Germany
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  • Overview
    • 5 Themes of Geography
    • Historical Roots/Analysis
    • Structures of Schools in German System
    • Roles of Teacher and Students
  • Academic Content
    • What is Taught
    • National Curriculum/Standards
    • School Structure
  • Nonacedemic Content
    • Classroom Management
    • Parental and Community Involvement
  • Life in Schools
  • Strengths and Weaknesses
  • Resources

Parental and Community Involvement

Parental Involvement: 
(*Varies within schools)


From a case study about German Education: 
  • Parents are entitled to participate in the life of the school. 
  • Parents have input on administrative and academic decisions. 


  • Grundschule (Grades 1-4)
                   -Parents play an active role in their child's education.
                   -Parental involvement is at its highest during the transition from the fourth to fifth grade because that's when they    
                   start deciding which of the different schools to attend. 
                   -Parents are usually motivated to see their child attend the best type of secondary school possible.

  • Hauptschule (Grades 5-9) 
                -Parents had few expectations about their children’s academic or career path
                  -Parents aren't particularly supportive of education, don't make it a priority in their home 
                  -Hardly any parents attend parent/teacher conferences  
                  -Teachers said they were faced with having to “raise” students who are “growing up on the streets” as well as            
                   teach them.

  • Realschule (Grades 5-10) 
              -Parents said that they viewed school as a means of acquiring knowledge that would be useful later   
                in life, to prepare for a profession, and to make their way in society. 
             -Expected a sense of community, small classes, teachers who cover the material at a pace which             
              allows all children to learn, and an open and informal atmosphere.
               -Participate regularly in parent/teacher conferences 
               -More likely to check on children's homework and be interested in their grades. 

  • Gymnasium (Prepares students for a diploma- Grades 11-13) 
                 -Most involved parents out of all the schools
                 -Near perfect attendance at parent/teacher conferences
                 -Supports their child’s education by providing a safe, quiet environment in which their child could learn. 
                 -Most parents did not mention spending much time helping their child with his or her homework because they are  

                  thought to be academically independent at this point. 

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Community Involvement :
  • From talking to someone who attended German schools: (Student point of view)
                  -She never had a chance to play sports because of so much work.
                  -They don't have a choice in what electives to take so they take everything. (Learn every subject)
                  -She said all the students have time to do when they get home is homework and eat dinner. 
                  -Not a lot of time to be active in the community.
          -Research
                   -German schools are strictly for learning and not much goes on in the way of social events.                    
                   -German schools don't have graduation ceremonies, school rings, yearbooks, honor societies or university 
                    football clubs
                   -High standards for education, less fun in school

  • Paying for Schooling:
                  -A college education in Germany requires little or no tuition, so the community is involved with paying for students 
                   educations. (paid for by taxpayers)
                  -Voters are less involved with school matters than in the United States
                  -No local school or college boards and no PTA's
                  -Educational programs are organized, financed and administered at the state level 
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