[Culturechat] schools

[Peter Haggart]

Thanks for the informative information on schools - we had often wondered
about the system on our visits to the Heartland -----------

Pete
----- Original Message -----
From: "Vance Roy" <gigli.saw@dplanet.ch>
To: "Lewis & Helen" <lenlewis@netcarrier.com>
Cc: "culturechat" <culturechat@untours.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2001 1:10 AM
Subject: Re: [Culturechat] schools


> I think one of Idyll's original hopes was for you to learn about
> different country's cultural ideas as a whole. I hope this helps with
> questions about the educational system here.
>
> Regarding schooling (and most everything else), the kanton has a great
> deal of say so. I happen to have a good Swiss friend who is the
> equivalent in CH of the head of vocational training in a school system
> in the USA. He is a teacher of course, and we have had discussions on
> some of your points.
>
> The school on the Hasliberg is a private affair. I had heard that it was
> largely for "problem" children, but I am ignorant of it except for its
> existence. Maybe the problems aren't with the kids but the parents.
>
>
> Normally in Kanton Obwalden, the children may go to so called play
> groups for 2-3 days per week at about 4-5 years. These aren't structured
> schools with a curriculum but are valuable in teaching social skills, I
> expect. At age 5, the child goes to kindergarten. I think this is
> compulsory, but I won't swear to that. At age 6, the first grade begins
> with half days as a rule. Although the curriculum in this part of CH is
> supposed to be German, it is a mixture as time goes by.
>
> School schedules remind me of something made out by a maddened
> dogcatcher. Sort of like the street plan for Boston. Most every home has
> schedules for each child on the refrigerator door, so mom can keep up
> with where the kids are on a given day. Some of the more radical
> feminists have accused the system of doing this so the mother of the
> house always has some child at home and can't venture into the business
> world. If that is true, it hasn't worked. Until the higher grades are
> reached, school times are a jumble to me. I think they vary in each
> community in a kanton. Schooling is compulsory! I have heard of cases
> where a parent was punished for even a few days off to take the child to
> grandparents. One must have a valid excuse with documentation. Good
> thing that CH doesn't have a capital punishment law.
>
> Some children in the "slow" group may have the parents advised to keep
> them in sort of a super kindergarten for an extra year. there appears to
> be very close communication between parents and teachers. teachers are
> also always smarter than the students. Otherwise, the curriculum remains
> the same for a given area until the ninth grade. Earlier election to go
> on a course for a Matura can be done, I think in the seventh grade, but
> this is voluntary. During the ninth class year, a student elects to go
> one of two courses. To pursue a trade or vocational education, or to go
> for a Matura. What is a Matura? It is certificate of expertise gained
> after at least four years of study along the lines of math and science,
> language, economics, or other courses as offered by the kanton's
> educational system. Sometimes a student will travel some distance from
> home to study at a given area because that school offers a good
> education toward a specific Matura. The school in Sarnen sometimes
> graduates student who are from Ticino. These students literally move to
> the area for the school weeks. At the completion of the Matura study,
> after 13 years in school, one takes an exam, and if passed, then is able
> to pursue university study along the lines of his or her Matura.
>
> All students who are not handicapped in some way, are required to
> complete the ninth class. Those who opt out of a Matura then go through
> a period of 2-4 years training for a vocation. If, for instance, a boy
> wants to stay at home to learn the farming business, he may not have a
> lot of study. Few kids want to stay on the farm these days. If a student
> is uncertain, there are a large number of assessments that he or she can
> undergo to see what their aptitudes are. There are also "mini
> apprenticeships" available so that a student can get a taste of what
> they may think they wish to do. After a decision is made, the student
> begins a course of training with class work and on the job experience
> for the prescribed period. This used to be called Distributive Education
> when I was in high school in the USA. From this group comes the CH
> salespeople, the bakers, the butchers, the carpenters, etc. These
> students, called Lerhlings, are paid a salary and get benefits like any
> worker. At the completion of their training, they take an exam to show
> their expertise. Sometimes, a Lehrling may continue as a long time
> employee. I know one man who did his training and now still works for
> the same company over twenty years later. This isn't compulsory though.
> You can imagine that some companies have great reputations for training,
> and that they are sought as places to get one's education.
>
> If a student, either early or much later, decides a given occupation is
> not for him, there are paths open now that allow for retraining. This
> did not used to be the case twenty or so years ago.
>
> As far as school's extra activities, one does not see school band,
> soccer teams, and the like. Every community has music clubs, chorus,
> sporting teams, etc. in which nearly all kids participate from an early
> age. School is pretty much for learning academic subjects, but nearly
> all children play a musical instrument and some sort of sport.
>
> Now, lastly, a disclaimer. I wrote the above from memory. Herr Britschgi
> often lurks on the chats, so when I next meet him, I may have some
> corrections/additions to the above.
>
> Vance Roy
> gigli.saw@dplanet.ch.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> This message was sent by Culturechat.
> To reply or send a new message, email to:
> Culturechat@untours.com
>
> Visit the CultureChat archives:
> http://mailman.dca.net/pipermail/culturechat/
>
> To unsubscribe, change to digest delivery, or
> temporarily pause delivery, visit:
> http://mailman.dca.net/mailman/listinfo/culturechat
>