy and Religion are taught.
After 4th grade the student will get a evaluation from the school, which will suggest, NOT decide, which level of High School the student should attend. the parents will then decide. In Germany there are three "levels".

"Hauptschule" (grades 5-9) - which is for the weaker students, yes, it is an education but it will be very, very hard to find a job!
"Realschule" (grades 5-10) - which is for the "average" student, it is an alright education, but most students would most likely try to transfer to a "Gymnasium" after graduation, in order to be able to go to college etc.
"Gymnasium" (grades 5-13) - This is where the best students would go, in order to receive the [varies between states] best education. You will need the"ABI", which is like you High School diploma for this level, in order to go to College and in order to find a good job. (which still won't be guaranteed, since Germany has an insanely high unemployment rate at the moment-one of the biggest problems facing the nation today - about 12.6% ...)
For more info check out: http://www.indexmundi.com/g/g.aspx?c=gm&v=74
and http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4307303.stm

Anyway, the methods of teaching are also very different..It seems as if they are stricter and more "serious", but also more creative and based on independent thinking and a more independent additude...
One big issue to me is the fact that the kids in American High Schools are NOT required to learn a foreign language (well, exept for like one semester or so...what good does that do?!) There are not very many 16 year olds that will voluntarely sit and study vocab every day, if it is not required...I would have dropped if I could ahve, but I couldn't and I am definately thankful that I didn't...well, otherwise I wouldn't be where I am today!
In Germany, if you don't speak at least two languages, you are pretty much screwed...In 5th grade we start with english, which we will have from then on until we graduate in 13th grade. In seventh grade we get to choose between french and latin (required), and then in ninth grade you can pick up whichever one you are not learning already and the you can also pick up spanish or whatever else your school offers (depending on where you are, the school will offer different languages, like danish, norwegian, russian, italian, korean, etc...)
I consider myself to be "pretty fluent" in english, and I know that this is not because I am smarter than any other person, but simply because I was forced to study my vocab for about 9 years...and of course my study abroad the the US helped, but that wouldn't have been possible without the previous schooling... (considering the fact that I almost failed english class before I came to the States I think i'm doing ok...)
This brings me to my next point: german high school is muuuuch harder!!! We NEVER took a single multiple chiose or true or false test ever..... We only take Essay tests, and leangthy ones at that!!! I remember in 12th grade in my english class, one of my essay tests was about 2000 words long (and not in my mother language...). But classes are more demandig, for example almost all classes are graded at leats 60 % on participation, and the teachers will put you on the spot, even if you don't volunter and don't know the answer. this is also one of the reasons why it is not unusual for any studet to repeat a year in high school at all. It is actually quite normal...We are graded on a scale from 1-6 (1 being the best like an A and 6 being the worst or like failing). So if you get a 6 in any class and you don't have a 1 in any class, then you fail the whole grade and have to repeat it, If you have one five you can even it out with a 2 in any other class, but if you have two 5's you automatically fail the grade and you have to repeat...and so on and so on. And while in the States, especially in High Schools, it is quite normal when about 90% of the class receive an A or even a B, in germany it might be 5% of the whole class, simply because you have to work so much harder to receive an A. I think this is very important (and a whole different story...) because if 90% in the class receive an A, than that would mean that these students have no chance for improving...there is always room for improvement...especially when you consider that the students in most US high Schools hardly have to do ANYTHING to get that A. ( And this even happens in many of my College classes...)
We also have more classes, which we have to take every semester, and you don't get to choose at all ( well in 11th grade you pick two that will be most important, but until then every single student in your class will have the same classes.) So every semester I would have, german, english, math, physics, biology, chemistry, philosophy, geography, politics, art or music, P.E, and history. We don't have the same classes every day however, but every day will be different as to which classes you have and even at what time the classes are. we also have muhc more homework that has to be completed during high school and it counts a lot more towards your grade.
i also feel that students in germany enjoy High School much more...I loved High School!! wehreas in the US all I heared was :" I can't wait till I'm out of High School"...it seems that school boards and principals (especially in small towns) often forbid anything that it is fun when you're a kid and almost supress independent thoughts...I also feel like the schools are enforcing so many (stupid) rules, while most of those things restricted shouldn't be any of their business, I am not a big fan of the school system trying to raise our kids. And of course all these statemnets are stereotyping, and I know that not every place is like that, but like I said, this has been my experience!
I realize that this is already an isanely long report, so I am going to stop here...I have many more things that I could talk about, but I feel that this shows some of the main points that I have observed from my High School in Germany and my year at an American high School as an exchange student.
I wish all students had the chance to do that, in order to form their own opinions..... I think it would be great if everybody was required to study abroad, even if it was in College rather than in High School...
If anybody wants to know more, or comment on my blog, whether you agree or disagree, I would love to hear your comments :)