Reply to The USA should adopt the German high school model

Forum Index » Schools and Education General Discussion

Reply to "The USA should adopt the German high school model "

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP, 
I get it. I think a lot of people posting don’t really understand how the German system works. It’s not as if you are doomed to some low-level, unimportant job if you fail to show success in 4th grade.

The school choices and offerings are robust and they make sense. No, not everybody should go to college. And it’s not just because of intellect/ability; society doesn’t need everybody to go to college.

German vocational programs are robust, and they lead to very important jobs that provide for stable living. Their on-the-job apprenticeships set students up for success in a way we don’t.

[/quote]

My issue with the German system is that the tracking decisions are made very early. One of things I love about America is that we keep the educational doors open and embrace reinvention.[/quote]

We really don't keep the doors open. I went to a German high school (gymnasium) after 3 years of a US high school. My US school was a giant, "comprehensive" school, but we had exactly the same tiers I saw replicated in the German system. They were just all in the same school building.   In the US school, we had "basic" classes (English 9, Math 9 etc.); "college bound" classes (English 9A, Math 9A), and Honors classes (English 9H, Advanced Math etc.  And students got put into the tracks that would lead to these classes by 6th grade for all intents and purposes.  Sure, a few kids might occasionally move up or down a level, but mostly you knew by 4th or 5th grade which students were headed for the honors track.

It's been the same for my own children in Maryland public schools.  Yes, they all go to large high schools. But we have the very same separated classes. The only difference is, in Germany the non-college track is more serious. Or at least it was when I was there.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics