Figure 1.-- |
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Here there are many terms, including Oberealschule" (old term) / "Oberschule" / "naturwissenschaftliches Gymnasium" / "neusprachliches Gymnasium" / "humanistisches Gymnasium" / "altsprachliches Gymnasium". All these secondary schools of the full academic level are allowed to reject pupils who are not academically capable of the work involved. There are, of course, dfferent opinions on how to measure a student's ability. In earlier days there was an entrance examination for
moving from from the (obligatory) "Volksschule" / "Grundschule" to the "higher"
schools. Another approach is a recommendation of the teacher of the "Volks-
schule" / "Grundschule". See the the "Entlassungs-Zeugnis" of the Morsum school. The most "liberal" approach is to let the parents
decide, may be only for a trial.
Grades 5 to 12/13, in former times with counting starting again with 1
(thus, 1 to 8 or 9) and in "Gymnasien" with the Latin terms Sexta, Quinta, Quarta,
Untertertia, Obertertia, Untersekunda, Obersekunda, Unterprima, Oberprima (the last
six terms curiously in an "Denglish" of former days, "Vulgrlatein"). Pupils 10 to 18/19
years of age. Concluding with the "Abitur" (in former days some differentiation of the
form Abitur, e.g., with "vollem Latinum" in an "altsprachliches Gymnasium". The students are
required to study foreign languages, theology, medicine or jurisprudence in an
university). Located in towns (or to-day also "Gebietsschule" or so combining
villages near-by to each other).
Americans who refer to all secondary schools as high schools will be surprised by the number and variety of German secondary schools. The variety has muktiplied with the educationsl reforms followung World War II.
"Oberrealschule" grew up from the "Realschule", concentrating on natural sciences
and (two) foreign languages. "Oberschule", introduced in 1938 (sic, the Nazi's !) combining all secondary level academic schools, obligatory name till 1945, the term partially still in use.
"Naturwissenschaftliches Gymnasium", concentrating on natural sciences and (in
most cases) three foreign languages. Foreign language education typically
starting with English (in former days also with French), next Latin, the third one
French (earlier English) or (now often) Spanish. Emphasis on mathematics,
physics, chemistry, biology. "Neusprachliches Gymnasium", similar, always three foreign languages,
emphasis on modern foreign languages and human sciences.
"Humanistisches Gymnasium" (old term) / "Altsprachliches Gymnasium",
concentrating on languages and human sciences / literature / philosophy. Three
foreign languages obligatory, starting with Latin, further languages two of the set
{Old greek, Old Hebrew, English, French}. Greek and Hebrew are obligatory to
study theology in the university ! Many gymnasien of this kind have an old tradition,
up to centuries back in old towns. "Oberschule", "naturwissenschaftliches Gymnasium", "neusprachliches Gymnasium" were offsprings of the "(humanistisches / altsprachliches) Gymnasium". The different
forms only in larger cities.
"Gymnasium" (in general). There is no more a type of school. The curriculae are combined, "branches" of the different forms.
In former times for girls a secondary level school, very often with an
introductionary offer for the youngsters. Very seldom leading to the "Abitur".
A side remark: In my school time (1941 - 1954) in the town were I grew up
(Stuttgart in the southwest, population about 500 000 persons) there was an
old "Mdchengymnasium" ("Katharinenstift") and two old "Knabengymnasien",
all three of the form of "altsprachliches Gymnasium". The genders were separated.
There were more newer "Gymnasien", co-educational. Now they are all co-educational.
In towns where the number of pupils in the upper grades are too small (see the
"mittlere Reife") a "Progymnasium may lead only to grade 10, 16 years of age.
Pupils who want to continue full academic secondary education have to transfer
to another schools, e.g., in another, bigger town or an "Internat".
Normally children live at home with their parents. If for some reason this is not
possible they may go to an "Internat" where a boarding system and dormitory is
attached to the school. An "Internat" may have a distinct orientation, e.g., for music
or for theological preparation. "Internate" are most often run on a private basis; not
all are allowed to finally offer the "Reifepruefung "(see "Abitur"). A very famous
internationally well-known "Internat" is the "Schule Schloss Salem", but there are many more.
The teachers in the academic secondary schools have to study two or three fields in an university (e.g., Mathematics and Physics, English and French). In addition they study didactic and pedagogic
work. They have to successfully pass an examination ("Erste Staatspuefung"), run
by a govermental agency) and then to visit schools for gaining practical experience
and passing another examination ("Zweite Staatspruefung") to become "Gymnasiallehrer".
Students attending academiv secondary schools can earn different graduation certificates or diplomas.
Successfully attending a "Mittelschule" / "Realschule" or any schools of the full
academic level up to the 10th grade (16 years of age) ends the obligatory school
education. The pupils get the "mittlere Reife". Before World War I it meant for boys to
have to go for military service only for 1 year (not for 2 years as all others). Tis is no longer the case. Or, all the time to change to a small form of an additional education in an "Ingenieurschule" (engineering school) / "Technikum", / "Akademie" (for example in a lower level of civil engineering or for business/clerical work ) / "Kunstschule" (school for arts) etc. Now most of these schools require the "Abitur" (may be in a somewhat restricted form, "Fachabitur").
Following an examination in the full academic level schools ("Reifepruefung") pupils
will get by 18/19 years a certificate which allows them to begin an academic study
in an "University" or "Technical Hochschule" - has nothing in common with the US
"high-schools" ! -. In my generation (born 1935, Abitur with 18 years in 1954)
about up to 8 % of an age-group received this certificate, more boys than girls;
now it is about 30 %, boys and girls about the same percentage.
In the 19th and early 20th century, it was not uncommon to have fewer grades (forms/ years) to earn
the "Reifepruefung". It was much more flexible. If you read the biography of famous peoples, scientist, artists, statesmen, etc. they started to study in a university with 16 or even 15 years of age. In the former German Democratic Republic there was a maximum of only 12 grades. With unification (1990) there is now political pressure to introduce this nationwide. Some states have done it already. Due to the changes after World War II, I personally finished school at age 18 years in grade 13, but in fact I attended school only for 12 years. We know from my son that in grade 13 there was not a lot of new material presented. I assume that in the near future the length of visiting school will be reduced to 12 years everywhere (of course, there are pupils who had to repeat a grade, for them it tooks more time).
To-day, as I already said, is a lot of "reformism". There are "Foerderstufen", "Gesamt-
schulen", "Schuldoerfer", and what else you like! I will not discuss it, as they are not
"historical" and may be forgotten in some years. Our "federal" politians (you know,
the official name of Germany is "Federal Republic of Germany") have here a playfield.
Nethertheless, the old historical quality of school education is lost, our "Abiturienten"
(those who pass the "Reifepruefung"), students, university masters, and PhDs are in
international comparison far too old.
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