This Shocked Me About Germany (At First)

now I understand it better, and it makes sense. Let me know your thoughts.

[GroßeTüten]

They put me in a Hauptschule, but now I'm studying economics at the University of Essen. It's not North Korea, they can switch to a ''higher/better'' school, but the majority sticks to the school they were put in. This system has disadvantages, some may feel discriminated, but in the end it's a good system that we have here, because it works like the ranking system in CS GO, or the Bundesliga, they put you in a skillgroup/league with others that have similar knowledge and it motivates you to improve more, so you can go to a university or make your Abitur

[RubenKP]

I started on Realschule and did an apprenticeship as electrician at age 16. At age 19 I was a certified Electritian and could have started working and stuff. Only at that point I realized I wanted to get more educated so I went to a 1 year Fachoberschule and now im studying Electrical Engineering with very good grades. No matter where you are at in Germany you can always educate yourself in something you like. The best part about it: Even university, it's for free =) =) To me the schooling system in Germany is very good. You are basically never really screwed because it's all up to you

[tertam]

I also would like to add that I have two colleagues that started on Hauptschule, but later studied at a university and are now like me employed at the university. So our school-system isn't strict about this segregation at all.
AND: Never forget in Germany education doesn't cost 40.000-100.000€ per year at a university - which makes them much more accessible to not so rich families. I met a lot U.S. citizens at the UBC in Vancouver that told me that they couldn't afford such a well-known university in the U.S. and thus went to Canada!

[felix]

It's acutally very effective not putting low educated people together with high educated people. It pulls everybody down.
To give those, who grew up in a difficult family without much education, a surrounding they fit in.
But you can still make a good living even If you went to Hauptschule or Realschule. You can even study at unsiversitys, if you're good enough and have a lot of patience.
The german education system might seem a bit weird at first, but actually makes a lot of sense!
LG Felix, german living in Northrhine-Westfalia.

[xaverlustig]

An important fact you didn't mention: There isn't just ONE German school system. Each of the Länder (states in American terms) have their own system. So we have really 16 school systems. The basics between them are similar, like the school types you describe, but there are a lot of variations for example concerning auxiliary school types, the age levels when the split takes place, the subjects being taught, and the curricula of a given subject. This is a major hassle when moving from one state to another.

[jrdm]

would like to add: One of the major advantages in germany is, that it doesn't require much money to decide for either this or the other way. Even studying /higher education isnt a big issue. Furthermore, after having studied what you realy like, you do not end up in high debt to be paid back which is quite common over there in the US (unless you are granted a scholarship or your parents pay).

[ricwalker]

As a german i wondered what it was this time people of other countries are shocked at first. I really was surprised to find out it was our school system! You explained it right by the way. I think it has his pros and cons like the american system. Nothing in the world is perfect. But i think our approach to look what type of learner a child is and specialize how the speed and deep the stuff the child learns goes, is the right one.
It created in the last century the great engineers and craftsmen germany could be proud of.
What my country needs to do now is to overhaul this system. In the last 30 years the tides of advancements in Technology and social live did not make it that much into our school system as it should. the old system needs an update. The difficult part is to find the right balance to keep the old idea but using the tools of our time.

[ilmephax]

after realschule you can make 3years silled labor education. than u can do additional stuff like meister or techniker and can have really good jobs. u can also do a bachelor after this at a Fachhochschule and a master and phd later. you can do dual stuff(skilled labor education+bachelor) at the same time. there are a lot of options.

[Xgckl]

It is sometimes criticized in Germany how students aren't changing tracks as often because the intention clearly is that you can change at any time. I myself changed from Gymnasium to Realschule and back to Gymnasium but I also went to a "Gesamtschule", a school where we had every kind of student with different classes for the different school systems.

[zugdsbtngizudsgbnudsdsoiu]

You arent locked at when be put in Hauptschule or any other.
When you finished Hauptschule and your grades are good enough you can continue with realschule and the same with Gymnasium.
I went to the Gymnasium then to Realschule then continued with Abitur (class 11-13) and after class 11 I went to Fach-Abitur (class 11-12).
So you have enough opportunities if either you are not good enough for example for Gymnasium to change to Realschule and vise versa.

[behemothswarden]

My story (as someone from germany): Grundschule -> Hauptschule -> Gymnasium -> Realschule -> Fachoberschule (FOS, similar to Gymnasium but more practical in my opinion) -> Universität (didn't like it so I stopped after 3 semesters), now I'm a carpenter apprentice, much more fun ^-^
So I can tell you that our education system is very flexible and gives you multiple chances to get where you want to be.

[mimileni]

After the Grundschule i went to the Gymnasium. I was good in the subjects i wanted to be good in and i just did enough to pass the rest. It was enough until grade 12 (i was in the G9 course, which means i would have gotten my Abitur after 13 years of school education), but i couldn't finish the Gymnasium with an Abitur. Of course it felt like the end of the world, but it really wasn't. After that i went to the Berufskolleg (Vocational Business School) for 2 years where I got the Fachhochschulreife (Advanced Technical College Entrance). I could've gone studying BWL (Business Studies) or something like that at a Fachhochschule (University of Applied Sciences/Advanced Technical College), but I went on to finish an Ausbildung (apprenticeship) in retail. Now I've begun advanced Training as a Handelsfachwirt which qualifies as a Bachelor of Trade and Commerce. So, what I'm trying to say is: You can become whatever you want, in the end, if you put some effort into it. The German School System isn't all that bad as some are saying.

[marlajacques]

Doesn't matter which country u live or study in, ppl r still totally awed n impressed by someone with stamped papers over a kind, humble soul

[clare]

One of my close friends went to the Hauptschule. She was actually fit for the Realschule I think, but her parents thought the Realschule would be too hard for her. (On the other hands there are much more parents wanting their kids to go to the Gymnasium, even though they would be categorized into the Haupt-/Realschule). This girl then quickly became an A-student, finished with the Hauptschule, made her degree in the Realschule and then, last year, got her Abitur from the Gymnasium and is now studying business administration.

[sailspo]

I went to a Gesamtschule, were the three branches are combined. My primary school teacher thought that I should go to a Realschule, but I got my Abitur, and now I'm at university. So if you work hard you CAN definetly make it and study. You don't have to be in one system forever. But I've always thought that it was very cool that you guys have such an amazing school spirit in the US. We don't really have that. And we don't have as many clubs, either. I'd prefer more posibilities in the afternoon, like in America or Japan. I was really shocked when I first got on campus and they had like dance lessons, exchange programs, parties, poetry slams, tai chi, swimming, rugby, a radio station, theatre club, orchestra, or a choir. We just didn't have so many posibilities back in school.

[DerGrueneBaron]

a good school certificate from a Realschule can actually be better han a bad certificate from a Gymnasium, it depends on the company you want to work for

[LGHT-]

In the netherlands we have these levels in school lowest to highest
1. Praktijk onderwijs
2. Vmbo basis
3. Vmbo basis-kader
4. Vmbo kader
5. Mavo
6. Havo
7. Vwo
8. Gymnasium

If you did the first 5 you will go to MBO levels 1 to 4. 4 being for mavo
If you did havo you will go to a hogeschool or you can choose to go lower
And if you did vwo you will go to university

[philalfieri]

That is very interesting and you did a great job of explaining! What it sounds like is actually a very efficient education path that encourages people to be involved and aware of their children’s interest and abilities as early as possible. This will work as a positive tend only as long as there is the freedom you spoke of, to possibly change tracks and/or realign the child’s training once they find they are more suited to a different line of work or skill. I love the idea of not wasting educational resources that are not going to be utilized however, I am also for one learning as many trade skills as possible! Information is powerful and the more you can obtain the better!

[sabias]

As an american, this is really interesting to hear. when i first heard you explain it i was also shocked and thought it was kind of messed up but after you mentioned that the kids can change tracks at some point that made a lot of sense. That way, if a kid realizes they are on track for one thing and they want to be on track for something else, they will actually WANT to pursue that other track and probably work harder to be allowed to stay in the track they want.

[henningbartels]

I'm German and I don't think it will hurt pupils if they stay together in the same school to 6th or 8th grades - quite the opposite. There is more than gaining different quantities of knowledge - its about gaining social skills as well.