Fun Fact Friday: German Intermediate Schools

I mentioned that Melanie (my new German friend) humored me by answering tons of questions about Germany.  I had the fun privilege of eavesdropping on a conversation between her and Andrea about their sons schools (their oldest boys are both about ten).  Oh, and I wasn't really eavesdropping since I was sitting right next to them on the train ;o)

First, it was neat to hear Melanie and Andrea share some of the exact same parenting experiences.  I'd never thought of it before... but the fact that they're from different countries doesn't really change the Momma-worries or the pre-pubescent issues, apparently.  It was fun to watch them both laugh and bond over the joys and trails of ten-year-old boys!

And then it was even more cool to have Melanie explain to us one of the Momma-worries she's having lately.  Her son has "chosen his school" for next year.  Andrea and I gave her blank stares on that one.  She went on to tell us that in Germany, there are three different schools for the next four or five years.  And based on your grades up to this point, you get to decide which school you go to next.  They are basically an easy, medium-difficult, and hard school. 

At the easy school you are on the path to go to a trade school next.  At the medium school you can either go to a trade school or go to university... but it takes more work for you to get to university.  At the hard school, you are pretty much guaranteed a higher education.  (My understanding is that it's free to go to college in Germany, but I could be misunderstanding)

Andrea and I were baffled!  We asked her if the kids pick on each other or shun each other based on the classification... then it was her turn to be baffled.  She was like "no it's no problem!"  In fact, some of her sons best friends are going to go to the medium school next year and they were begging him to come with them but he basically said "nope.  I'll see you guys at soccer practice but I'm going to go to the hard school".  Her fear is that he just doesn't understand how much work it's going to require.  But she's so proud of him for making the decision.

One thing I thought was cool about all this is that Melanie, as a mom of three boys, doesn't see any problem with recognizing that her oldest son is very smart and finds school easy... so he will go on to university no problem.  But her middle son struggles with school and he will not go to university... or if he does it will be a little later in life, perhaps after he's mastered a trade or something.  I like the mentality that it's totally fine that everyone has different skills.  We don't all have to be at the same level, or even go to the same school!

What do you guys think of this?  Very different from our "no child left behind" mentality, huh?