Berlin - School Report Question and Answers
Are students generally challenged appropriately by the curriculum? Please describe any particular strengths or weaknesses in this area. Do you have any thoughts how the curriculum is applied and implemented at this school?
Our children have been challenged by the *culture* of the school -- a lot. Students are expected to be MUCH more independent than in the United States, which is good, but incredibly painful and murky when you first acclimate to the school. Overall, I have not been impressed with the rigor of the academics. Primary schooling seems a bit behind what our kids were doing in the States (our posting prior to moving here; and we have school experience at another post abroad as well). The quality of the instruction is very dependent on the teacher. We have mostly lucked out. Our kids have learned a lot of German, are now quite conversant/functional. Of the common schools that USG/American expats apply to, JFKS does language instruction well, I think. Some of what we'd call "weaknesses" are related to culturally difference, especially with teacher quality and classroom management. In our experience, more traditionally minded German instructors still seem to think speaking sharply, combatively, barking at kids etc is "good tough teaching." It really detracts from the overall quality of the school, in my opinion. I think some (not all) German parents think of this as a good thing still and don't mind it at all. For Americans that are more used to being hovering, "helicopter" parents, JFKS presents a great learning opportunity. Your kids will develop life-skills here that they simply will not in an American public school these days. Students are given a lot more responsibility for themselves, much higher expectations for what they are supposed to manage personally. JFKS culture also expects more failure because of that, and has a fairly high tolerance for failure as a way to learn. I think there is enormous value to that now, but I hated it when we first moved here, especially because the communication is so much thinner than at a American school. You have to work a lot harder to understand how the school functions, what the normal procedures are, and I still don't feel confident about a lot of it. - Sep 2018
