Education system of Saalenia

The **educational system of Saalenia** has a long history and is strongly influenced by the social reality of the centuries-old matriarchy, but also by more recent reforms. The origins of the education system in the principality go back to gay monastery schools and church-run universities in the early Middle Ages, went through secularization in the late Middle Ages and the early modern period and finally experienced democratization attempts in the 18th and 19th centuries, until minor reforms led to the current situation.

## Legal Matters

According to the constitution of the principality, the education system in Saalenia is under state supervision. The competent authority is the Ministry of Culture and Science. There are no private schools or church schools. According to current legislation, all Saalenian children between the ages of six and sixteen have compulsory schooling, which derives from the general right to education in the constitution. A distinction is made between full and restricted right to education based on gender classes. Only gender classes one and two (women and feminine non-binary persons) have the full right to education, while gender classes three, four and five have a restricted right to education.

Whenever women or girls are mentioned in the following article, this means all people with a full right to education, unless otherwise stated. The term men or boys includes everyone who has a restricted right to education.

## Primary School

The primary school (German: *Grundschule*) is the first school that is subject to compulsory schooling and includes school classes 1 to 4. It is therefore attended by children between the ages of 6 and 10 and is mixed gender according to Saalenian law. In the first two classes, the assessment is mostly based on performance assessments and not on real grades. From the third grade there are grading systems from 1 to 6.

The teaching content of primary school is writing, reading and arithmetic, as well as simple natural and cultural studies. English classes are compulsory from the third grade. The training of teachers usually takes place through pedagogical training in a vocational school. University attendance is not required, nor is subject-specific specialization, since elementary school teachers should in principle teach all subjects. The primary school teaching post is reserved only for women and feminine non-binary genders.

At the end of elementary school, the children receive a performance assessment, which is carried out by the teachers and an educational committee and leads to a binding school career recommendation, which shows which school the child can attend first.

## Secondary School

The secondary school includes all types of schools that take place from the fifth grade. They consist of the so-called basic school, the middle school and the grammar school. The school career recommendation after the fourth grade decides which type of school a child goes to, with which ones being issued again after the sixth and ninth grade. From the eighth grade, there is a gender segregation in the classes, with women receiving more instruction in artistic and intellectual activities and men more in manual and domestic activities. However, the separate classes are mostly in the same building

#### Basic School

The basic school (German: *Basisschule*) represents a general education school. The teaching content of this type of school is primarily practice- and method-oriented and has little scientific orientation. The aim is the professional maturity of the students, which is why such subjects as crafts, home economics and work apprenticeship are part of the curriculum.

In general, the basic school leaving certificate is awarded after successful completion of the 9th grade. This entitles you to start vocational training as part of the dual training system. 40 percent of basic school graduates make the transition to training in the dual system. 8 percent make the transition to the school-based vocational system (full-time school training or civil service training). However, it would be wrong to make a blanket judgment. The opportunities for elementary school students vary from state to state. Where the basic school has a strong position, there are attractive training options in the manual sector and in certain commercial professions (e.g. retail trade).

In the culture, the elementary school is often decried as "residual school" and it has little social prestige. This type of school has been harshly criticized by the left-wing Democratic Party in particular, but also by the Egalitarian Party. Teachers are trained at specially designated teacher schools and specialization in at least two subjects is required.

#### Middle School

The middle school (German: Mittelschule) is the largest type of school in Saalenia. It combines practical and career-oriented education with a fundamental scientific orientation. Upon successful completion after the 10th class, this entitles the holder to take up vocational training courses, to enter the middle civil service career or to attend higher vocational schools or technical colleges or the upper level of a grammar school. Accordingly, the lessons are practice-oriented, but without sacrificing a scientific orientation. The topic of preparing for a career choice occupies a large area, which, due to its complexity, is dealt with not only in one but in various subjects, sometimes interdisciplinary. From the 7th grade, students have the opportunity to choose between different subject profiles as part of the so-called compulsory elective lessons. As a rule, the profiles offer a basic education in science and technology, economics or social studies, or enable the learning of a second foreign language, mostly French, Spanish or Japanese.

The teacher training takes place in a dual course of study, on the one hand at the university in connection with the teacher schools of the basic school. Subject specialization is required.

#### Grammar School

The Grammar School (German: *Gymnasium*) is the highest level of school in Saalenia. The teaching content is based on scientific work, methodology and theories. Greater value is placed on artistic education for both sexes and on the interpretation of social phenomena. Boys have their Abitur after 10 classes, girls after 12 classes, with only the latter getting admission to university. Teachers have to complete a master's degree and study pedagogy. Specialization is required. In this type of school, the gender differences are greatest. The grammar school is divided into different school types, which focus on different areas. However, the qualifications of all school types are all equivalent. These are as follows:

* **Technical Grammar School (German: *Technisches Gymnasium*):** The most common type of grammar school, it emphasizes technical education for men and STEM subjects for women. It is otherwise open to all people who have the appropriate school career recommendation.

* **Nobility School (German: *Adelsschule*):** This type of school is reserved only for children from noble families. It has a focus on learning etiquette, manners and politics, while also being taught fencing and ballroom dancing. At this type of school only women are allowed as teachers, while otherwise feminine non-binary ones are also allowed.

* **Humanist Grammar School (German:*Humanistisches Gymnasium*; in Saalenian Dialect: *Lyzeum*):** This type of school specializes in classic humanistic education and thus focuses on cultural, moral, critical and political education. It is the only type of school where explicitly only women and feminine non-binary (all gender classes with full educational rights) are allowed to attend. There are only four such grammar schools in all of Saalenia, which is why this type of school is popular and highly regarded.

* **Economic Grammar School (German: *Wirtschaftsgymnasium*):** This type of school has a focus on economics, business administration and sociology. While men here focus on simple bookkeeping and secretarial duties, while women become more attached to scientific methods.

* **Sports Grammar School (German: *Sportgymnasium*):** This high school is limited to sports and physical education. It is the only type of school where more men than women attend.

## Professional schools and university

After graduating from school, there is the opportunity to do various training courses at so-called professional schools. There you often have dual school lessons (half the time at school, half the time in the company). However, there are also training courses with pure school education. Graduating from a grammar school gives women the opportunity to go to university and start an academic career. Men are not allowed in universities.