The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SCHOOLING

IN GERMANY A FORMAL EDUCATION IS COMPLETE BY THE EIGHTH
GRADE. THEN A TRADE MUST BE SELECTED. THE NEXT THREE
YEARS ARE SIMILAR TO AN APPRENTICESHIP. ONE DAY A
WEEK A TRADE SCHOOL IS ATTENDED, AND THE REST OF THE
WEEK IS SPENT WORKING WITH A QUALIFIED PERSON OF THE
TRADE. DURING THIS TIME, THE APPRENTICE RECEIVES A SMALL
PERCENTAGE OF FULL PAY. THE CLASS WHICH THEY TAKE
TEACH(ES) NOT ONLY THE SKILLS AND TECHNICAL ASPECTS
OF A TRADE, BUT ALSO BOOKKEEPING AND ACCOUNTING. THIS
IS DONE SO THAT THE PERSON IS KNOWLEDGEABLE IN ALL
AREAS OF THE BUSINESS AND WOULD BE QUALIFIED TO OPEN
UP THEIR OWN SHOP BUSINESS, OR TRADE.
THE MAJOR PERCENT OF CHILDREN FOLLOW THIS TREND OF
EDUCATION.

A CHILD, AFTER COMPLETING FOURTH GRADE, TAKES AN EXAM
CALLED HECHOCHULE. IF THE CHILD PASSES THIS EXAM, HE
GOES INTO SPECIAL COURSES WHICH INCLUDE FRENCH, ENGLISH,
SHORTHAND, TYPING, LATIN, AND BOOKKEEPING. EVERY TWO
YEARS ANOTHER TEST IS ADMINISTERED, IF THE CHILD PASSES
HE CONTINUES IN THE PROGRAM; IF NOT HE CHANGES TO THE
TRADE SCHOOL PROGRAM.
AFTER TWELFTH GRADE, THESE SPECIAL PEOPLE THEN GO INTO
SPECIALITIES SUCH AS A LAWYER, SECRETARY, TEACHER, ETC.
THIS IS THE PREPARATION FOR THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL.

SCHOOLING IN GERMANY IS ALL LEARNING. THEY HAVE NO
SCHOLARSHIPS, HOCKEY , BASKETBALL, BASEBALL, FOOTBALL OR
SOCCER TEAMS SPONSORED BY THE UNIVERSITIES. THE ONLY
MEASURING STICK FOR ENTRANCE INTO THE UNIVERSITIES
IS PASSING THE BATTERY OF TESTS GIVEN FROM THE FOURTH
TO TWELFTH GRADES. THIS SYSTEM DOES NOT ALLOW FOR
INDIVIDUAL CHOICE IN PLANNING TO GO OR NOT TO GO TO
COLLEGE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BEAUTY SHOP

Date learned: 01-00-1971