Welfare System
The German social
security system is divided into five main sectors, each financed by
employees as well as employers: pension, health, long term care,
accident, and unemployment insurance. In addition to these, the
government provides other programs financed through taxes such as
family
benefits and social assistance.
The German government provides many financial benefits to encourage, support, and educate families. Families are given "child allowances" for children up to the age of 27 to go towards their care, education, and training costs. In addition to this, parents are exempt from paying a certain percentage of their income taxes depending on how many children they have.
With the increase of women in the work force, more children are being placed in day care centers. In an attempt to encourage family unity, the German government supplies parents with child raising benefits and allows them to have much reduced working hours in the first two years of their children's lives.
Childcare services are extending throughout Germany. The federal government is increasing its finances toward state governments for educational purposes, allowing the state governments to extend their childcare services. After meeting certain requirement, parents can now deduct work related childcare costs from their taxes. By aiding families financially with education, the government is trying to increase educational motivation.
The German government provides many financial benefits to encourage, support, and educate families. Families are given "child allowances" for children up to the age of 27 to go towards their care, education, and training costs. In addition to this, parents are exempt from paying a certain percentage of their income taxes depending on how many children they have.
With the increase of women in the work force, more children are being placed in day care centers. In an attempt to encourage family unity, the German government supplies parents with child raising benefits and allows them to have much reduced working hours in the first two years of their children's lives.
Childcare services are extending throughout Germany. The federal government is increasing its finances toward state governments for educational purposes, allowing the state governments to extend their childcare services. After meeting certain requirement, parents can now deduct work related childcare costs from their taxes. By aiding families financially with education, the government is trying to increase educational motivation.
Social Problems within the School System
A large problem German
children face today is within the structure of the educational system.
At the
age
of 10 or 11, children are divided
according to their educational performance and attitude and placed in
one of three school: Gymnasium, Realschule, or Hauptschule.
These placements determine their educational paths
and to a large extent their future employment at a
very young age.
Children who
attend Gymnasium, receiving lower and upper secondary education, are
generally university bound depending on the results of their Abitur
exam.
While Realschule children are permitted to take the Abitur, they
generally are trained for white collar job, receiving an extensive lower
secondary level education. Students of Hauptschule receive a basic
lower secondary level education and are expected to go into
trade.
Many argue that dividing children at such a young age does not allow them enough time to develop and acquire basic skills before being separated into stronger and weaker schools. This is especially problematic for immigrant children with language barriers and children who have grown up with less privileged backgrounds.
To curb this problem, many states are looking at strengthening their kindergarten and elementary education in order to better prepare all children for middle school. In addition to this, many states are considering having a compulsory language test for all foreign children. Failing this test would require the child to take language classes in order to catch up with the other students.
Many argue that dividing children at such a young age does not allow them enough time to develop and acquire basic skills before being separated into stronger and weaker schools. This is especially problematic for immigrant children with language barriers and children who have grown up with less privileged backgrounds.
To curb this problem, many states are looking at strengthening their kindergarten and elementary education in order to better prepare all children for middle school. In addition to this, many states are considering having a compulsory language test for all foreign children. Failing this test would require the child to take language classes in order to catch up with the other students.
References
Christian Science Monitor.
2002. "Germany: Schools that divide." Retrieved November
12, 2004. http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/1022/p11s01-lecl.htm
Colberg-Schrader, Hedi and Pamela Oberhuemer. 1993. “Early Childhood Education and Care in Germany." Pp. 56-77 in Education Provision for Our Youngest Children: European Perspectives, edited by Tricia David. London: Duke University Press.
Colberg-Schrader, Hedi and Pamela Oberhuemer. 1993. “Early Childhood Education and Care in Germany." Pp. 56-77 in Education Provision for Our Youngest Children: European Perspectives, edited by Tricia David. London: Duke University Press.
German Federal Foreign
Office. 2003. “Facts About Germany.” Retrieved
October 23, 2004.
http://www.tatsachen-ueber-deutschland.de/453.0.html
The purpose of this website is to inform viewers about the status of children in Germany. This site was created by Julie Bernzweig, Christina Carpenter, Sarah Mayhall, and Lorena Quintana as part of a collaborative web project for the first year writing seminar Children & Society at Tulane University taught by Professor April Brayfield.
Updated December 9, 2004