100-454: The Philanthropin (Greek for "place of humanity") is a Jewish elementary school and gymnasium in Frankfurt , Germany . It was founded in 1804 by Mayer Amschel Rothschild . Formally, the school was established by Siegmund Geisenheimer [ de ] , the chief accountant of Mayer Amschel Rothschild, with Rothschild's support. The school was supported financially by the government and
200-622: A Hauptschulabschluss of both type 10a or type 10b, the latter of which is the Realschulabschluss . The amount of extracurricular activity is determined individually by each school and varies greatly. With the 2015 school reform the German government has tried to push more of those pupils into other schools, which is known as Inklusion . A special system of apprenticeship called Duale Ausbildung (the dual education system ) allows pupils in vocational courses to do in-service training in
300-487: A Kindergarten is neither mandatory nor free of charge, but can be partly or wholly funded, depending on the local authority and the income of the parents. All caretakers in Kita or Kindergarten must have a three-year qualified education, or be under special supervision during training. Kindergärten can be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. or longer and may also house a Kinderkrippe , meaning crèche, for children between
400-464: A Realschule ) or Abitur from a Gymnasium or a Gesamtschule , school leavers can start a career with an apprenticeship at a Berufsschule ( vocational school). Here the student is registered with certain bodies, e.g. associations such as the German Bar Association ( Deutsche Rechtsanwaltskammer , GBA) (board of directors). During the apprenticeship, the young person is
500-563: A company as well as at a state school. Students in Germany scored above the OECD average in reading (498 score points), mathematics (500) and science (503) in PISA 2018. Average reading performance in 2018 returned to levels that were last observed in 2009, reversing most gains up to 2012. In science, mean performance was below 2006 levels; while in mathematics PISA 2018 results lay significantly below those of
600-500: A knowledge of theory and practice. The company is obliged to accept the apprentice on its apprenticeship scheme. After this, the apprentice is registered on a list at the Industrie- und Handelskammer ( IHK ) (chamber of industry and commerce). During the apprenticeship, the apprentice is a part-time salaried employee of the company. After passing the Berufsschule and the exit exams of
700-422: A mentor. Some schools have mentors (mostly alumni or parents) who help graduates choose a college and who arrange practical training for them. In 2008, a mentoring programme called "Arbeiterkind" ("working-class child") was founded to assist students from working-class families make the transition. A year later, this organization had 1000 mentors and 70 local chapters. Grundschule Education in Germany
800-466: A model for schools throughout Germany. German public schools generally have religious education provided by the churches in cooperation with the state ever since. During the 18th century, the Kingdom of Prussia was among the first countries in the world to introduce free and generally compulsory primary education, consisting of an eight-year course of basic education, Volksschule . It provided not only
900-485: A noted progressive gymnasium, which is found on the other side of Eckenheimer Landstraße. 50°07′16″N 8°41′14″E / 50.1211°N 8.6872°E / 50.1211; 8.6872 Gymnasium (Germany) Gymnasium ( German: [ɡʏmˈnaːzi̯ʊm] ; German plural: Gymnasien ), in the German education system , is the most advanced and highest of the three types of German secondary schools ,
1000-622: A number of parochial and private gymnasia also exist. In 2009/10, 11.1 percent of gymnasium students attended a private gymnasium. These often charge tuition fees , though many also offer scholarships. Tuition fees are lower than in comparable European countries. Some gymnasia are boarding schools , while others run as day schools; they are now predominantly co-educational, and few single-sex schools remain. Students are generally admitted at 10 years of age and are required to have completed four years (six in Berlin and Brandenburg where they are enrolled at
1100-457: A part-time salaried employee of the institution, bank, physician or attorney's office. After leaving the Berufsfachschule and passing the exit examinations set by the German Bar Association or other relevant associations, the apprentice receives a certificate and is ready for a career at all levels except in positions which require a specific higher degree, such as a doctorate. In some areas,
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#17328588674391200-835: A recommendation stating that the student is likely to make a successful transition to that type of school; in other cases anyone may apply. In Berlin 30% – 35% of Gymnasium places are allocated by lottery. A student's performance at primary school is immaterial. While the entry year is depending on the last year in the Grundschule stepping back or skipping a grade is possible between 7th and 10th grade and only stepping back between 5th and 6th grade (so called Erprobungsstufe , meaning testing grade) and 11th and 12th grade. The eastern states Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia combine Hauptschule and Realschule into Sekundarschule, Mittelschule and Regelschule respectively. All German states have Gymnasium as one possibility for
1300-427: A second foreign language. The list of available foreign languages as well as the hours of compulsory foreign language lessons differ from state to state, but the more common choices besides Latin are English, French, Spanish, and ancient Greek. Many schools also offer voluntary study groups for the purpose of learning other languages. At which stage students begin learning a foreign language differs from state to state and
1400-500: A six-year course. The rising prominence of girls' gymnasia was mainly due to the ascendancy of the German feminist movement in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, corresponding to the rising demand for women's university education. Co-educational gymnasia have become widespread since the 1970s, and today, single-sex gymnasia are rare in Germany. When primary school ended with the fourth grade and pupils left German basic secondary schools ( Volksschule/Hauptschule or Realschule ) at
1500-506: A strong political movement to reduce the time spent at the gymnasium to eight years throughout Germany; nowadays most pupils throughout Germany attend the gymnasium for 8 years (referred to as G8), dispensing with the traditional ninth year or oberprima (except in Rhineland-Palatinate and Lower Saxony which still has a year 13; Bavaria will bring back the 13th year in 2024, North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein will bring back
1600-471: A student should not interrupt his teachers." Students may also be subjected to official disciplinary measures, such as a Verweis (reprimand), not unlike equally-called measures in the disciplining of civil-servants or soldiers; the hardest of these measures is expelling from school. Such pupils have to go to another school, or even be banned from attending state schools altogether. This is rare though. Some private schools are more easy with expulsions, along with
1700-481: A trend towards a less ideological discussion on how to develop schools. These are some of the new trends: Further outcomes: In Germany, education is the responsibility of the states ( Länder ) and part of their constitutional sovereignty ( Kulturhoheit der Länder ). Teachers are employed by the Ministry of Education for the state and usually have a job for life after a certain period ( verbeamtet ) (which, however,
1800-495: A year as the Schülerrat (students' council). A team of school presidents is also elected by the pupils each year, whose main purpose is organizing school parties, sports tournaments and the like for their fellow students. The local town is responsible for the school building and employs the janitorial and secretarial staff. For an average school of 600 – 800 students, there may be two janitors and one secretary. School administration
1900-581: Is a break of 15–20 minutes, including after the sixth lesson (the number of lessons changes from year to year, so it is possible that one could be in school until 16.00). Nebenfächer (minor fields of study) are taught twice a week; Hauptfächer (major subjects) are taught three times. In grades 11–13, 11–12, or 12–13 (depending on the school system), each student majors in two or three subjects ( Leistungskurse ), in which there are usually five lessons per week. The other subjects ( Grundkurse ) are usually taught three periods per week. + Seminarfach
2000-436: Is a compulsory class in which each student is prepared to turn in his/her own research paper at the end of the semester. The class is aimed at training students' scientific research skills that will later be necessary in university. There are significant differences between the 16 states' alternatives to this basic template, such as Waldorfschulen or other private schools. Adults can also go back to evening school and take
2100-512: Is a requirement for graduation. If they wish, students may also graduate with four foreign languages. There are a number of gymnasia for mature students, people who graduated from school, but did not receive an Abitur . Most of these schools have only the top three or four year groups, rather than the traditional 5th to 13th years. Examples are the Abendgymnasium , the Aufbaugymnasium and
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#17328588674392200-515: Is different from school to school; however, most German schools offer choirs or orchestras, and sometimes sports, theater or languages. Many of these are offered as semi-scholastic AGs ( Arbeitsgemeinschaften —literally "working groups"), which are noted in students' reports but not officially graded. Other common extracurricular activities are organized as private clubs, which are very popular in Germany. There are three blocks of lessons, with each lesson taking 45 minutes. After each block, there
2300-440: Is embedded into that of the elementary schools. Teachers give a so-called educational (path) recommendation ( Bildungs(gang)empfehlung ) based on scholastic achievements in the main subjects (mathematics, German, natural sciences, foreign language) and classroom behavior with details and legal implications differing from state to state: in some German states, those wishing to apply to a Gymnasium or Realschule require such
2400-409: Is embedded into the program of the secondary schools. The decision for a secondary school influences the student's future, but during this phase changes can be made more easily. In practice this rarely comes to bear because teachers are afraid of sending pupils to more academic schools whereas parents are afraid of sending their children to less academic schools. In Berlin and Brandenburg, the orientation
2500-533: Is known as a Kindergarten (plural Kindergärten ) or Kita , short for Ki nder ta gesstätte (meaning "children's daycare center"). Children between the ages of 2 and 6 attend Kindergärten , which are not part of the school system. They are often run by city or town administrations, churches, or registered societies, many of which follow a certain educational approach as represented, e.g., by Montessori or Reggio Emilia or Berliner Bildungsprogramm . Forest kindergartens are well established. Attending
2600-661: Is no longer the case for every gymnasium. In the past, Gymnasiasten wore a traditional cap, marking them as a gymnasium student. The colour of the cap differed by gymnasium and grade. In case of the Ludwig Meyn Gymnasium in Uetersen , for example, in 1920: After the Machtergreifung of the Nazis, the gymnasium cap was banned for political reasons. Literature describing student caps was burned .Students received new clothing from
2700-463: Is not comparable in timeframe nor competitiveness to the typical tenure track, e.g. at universities in the US). This practice depends on the state and is currently changing. A parents' council is elected to voice the parents' views to the school's administration. Each class elects one or two Klassensprecher (class presidents; if two are elected usually one is male and the other female), who meet several times
2800-482: Is not up to the parents to decide if a pupil will attend the Gymnasium but decision will mainly be based on the performance in elementary schools. However, even "the gifted" in this sense comprise a fourth or fifth of the population. Other gymnasia in other states have no such strict provisions. Though gymnasia traditionally impose strict grading that causes students of average academic ability to struggle, many schools share
2900-404: Is primarily the responsibility of individual German states ( Länder ), with the federal government only playing a minor role. While kindergarten (nursery school) is optional, formal education is compulsory for all children ages 6 to 15. Students can complete three types of school leaving qualifications , ranging from the more vocational Hauptschulabschluss and Mittlere Reife over to
3000-484: Is professional, while it is more accurately described as vocational. The German secondary education is then partitioned into five subtypes of schools: Gymnasium, Realschule, Hauptschule, Gesamtschule and Sonderschule. One, the Gymnasium , is designed to prepare pupils for higher education and finishes with the final examination, Abitur , after grade 12 or 13. From 2005 to 2018 a school reform known as G8 provided
3100-643: Is still one 45-minute lesson each day, mostly between the first two blocks; at other schools those subjects are taught in weekly or term rotations. There are about 12 compulsory subjects: up to three foreign languages (the first is often begun in primary school, the second one in 6th or 7th grade, and the third somewhere between 7th and 11th grade), physics, biology, chemistry, civics/social/political studies, history, geography (starting between 5th and 7th grade), mathematics, music, visual arts, German, physical education, and religious education/ethics (to be taken from primary school on). The range of offered afternoon activities
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3200-469: Is tailored to the cultural and socio-economical dynamics of each state. In some states, foreign language education starts in Grundschule (primary school). For example, in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony , English starts in the third year of elementary school. Baden-Württemberg starts with English or French in the first year. The Saarland , which borders France, begins with French in
3300-476: Is the responsibility of the teachers, who receive a reduction in their teaching hours if they participate. Church and state are separated in Germany. Compulsory school prayers and compulsory attendance at religious services at state schools are against the constitution. (It is expected, though, to stand politely for the school prayer even if one does not pray along.) Over 99% of Germans aged 15 and above are estimated to be able to read and write. German preschool
3400-474: Is the so-called Gesamtschule , i.e. comprehensive school. There are two main types of Gesamtschule , namely integriert (≈integrated) or kooperativ (≈collaborative ). There are also Förder- or Sonderschulen , schools for students with special educational needs. One in 21 pupils attends a Förderschule . Nevertheless, the Förder- or Sonderschulen can also lead, in special circumstances, to
3500-421: Is true even in regions where High German is not the prevailing dialect. Curricula differ from school to school, but generally include German , mathematics , informatics / computer science , physics , chemistry , biology , geography , art (as well as crafts and design), music , history , philosophy , civics / citizenship, social sciences , and several foreign languages. For younger students nearly
3600-631: Is used both for educational efforts in Kindergärten and for a mandatory class that is usually connected to a primary school. Both systems are handled differently in each German state. The Schulkindergarten is a type of Vorschule. During the German Empire, children were able to pass directly into secondary education after attending a privately run, fee-based Vorschule which then was another sort of primary school. The Weimar Constitution banned these, feeling them to be an unjustified privilege, and
3700-573: Is well-known internationally for its vocational training model, the Ausbildung (apprenticeship), with about 50 per cent of all school leavers entering vocational training. Germany's secondary education is separated into two parts, lower and upper. Germany's Lower-secondary education provides individuals with "basic general education", and gets them ready to enter upper-secondary education, which in turn usually allows vocational training. It's common to find mistranslations that say that this education
3800-639: The Hauptschule prepares pupils for vocational education and finishes with the final examination Hauptschulabschluss , after grade 9 and the Realschulabschluss after grade 10. There are two types of grade 10: one is the higher level called type 10b and the lower level is called type 10a; only the higher-level type 10b can lead to the Realschule and this finishes with the final examination Mittlere Reife after grade 10b. This new path of achieving
3900-492: The Abitur in 8 school years. The reform failed due to high demands on learning levels for the children and were turned to G9 in 2019. Only a few Gymnasiums stay with the G8 model. Children usually attend Gymnasium from 10 to 18 years. The Realschule has a range of emphasis for intermediate pupils and finishes with the final examination Mittlere Reife , after grade 10;
4000-429: The Realschulabschluss at a vocationally oriented secondary school was changed by the statutory school regulations in 1981—with a one-year qualifying period. During the one-year qualifying period of the change to the new regulations, pupils could continue with class 10 to fulfil the statutory period of education. After 1982, the new path was compulsory, as explained above. A less common secondary school alternative
4100-401: The Realschulabschluss . Stepping up is always provided by the school system. Adults who did not achieve a Realschulabschluss or Abitur , or reached its equivalent, have the option of attending evening classes at an Abendgymnasium or Abendrealschule . A few organizational central points are listed below. It should however be noted that due to the decentralized nature of
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4200-594: The Basic Law still contains the constitutional rule (Art. 7 Sect. VI) that: Pre-schools shall remain abolished. Homeschooling is – between Schulpflicht (compulsory schooling) beginning with elementary school to 18 years – illegal in Germany. The illegality has to do with the prioritization of children's rights over the rights of parents: children have the right to the company of other children and adults who are not their parents. For similar reasons, parents cannot opt their children out of sexual education classes because
4300-629: The Latinum, some also the Graecum , proof of study or comprehension of Latin or Ancient Greek, respectively. This type of school is less traditional. It teaches at least two modern languages. In most cases the students have the chance to learn Latin as well. Often combined with the Neusprachliches Gymnasium this type of schools have a focus on STEM subjects. The Gymnasium with focus on mathematics and sciences used to be called Oberrealschule ,
4400-513: The League of German Girls and the Hitler Youth . Gymnasium students were forbidden from wearing clothing that identified them as members of their school. Now, it is no longer illegal and these caps are again being sold however, few ever wear one. At some schools, when graduating, students receive an Abitur T-shirt, which is printed with the name of the school, the year of graduation and a slogan. As
4500-461: The Weimar Republic established a free, universal four-year elementary school ( Grundschule ). Most pupils continued at these schools for another four-year course. Those who were able to pay a small fee went on to a Mittelschule that provided a more challenging curriculum for an additional one or two years. Upon passing a rigorous entrance exam after year four, pupils could also enter one of
4600-473: The Wirtschaftsgymnasium . German gymnasia follow different pedagogical philosophies, and teaching methods may vary. In the most traditional schools, students rise when the teacher enters the classroom. The teacher says "Good morning, class" and the class answers "Good morning, Mr./Ms. ... ." The teacher then asks them to sit down. Up to the 1960s, students used to be supposed to call their teachers by
4700-500: The 13th year in 2025), which is roughly equivalent to the first year of higher education . Final year students take the Abitur final exam. The gymnasium arose out of the humanistic movement of the sixteenth century. The first general school system to incorporate the gymnasium emerged in Saxony in 1528, with the study of Greek and Latin added to the curriculum later; these languages became
4800-520: The 2012 study. The Human Rights Measurement Initiative finds that Germany is achieving 75.4% of what should be possible for the right to education, at their level of income. Historically, Lutheranism had a strong influence on German culture, including its education. Martin Luther advocated compulsory schooling so that all people would independently be able to read and interpret the Bible. This concept became
4900-454: The Europäisches gymnasium start learning Latin and English while in 5th grade. They pick up their third language by 7th or 8th grade and their fourth foreign language by 10th grade. By 10th grade, students also choose if they want to drop one of the languages they started in 5th grade. Later, they may drop another language. Students are required to take at least two foreign languages and fluency
5000-485: The Gymnasium and this is demonstrated by the time-honoured practices and subject matter that are unique to the gymnasia and could be baffling to outsiders. It is often offered in the last three years at school. Although some specialist gymnasia have English or French as the language of instruction, most lessons in a typical gymnasium (apart from foreign language courses) are conducted in Standard High German . This
5100-464: The Gymnasium with focus on both modern languages and mathematics plus sciences used to be called Realgymnasium . The Gymnasium was supposed to be the humanities-oriented variety; during the Nazi era, a common term for all of these schools put together was Oberschule (literally, "upper school"). In the 1960s, school reformers in an equalization effort discontinued these names. The most practical benefit of this
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#17328588674395200-483: The IHK, a certificate is awarded and the young person is ready for a career up to a low management level. In some areas, the schemes teach certain skills that are a legal requirement (special positions in a bank, legal assistants). Some special areas provide different paths. After attending any of the above schools and gaining a leaving certificate like Hauptschulabschluss , Mittlere Reife (or Realschulabschuss , from
5300-499: The Jewish community spent more than half of its budget on the school. The current school building was built in 1908. The school experienced a new golden era during the Weimar Republic under the leadership of Otto Driesen [ de ] . At its peak it had around 1,000 pupils. The high school remained open until April 1941, while the elementary school had to close in June 1942. From 1954
5400-417: The above schools, pupils can start a career with an apprenticeship in a Berufsschule ( vocational school). And the passing system is different from other countries. German secondary schools follow points system (punkte). Berufsschule is normally attended twice a week during a two, three, or three-and-a-half-year apprenticeship; the other days are spent working at a company. This is intended to provide
5500-448: The age of 12) of Grundschule (primary education). In some states of Germany, permission to apply for gymnasium is nominally dependent on a letter of recommendation written by a teacher or a certain GPA, although when parents petition, an examination can be used to decide the outcome. Traditionally, a pupil attended gymnasium for nine years in western Germany. However, since 2004, there has been
5600-541: The ages of 6 to 16. At the end of the 10th year, an exit examination was set. Depending upon the results, a pupil could choose to come out of education or undertake an apprenticeship for an additional two years, followed by an Abitur . Those who performed very well and displayed loyalty to the ruling party could change to the Erweiterte Oberschule (extended high school), where they could take their Abitur examinations after 12 school years. Although this system
5700-629: The ages of eight weeks and three years, and possibly an afternoon Hort (often associated with a primary school) for school-age children aged 6 to 10 who spend the time after their lessons there. Alongside nurseries, there are day-care nurses (called Tagesmutter , plural Tagesmütter —the formal, gender-neutral form is Tagespflegeperson(en) ) working independently from any pre-school institution in individual homes and looking after only three to five children typically up to three years of age. These nurses are supported and supervised by local authorities. The term Vorschule , meaning 'pre-school',
5800-415: The apprenticeship scheme teaches skills that are required by law, including certain positions in a bank or those as legal assistants. The 16 states have exclusive responsibility in the field of education and professional education. The federal parliament and the federal government can influence the educational system only by financial aid to the states. There are many different school systems, but in each state
5900-475: The appropriate title, e. g. "Herr Studienrat ." This is generally outdated. The headmaster might also be addressed more laxly as Herr Direktor (the correct title being Herr Oberstudiendirektor). The general mode of address is these days Mr. + surname. Teachers mostly address students by their first name. Corporal punishment was banned in 1973. Teachers who want to punish students put them in detention or assign them boring tasks. Some have them write essays like "Why
6000-497: The case of exceptionally good (or exceptionally poor) ability. Graduation certificates from one state are recognized by all the other states. Qualified teachers are able to apply for posts in any of the states. Since the 1990s, a few changes have been taking place in many schools: In 2000 after much public debate about Germany's perceived low international ranking in Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), there has been
6100-404: The compulsory second foreign language may be English, French, Latin, Ancient Greek , Spanish or Russian . The German State of Berlin , where secondary education normally begins in the seventh year of schooling, has some specialised gymnasia beginning with the fifth year which teach Latin or French as a primary foreign language. Teaching English as a subject, particularly, has a long history at
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#17328588674396200-621: The education and insights offered by the models of classical antiquity. During the National Socialism era, it became virtually impossible for girls to study at a Gymnasium according to Hitler 's idea, as stated in Mein Kampf , the education of girls should be conditioned only by the task of motherhood. After the Second World War, German education was reformed with the introduction of new system, content, aims, and ethos. The Gymnasium
6300-472: The education system there are many more additional differences across the 16 states of Germany. The school year starts after the summer break (different from state to state, usually end/mid of August) and is divided into two terms. There are typically 12 weeks of holidays in addition to public holidays. Exact dates differ between states, but there are generally six weeks of summer and two weeks of Christmas holiday. The other holiday periods occur in spring (during
6400-481: The end of the ninth or tenth grade, the gymnasium used special terms for its grade levels: The introduction of French and English as elective languages in the early twentieth century brought about the greatest change to German secondary education since the introduction of the Realschulen in the eighteenth century. Today, German gymnasia teach English, French, or Latin as a compulsory primary foreign language, while
6500-523: The entire curriculum of a gymnasium is compulsory; in upper years more elective subjects are available, but the choice is not as wide as in a U.S. high school. Generally academic standards are high as the gymnasium typically caters for the upper 25–35% of the ability range. Schools concentrate not only on academic subjects, but on producing well-rounded individuals, so physical education and religion or ethics are compulsory, even in non-denominational schools which are prevalent. The German constitution guarantees
6600-409: The fee. Most gymnasia offer social and academic clubs. Most traditional among these (sports excepted) are drama , journalism (i. e. producing a Schülerzeitung ) and choir . However, chess , photography , debating , improv , environmentalism , additional math , experimental physics , IT classes , etc. can also be found. Some gymnasia require students to participate in at least one club (of
6700-465: The first separate secondary schools for females. As learned professions demanded well-educated young people, more secondary schools were established, and the state claimed the sole right to set standards and to supervise the newly established schools. Four different types of secondary schools developed: By the turn of the 20th century, the four types of schools had achieved equal rank and privilege, although they did not have equal prestige. After 1919,
6800-468: The former school building served as offices for the Jewish community. In 1966 it was proposed to reopen the school, but the proposal failed. In 1978 the Jewish community decided to sell the building to the city to finance a new Jewish community centre in the Frankfurt West End . The building was then used by the city as a public community centre and was renovated during the 1980s. From 1986 to 2004 it
6900-407: The foundation of teaching and study in the gymnasium, which then offered a nine-year course. Hebrew was also taught in some gymnasia. The integration of philosophy, English, and chemistry into the curriculum also set the gymnasium apart from other schools. Prussian secondary schools only received the title "Gymnasium" in 1918, which for some time would be the only path to university study. Due to
7000-619: The four types of secondary school. During the Nazi era (1933–1945), though the curriculum was reshaped to teach the beliefs of the regime, the basic structure of the education system remained unchanged. The German Democratic Republic (East Germany) started its own standardized education system in the 1960s. The East German equivalent of both primary and secondary schools was the Polytechnic Secondary School ( Polytechnische Oberschule ), which all students attended for 10 years, from
7100-455: The limited importance of German lessons) even countries whose language is not taught at all are visited. While this is not required, it is encouraged. Some pupils might go a year or half a year abroad (and are granted some time to catch up with their studies at home), while the more general thing is an organized stay of 2–4 weeks in either country in a group of 20+ students with two teachers (who are, naturally, dispensed from every-day duties during
7200-407: The line that the pupil in question does not fit into the community and should thus try his fortune with a school officially designated to take all pupils, i.e. a state school. There are written, as well as oral, exams. Written exams are essay-based and called Klausur and typically take one and a half hours. Many German students never take a multiple choice test. Gymnasium is a school where most of
7300-499: The more able children, and all states—except Saxony —have some Gesamtschulen , but in different forms. The states of Berlin and Hamburg have only two types of schools: comprehensive schools and Gymnasium. Learning a foreign language is compulsory throughout Germany in secondary schools and English is one of the more popular choices. Students at certain Gymnasium are required to learn Latin as their first foreign language and choose
7400-415: The more academic Abitur . The latter permits students to apply to study at university level. A bachelor's degree is commonly followed up with a master's degree , with 45% of all undergraduates proceeding to postgraduate studies within 1.5 years of graduating. While rules vary (see → § Tuition fees ) from Land (state) to Land, German public universities generally don't charge tuition fees. Germany
7500-427: The motto: "No child left behind" (" Keiner darf verloren gehen "). Humanities-oriented gymnasia usually have a long tradition. They teach Latin and Ancient Greek (sometimes also Classical Hebrew) and additionally teach English or French or both. The focus is on the classical antiquity and the civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome . For certain subjects, such as History, many universities still require
7600-453: The new crop of students arrive at gymnasium, there is often a period of adjustment. Some gymnasia have mentors that help the new, younger students get settled in. They show them around the school and introduce them to older students. In the case of boarding schools, they also show them the city. The mentoring does not mean a student is seen as being "at risk." On the contrary, if there is a mentoring programme, all new students are likely to have
7700-530: The north under-performed on standardised tests. The students who did worst came from Hamburg and the students who did best came from Baden-Württemberg . According to the study, the final year students in Hamburg lagged two years behind those attending a gymnasium in Baden-Württemberg . Because students had the same IQ, the difference in knowledge can only be explained by a difference in the teaching methods. On
7800-487: The opportunity to participate in sport-related outings. In the summer months, they have the opportunity to enjoy rowing trips or sailing and in winter months, they may go skiing . Students are not required to participate, but teachers see the trips as good for building character and leadership skills and encourage students to participate. As a rule, most of these trips come with fees. A school "Förderverein" ( booster club ) pays for those wishing to attend, but unable to afford
7900-482: The other hand, gymnasia in the south have the reputation of valuing knowledge over creativity, while those in the north have the reputation of valuing creativity over knowledge. Comparing students on a creativity test could produce different results. Students from all grades are required to take physical education classes. Most gymnasia have sports teams. Sports often include soccer , badminton , table tennis , rowing and field hockey . Most gymnasia offer students
8000-696: The others being Hauptschule (lowest) and Realschule (middle). Gymnasium strongly emphasizes academic learning, comparable to the British grammar school system or with prep schools in the United States. A student attending Gymnasium is called a Gymnasiast (German plural: Gymnasiasten ). In 2009/10 there were 3,094 gymnasia in Germany, with c. 2,475,000 students (about 28 percent of all precollegiate students during that period), resulting in an average student number of 800 students per school. Gymnasia are generally public, state-funded schools, but
8100-571: The period around Easter Sunday ) and autumn (during the former harvest, where farmers used to need their children for field work). In some states schools can also schedule two or three special days off per term. Students have about 30–40 periods of 45 minutes each per week (depending on year and state), but secondary schools in particular have switched to 90-minute lessons ( Block ) which count as two 'traditional' lessons. To manage classes that are taught three or five lessons per week there are two common ways. At some schools with 90-minute periods there
8200-449: The piano or the violin) as one of their major subjects. The Europäisches Gymnasium has its focus on languages. It exists in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg . In Bavaria, students are required to learn three different foreign languages. They start learning their first foreign language in 5th grade, the second in 6th grade and the third by grade 10 or 11. In Baden-Württemberg students attending
8300-400: The rise of German nationalism in the 1900s, the Gymnasium's focus on humanism came under attack, causing it to lose prestige. One of the harshest critics was Friedrich Lange , who assaulted the school's "excessive humanism" and "aesthetic idealism." He argued that they are not aligned with the aims of patriotism, duty, and the idea of Germanhood and that the country's history could also provide
8400-577: The separation of church and state, so although religion or ethics classes are compulsory, students may choose to study a specific religion or none at all. Gymnasien are often conceived as schools for the gifted. This, however, depends on many factors; some states such as Bavaria select their students by elementary grades or by entrance examination, and so do certain specialist schools, like the Sächsisches Landesgymnasium Sankt Afra zu Meißen , in other states. In these federal states, it
8500-550: The skills needed in an early industrialized world (reading, writing, and arithmetic) but also a strict education in ethics, duty, discipline and obedience. Children of affluent parents often went on to attend preparatory private schools for an additional four years, but the general population had virtually no access to secondary education and universities. In 1810, during the Napoleonic Wars , Prussia introduced state certification requirements for teachers, which significantly raised
8600-408: The south did have higher standards than those in other parts of Germany. On a standardised mathematics test provided by scientists, the study showed that students attending a southern gymnasium outperformed those attending one elsewhere in Germany. A 2007 study revealed that those attending a gymnasium in the north had similar IQs to those attending one in the south. Yet those attending a gymnasium in
8700-466: The standard of teaching. The final examination, Abitur , was introduced in 1788, implemented in all Prussian secondary schools by 1812 and extended to all of Germany in 1871. The state also established teacher training colleges for prospective teachers in the common or elementary grades. When the German Empire was formed in 1871, the school system became more centralized. In 1872, Prussia recognized
8800-441: The starting point is always the Grundschule (elementary school) for a period of four years; or six years in the case of Berlin and Brandenburg. Grades 5 and 6 form an orientation or testing phase ( Orientierungs- or Erprobungsstufe ) during which students, their parents and teachers decide which of the above-mentioned paths the students should follow. In all states except Berlin and Brandenburg , this orientation phase
8900-429: The state ( Länder ) governments. This led to widely varying school systems, often making it difficult for children to continue schooling whilst moving between states. Multi-state agreements ensure that basic requirements are universally met by all state school systems. Thus, all children are required to attend one type of school (five or six days a week) from the age of 6 to the age of 16. A pupil may change schools in
9000-512: The state considers a child's right to information to be more important than a parent's desire to withhold it. Parents looking for a suitable school for their child have a wide choice of elementary schools: The entry year can vary between 5 and 7, while stepping back or skipping a grade is also possible. After children complete their primary education (at 10 years of age/grade 4, 12 year of age in Berlin and Brandenburg), there are four options for secondary schooling: After passing through any of
9100-552: The student's choosing), but in most cases, participation is voluntary. It has become increasingly common for gymnasium students to spend some time attending school in another country. Very popular destinations are English-speaking countries such as the US, Great Britain, Canada and Ireland; however, as it is increasingly difficult to find partner schools in English-speaking countries (high demand, little supply, among other things because of
9200-468: The students are college-bound and stringent grading is traditional. Pupils of average ability find themselves at the bottom of their class and might have done better at another type of school. A study revealed that upper-class gymnasium students of average mathematical ability found themselves at the very bottom of their class and had an average grade of "5" (fail). Comprehensive school upper-class students of average ability in mathematics found themselves in
9300-400: The third year of primary school and French is taught in high school as the main foreign language. It may cause problems in terms of education for families that plan to move from one German state to another as there are partially completely different curricula for nearly every subject. Realschule students gain the chance to take their Abitur at a Gymnasium with a good degree in
9400-492: The time). Generally, gymnasia have no school uniforms or official dress codes. However, students may be expected to dress modestly and tastefully. Some gymnasia offer branded shirts, but students are allowed to choose whether or not to wear them. For specific school events (like the Abitur ball) students attending them may be expected to wear formal dress, usually consisting of dresses for women and blazer and tie for men, but even this
9500-409: The upper half of their class and had an average grade of "3+". Students who graduated from a gymnasium often do better in college than their grades or ranking in class would predict. To many traditionally minded Germans, a "gymnasium in the south " is the epitome of a good education, while to other Germans, it is the epitome of outmoded traditions and elitism . A study revealed that gymnasia in
9600-558: Was abolished in the early 1990s after reunification, it continues to influence school life in the eastern German states. After World War II , the Allied powers (Soviet Union, France, United Kingdom, and the U.S.) ensured that Nazi ideology was eliminated from the curriculum. They installed educational systems in their respective occupation zones that reflected their own ideas. When West Germany gained partial independence in 1949, its new constitution ( Grundgesetz ) granted educational autonomy to
9700-488: Was from the start also open to non-Jewish pupils. The school's motto was "for enlightenment and humanity." The school became a prominent centre of liberal Judaism in the 19th century; many of its teachers were active in the Jewish reform movement . In the late 19th century the school started to experience economic difficulties due to the fact that Jewish parents increasingly sent their children to non-religious public schools, and
9800-473: Was retained, along with vocational and general schools. The Realgymnasium offered instead a nine-year course including Latin, but not Greek. Prussian Progymnasien and Realprogymnasien provided six- or seven-year courses, and the Oberschulen later offered nine-year courses with neither Greek nor Latin. The early twentieth century saw an increase in the number of Lyzeum schools for girls, which offered
9900-465: Was that it prevented the frequent confusion among parents about the fundamental difference between Realgymnasium, Oberrealschule and Oberschule on the one side and Realschule on the other. The Sportgymnasium is a school of the gymnasium-type, usually a boarding school, that has its main focus on sport. The Skigymnasium has a focus on skiing. The Musikgymnasium has its focus on music. (In Bavaria) It requires to learn to play an instrument (mostly
10000-573: Was the seat of the Hoch Conservatory and was additionally used by a theatre company. In 2006/2007 the building became the seat of the I. E. Lichtigfeld-Schule , a Jewish school founded in 1966. The school is now commonly referred to as the Philanthropin. The school currently has around 400 pupils. Around two thirds have a Jewish background. The Philanthropin is a neighbour of the Musterschule ,
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