I learned so much both by comparing German and American educational systems but also through lots of self-reflection on modern teaching practices. Below, I have summarized the most substantial takeaways I will carry with me forever as an educator and mother. Not to be corny, but it truly was a life changing experience:
1. We have watered down American education so greatly. Germans (and Europeans for that matter) expect such higher/deeper/more real levels of performance from their students of all ages. They are shocked to learn that we give multiple-choice tests at all, let alone frequently. Their assignments are almost always open-ended writing prompts, discussion between peers or teachers, creative expression, and public speaking opportunities. Students are learning to express their knowledge in such real world contexts while simultaneously expressing their own original thoughts within that learning compared to our heavily worksheet-based, rote memorization system in the U.S. 2. Sex education starts in primary school, and they have little to no issue with teen pregnancy. Between the ages of 7-11, German students learn the basic concepts of the human anatomy, how puberty happens, and the process of creating a fetus. This curriculum develops even more fully once they reach middle school and high school ages. In addition, abortion is legal in Germany and birth control is free for all individuals in their universal health care system until the age of 18. Women in Germany feel very well educated and empowered to start families when they feel it is best. They do not tend to raise children in poverty or single-parent homes nearly as frequently as US mothers because they do not see nearly the rate of young pregnancy that we do. What a novel thought -- education and resources stop pregnancy better than any government mandate! Who would have guessed . . . 3. There is NOT a true separation of church and state in Germany, which surprised me deeply. I assumed most first world countries separated the two. Instead, when students are entering primary school, parents have the choice between a public school that is Catholic, Protestant, or not religious. So while the parents can still separate church and state, everyone's tax dollars still go toward a system that is 2/3rds religious. My main takeaway here is different than what I have just explained, though. What is more refreshing to learn is that their weekly religion courses are not focused on the rote memorization of Catholic or Protestant ideology or rituals. Instead, they learn about being good, kind humans, about the tenants of different religions, and about character development. 4. Art is comprehensively everywhere throughout the primary buildings, and it is so inviting to see. Windows, hallways, counter tops, walls. It is joyful and bright. The kids are working with their hands daily. 5. The technology is very much lacking throughout German education. While there are some elements that appear nicer without the technological distractions, overall, the students and educators there feel this is a major issue in which they need to catch up with the world to continue learning modern skills. I think there is a balance somewhere in the middle of Germans low tech use and our high dependence on it. 6. Germans schools do not have all their resources on site, and that is fine. Instead, they utilize community resources far more. For example, the day I went to PE (Sports) class with some third graders, we walked three city blocks to the nearby city gymnasium. The Sports teacher told me that she even takes her fourth graders on a 20-minute bus ride to the local indoor pool for swimming lessons during school hours. They utilize the churches near their buildings for services as well. At the high school levels, they send students off half of the week to real-life internships on the job. These systemic internships were probably the most impressive element I witnessed in the German educational setting. Every career employs paid interns during their teenage years -- secretaries, farmers, hair dressers, waiters, etc. -- you name it, they train in it. It puts a deeper respect on every profession because patrons know each individual is highly trained and skilled at their job. It also leads to higher job retention because young adults know what they are getting into and whether they really like the job they are applying for in the long run.
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AuthorSophie -- a teacher, mother, wife, traveler, reader, camper, and Mizzou Tiger Archives
July 2022
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