Grundschule
When children in Germany turn 6 they start going to school. The first 4 years they are studying at the so-called Grundschule. It is compulsory. This institution is highly egalitarian. Children are not divided into groups according to their ability level. Each kid’s potential should be fostered! This is the main task for the teachers of Grundschule. They are also responsible for the weaker pupils, teachers are to help them and support all the pupils in the class at one and the same time. Sometimes teachers leave some extra time for the weak pupils after classes, so that they could keep up.
The class should become a real team, so often the group has the same teacher for at least 2 years. It is not rare when one teacher stays with the class since the 1st and up to the 4th grades. It leads to the visible students’ progress as individual support is provided for every pupil.
Sometimes weak children are held back a year. It happens when the teacher thinks the weakness would only worsen. Usually this decision needs the approval of the school authority. But retention is not often.
Much attention is paid on the education of disabled children. There are special schools for such kids – Sonderschulen.
Teachers try to make studying a pleasant experience for kids. School should be as educational as enjoyable. Developing a positive atmosphere in the class is very important; classmates should get along well with each other. Pupils should be interested in what they are doing. Even studying mathematics may become some kind of a game.
Grundschule teachers are responsible for the pupils’ social behavior. This is a very important educational experience. Very often pupils are encouraged to help one another. Pupils should know about their cultural backgrounds, such discussions are not seldom at Grundschule. Other topics for discussions in the class are human weaknesses and strengths or inappropriate behavior of some of the pupils. Kids are taught to be responsible; they water flowers in the classroom or pass out bottles of milk.