In this paper I want to give a brief introduction on the history of education in Germany. As many other countries, Germany had its ups and downs in history. Political systems had undergone changes, social values were transformed and aspects of daily life including school curriculum had undergone changes as well. To better discuss and understand the prospects, benefits and last but not least devastating outcomes and consequences of two different approaches towards education, I am choosing two examples taken out of the Germanys' past and present to make my case. Both cases have in common that they were built upon newly established values of German society. Both cases are also closely connected to either a centralized power, as it was the case for my example of the past, or a decentralized system, as it is the case up to the present day in Germany. Being a teacher and hopefully educational leader in the near future, I want to use this comparison to make people understand about a very important part of German history and how it influenced the curriculum, bearing in mind challenges, mistakes, failure, opportunities and benefits.
To do so, I will start with explaining how the curriculum was shaped by the central political power and how it could be used as a political instrument from 1933-1945, followed by the essence of curriculum in “Nazi-Germany”. After that, I will describe the transformation of curriculum, especially its subjects and school environment during that period and explain the function of formal education. In the second part of this paper, I will focus on Germany's curriculum today shaped by a decentralized political power. Thus, I will explain the essence of curriculum up to the present day, followed by challenges which influence our curriculum, subjects and school environment today, such as social and cultural integration and their affect on the curriculum. The various articles I am using to underline my case study and are in historical order. From the past to the very present. Towards the end of this paper, I want to state a very personal conclusion about the outlined facts and aspects of this paper. As I wish to become an educational leader, part of my job involves problem solving. So I will do my best to contribute to society with my ideas towards education and curriculum regarding my society's' values and beliefs.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2015, Education in Germany. Comparing two contrasting approaches towards education and curriculum within German history, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1595610
