OT: Swiss Education

[Firebolt]

No: HPFGUIDX 9773

Aberforth's Goat wrote:

> This makes perfect sense, of course. It is also similar to a continental
> European style of secondary education. In Switzerland, universities accept
> only the minority of students who complete a "Matura," generally at a school
> called a "Gymnasium." Most Swiss teenagers go through a combined trade
> school and apprenticeship. Hogwarts could be considered a "Gymnasium"--or an
> academic institution for the future intelligentsia.

Here in my section of the land of Swiss cheese, we call it the Maturit
Fdrale. And I really don't like the streaming system - what happens to the
talented but undisciplined kids? Do they end up as food vendors on the extensive
train system, or what? It just seems too early to divide kids up at the age of
12/13. My brother did go to a Gymnase - but I go to a private school where we're
only divided into primary students, juniors, and seniors, and neither of us took
the Maturit. Good thing, too; it's quite an - interesting experience. Thirteen
classes the first year, almost no free study periods, then exams for six or
seven of the subjects at the end of the year, followed by another year with only
their most important subjects. Um, not for me, thanks. That's why I take the IB
(which, oddly enough, I've mentioned in another post today...) - equally
excruciating, but at least we have only six subjects, a far greater range of
choice, and study periods so we can work independently...of course, I'm sure
plenty of you know that, seeing as Blaise is on this list as well ;).

~Firebolt