JUST like in other countries, Germany’s education system is relegated to the states rather than the federal government. And as with other countries the rest of the world over, kindergarten is optional. School attendance is compulsory from ten to 13 years old. Home schooling is not permitted by the way. In Germany, there are four types of private primary schools – Waldorf schools, Montessori schools, Freie Alternativschule, Protestant schools and Catholic schools. Of these, 272 are Montessori schools, 183 are Waldorf schools, 114 are Catholic schools and 63 are owned by the Protestants. For the uninitiated, the Waldorf educational system, which is founded by Austrian Rudolf Steiner, was established in 1919. It now has 950 schools all over the world as well as over 1400 kindergarten schools.

In a Waldorf school, concentration is emphasized more in visual arts such as painting, printmaking, photography, filmmaking, computer art, architecture, ceramics, metalworking, mosaic, paper art, sculpture, textile art, woodworking and glass art. Since a Waldorf school caters to primary students, only the basics and the most child-friendly terms are used in introducing these visual arts in the curriculum which is spread for over six years of course. Students are also taught drama, vocal and instrumental music and eurythymy which is of course interpretation of music through dance. Eurythym is quite an interesting field as students are taught how to express sorrow and joy at an early age. In music, the whole class is formed into an orchestra and each Waldorf school employs a dedicated musician. Students are then taught woodwind and brass by their fifth grade.

Therefore, one can surmise that a Waldorf school can enhance and awaken the aesthetic development of a child and so Germans are known for their intelligence and wisdom when it comes to development of the arts. Interestingly enough, Waldorf teachers undergo through six months of training before they are allowed to mentor students even though they are registered teachers in their respective countries already. Because the Waldorf educational system pays more attention to the holistic development of a child, their teachers are taught first some basics in child psychology so they can immediately pinpoint out at the first day of school which students are brighter than the rest and which students have a relatively difficult pace of learning. They likewise observe students whether they are choleric, phlegmatic, melancholic and sanguine. Aside from the typical German grammar and literature, natural science, German myth and history, Waldorf students in Germany are also taught modeling sculpture through beeswax, knitting, crochet, sewing, embroidery, basketry, weaving and book binding and the end products by the end of semester are usually socks, car seat cushions, gloves and dolls. Speaking of natural science, there is an interesting distribution of its sub-field when it comes to the whole primary education of the child.

By first grade, they are introduced to biology in general. By second grade, they are introduced into agriculture, rural Germany being an agricultural country. By third grade, they are introduced to basic botany. By fourth grade, they are introduced to geology. By fifth grade, they are introduced to human physiology. And by sixth grade, they are introduced to astronomy.

GERMANY is a country literally in the middle of the European mainland. While the eastern part of the country has been greatly influenced by its erstwhile communist neighbors Poland and the Czech Republic, the western portion continually enjoys its distinctive spirit and flair characterized by its neighbors France, Italy and British.

Its peculiar political sphere after World War II and even more so after the Cold War has caused much decentralization in the country. Education is not spared. Education in Germany is largely regulated by the states and not by the federal government. Despite that, school attendance across the country is compulsory for children six to thirteen years of age. Thus, one can surmise that there is 100 percent literacy rate in Germany because all persons have undergone school for seven years in their childhood. Home schooling is not allowed in Germany. The German federal education authorities have determined that children must socialize during these vulnerable moments in their lives. These officials said that children must be able to play, interact and eat with other children in between class sessions and even during one. There are lots of group activities that are instilled during class sessions and content of these activities is all about what has been discussed. Only those disabled physically and mentally are allowed to retain correspondence or schooling one-on-one with a tutor. Even children of foreigners who are staying on a long-term basis here in Germany are not allowed home schooling. For them, English-language schools are established.

These children are ultimately clustered together and it’s no surprise that someone from Adelaide will be paired with someone from Maine. Of course, education during childhood is important because this is the time when a child’s precarious brain slowly develops and absorbs all the academic knowledge injected to it. But adult education is certainly not absent in Germany. There are lots of foreigners who come here and stay for six months specifically for one purpose alone – to study the German language and appreciate German culture. Studying the German language is so intensive because one is required to give the whole day in school for sessions. Learning is fun though as the foreigners will have the opportunity with a German family throughout the duration of the program. Expenses during the immersion are of course added to the student’s tuition. During this time, your host family will expose you to public places where only Germans abound and you will be asked to make the most out of the dialogues in these public places. If you can translate the conversation of two persons, then congratulate yourself. Your host family will also introduce you to German cuisine and will take you in excursions around the top tourist destinations in the city where your language school is located. The six-month course is intended for persons who will have a government (diplomatic or otherwise) or private posting here in Germany.

Sometime between primary education and adult education is a period known as high school. Here’s another peculiar thing found unique in Germany – the high school system here. High schools here are divided into four – gymnasium, realschule, hauptshcule and gesamtschule.