German children starting school
The schools in Hessen start back on Monday (5 September 2022) after six weeks of sunny school holidays. In Germany, summer holidays are staggered so not all Bundesländer are off at the same time. This means that children elsewhere in Germany may already have been back at school for two or three weeks. At other times of year, too, different federal states have different weeks off. The website www.schulferien.org provides a useful overview.
But for those in Hessen, frantic parents will be hunting for the list of stationery they need to buy, checking whether the children’s Hausschuhe (indoor shoes) and Turnschläppchen (gymnastics shoes) still fit, and maybe even discovering mouldy crusts in a Brotdose (sandwich box) buried at the bottom of the Schulranzen (school bag). At least there isn’t the panic about getting the right uniform that we used to have, as German schoolchildren don’t wear uniform!
Usually, children stay in the same class group with the same class teacher for the first four years of school – at the Grundschule – although some subjects are taught by other teachers with the relevant specialisation. At secondary school (Hauptschule / Realschule / Gymnasium – the weiterführende Schulen) the children do have a class and a class teacher, but each subject is taught by a subject specialist (German teachers generally have two specialist subjects each).
For children starting school, there is usually an Einschulungsfeier (starting school celebration) on the second or third day of the school year. Children and their parents are welcomed to the school by the staff and current pupils, who often put on some sort of show for the newbies. The Erstklässler (first graders) meet their classmates and teacher for the first time, while the parents usually mingle and enjoy coffee and cake. Every new starter will have a Schultüte (school cone, sometimes also called a Zuckertüte) and a proper Schulranzen (school bag). The Schultüte is usually filled with sweets/snacks and (increasingly) other gifts, such as stationery, an educational game, a snack box & drinks bottle, an umbrella, an audio book, an alarm clock, a purse/wallet, a cuddly toy…the possibilities are endless! (There are regional differences, differences between schools, and even many German parents are a bit unsure as to what/how much to put in!) If your child knows other children starting the same school, it could be an idea to liaise with their parents if you want to avoid big discrepancies, but ultimately it is of course up to each individual family. Just make sure it’s not too heavy for the child to be able to carry! Schools have different traditions concerning when the child is given the Schultüte. Sometimes you hand it the in the day before at school, and the children are given them as part of the ceremony. Sometimes they are given them at home on the morning of the first day and then take them with them to the ceremony. If in doubt, ask your school or another parent. The school bag is a big investment, and while there are versions costing around €50, most cost in excess of €200! They are designed to be ergonomically sound and grow with the child over their first four years of schooling.
After the Einschulung ceremony, many families get together with relatives and have a meal – often at a restaurant. Some prefer to keep it low-key at home, though, after all the excitement at school.
From the outset, German schoolchildren are encouraged to walk to school if possible. This often starts off as a Laufgruppe (walking group) with children who live nearby all walking together, initially accompanied by one or several parents, and once they feel confident (and are deemed sensible enough to manage the walk safely) they then walk alone. I am still very torn between wanting to encourage independence and being terrified of a “worst case scenario”, and the first time my 7-year-old walked alone I was more than a little nervous, but seeing her beaming with pride when she arrived home alone for the first time made it worth it!
At our Nests & Wings Home & Happy in Germany courses, we provide you with more in-depth information about the German education system, German traditions and customs. Also, you always have the opportunity to ask specific questions about situations you are facing, for example your child starting kindergarten or school.