More Facts & Info--HSLDA--German Homeschooled Child Sentenced to a Child Psychiatry Unit

This is from a mom on a local homeschool yahoo group and I felt that it was very interesting and pertinent to the information we received about the homeschooling in Germany. I prefer to see the issue from both sides and I am grateful that we have the many wonderful parents we have in our community who are knowledgeable and willing to share what they know. --Tabbi
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

For those interested, here's a little information on schools in
Germany with regard to this case:

From other reports, I've read this girl went to Gymnasium. It's
interesting to note that while the Jugendamt (Youth Welfare Office)
determined she was developmentally delayed by one year. It's
particularly interesting since German children undergo strict
assessments around 5th grade which determines their overall
intellectual and educational abilities. It is based on this
assessment that students are sent to one of three levels of schooling:
1. Gymnasium - this is the highest, most challenging level of
education and the ONLY path to university level studies. It has 13
grades as opposed to the American 12.
2. Realschule - this is a "technically" inclined education. Not to be
confused with an "IT" trade school. Youth attending this school
generally attend less than 13 years, do not have the option to attend
university with this diploma (though they can voluntarily apply to
complete Gymnasium).
3. Hochschule - this school traditionally only goes to grade 9,
though in recent years it's become more fashionable for students to
complete 10 grades. Students in this school could generally be
considered "at or below average" and are headed for an apprenticeship
in a trade position, most typically some type of manually labor like
construction.

All in all, not on the surface a totally bad system as, unlike the US
system, it doesn't automatically force children onto a path for
college when they may actually be more successful and happier in a
trade job. It does however, confine them to trade jobs carries a
certain degree of "class" distinction.

Here's my point though:
The GERMAN EDUCATION SYSTEM is the one that determined this girl
belonged in Gymnasium. They are the ones that educated her. They
are the ones that apparently failed, if she's now considered behind
by one year.

Germans do tend to put "delayed" students into a "Sonderschule"
or "Special school" and yes -- it has all the nastiness of
the "short bus" attitude. Many children end up in "Sonderschule," in
fact, for health reasons. I know of children who were epileptic.
Otherwise perfectly healthy, intelligent and capable children, but
because of the risk of seizure deemed not appropriate for placement
in the general school environment. These otherwise "normal" children
were thus confined to a classroom with children who were, in part,
greatly mentally and physically challenged. The message is clear and
while I'm not one to scream "Nazi" at the drop of a hat, it
definitely smacks of the same flavor of human worth classification.

Finally, I read in another article mention of a loud classroom
environment and cancelled classes. I dare say I question whether a
loud classroom environment claim has any merit whatsoever; however, I
am familiar with the German practice of simply not holding class when
a teacher is unavailable rather than bringing in a substitute. This
has always astounded me.

While I question the slant with which some of the information has
been presented, I believe the facts are to be found and they are
indeed not pretty.

Hope that illuminates for someone who might take interest.