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What will you do for school for your children? It is German law that school age children be in school, and homeschooling is not allowed. Your 4 year old will be fine in German kindergarten, but it may not work so well for your older children. If they are not fluent in German, they will probably be put in an "Auslander" class with other foreigners (Pakistanis, Chechens, Bosnians, etc.), where teachers may not care if they really learn anything or not. They may spend all day comparing tatoos and body piercings and buying cigs from the vending machines just outside the school. They even sell beer in vending machines in German High Schools. German schools are divided into three groups: "Gymnasium" for the most advanced students who will become professionals, "Realschule" for the next tier of students who will become technicians, etc., and "Hauptschule", for those destined to drive trucks and wipe tables. The school administrators decide at grade 6 which school the students go into. You can contest their decision in court and may get it overruled. Foreign students usually end up in Hauptschule. After grade five, you may want to look into alternatives to German public school.
Since you found my post so entertaining, perhaps you can contribute something useful to the conversation. What advice do you offer the OP on the important decisions they are trying to make? What has been your personal experience schooling children in Germany?
Cojoncillo, I am confused, b/c I have read about and heard from people who have placed their American children in local German schools with great success. I have read about placing your children in the local schools if you want them to be bi-lingual (which we do). The alternative is to stay here in MS, where the middle and high school are not what we want for our kids.
Try at least a private German school, I guess it is far cheaper than an International School, not a public one. In a public education they will do the same that here in Spain, they will place your children in classes for just arrived immigrants, that in some cases can be very conflictive. We have a very serious poblem with gypsies and their parents and with violence in public schools. Teachers are beaten by the students and their parents, a lot of drugs. A child in public education becomes a "chav" (quillo).
Conflictive immigrants do not go to private schools here in Span, maybe Germany is different.
I think that Bideshi knows the ropes very well.
Last edited by cojoncillo; 06-07-2012 at 06:44 AM..
Since you found my post so entertaining, perhaps you can contribute something useful to the conversation. What advice do you offer the OP on the important decisions they are trying to make? What has been your personal experience schooling children in Germany?
Try at least a private German school, I guess it is far cheaper than an International School, not a public one. In a public education they will do the same that here in Spain, they will place your children in classes for just arrived immigrants, that in some cases can be very conflictive. We have a very serious poblem with gypsies and their parents and with violence in public schools. Teachers are beaten by the students and their parents, a lot of drugs. A child in public education becomes a "chav" (quillo).
Conflictive immigrants do not go to private schools here in Span, maybe Germany is different.
You describe a situation in Spain. Interesting. What has this to do with the OP's question?
Having gone to school in Germany myself I think there is nothing wrong with sending your kids to a public school. Make sure it is a decent school in a nice area and all will be well. I remember we had a boy who arrived from New Zealand joining us in 5th or 6th grade. He quickly learned German, was popular and had no problems in Gymnasium after the first 6 months or so.
Don't listen to any of the BS about beer sold in Germna schools etc.
Yes, there are schools in areas with lots of immigrants or genrally "lower class" people (not that all immigrants are lower class but you get my drift) that I would not send my kids to, but finding a good school won't be a problem.
I would look for a house in the countryside outside Cologne. most of Cologne is not very pretty anyway in my opinion (lot's of post-war architecture) and it should be easier/more affordable to find a larger house outside the city. If budget is no concern you can find very nice houses close to the center, too. For example in Marienburg.
I agree with Stefan above. Look outside of Cologne if you are serious about putting the kids in government schools. The suburbs, which in Europe are really little towns separated from the city by open land, around Cologne are fine. Especially to the south of Cologne: Bruehl, Erftstadt, Bornheim were fine when I was spending time in Germany (however that was the 1980s). Avoid the areas with immigrants (namely, in the city, and some suburbs). BTW, this is the same advice I would give to a German family moving to a typical American city like Cleveland.
Thank you so much everyone for your helpful advice, both about the local German schools and where to look for housing. I am encouraged by many of your positive comments.
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