Grammar school or secondary school? Our topics in November
If there's one thing I'm particularly grateful to my parents for, it's their relaxed attitude when it came to the subject of secondary school or grammar school. The question of what I would become one day was like poking around in the fog. As a child - influenced by the moon landings - my first career aspiration was to be an astronaut. Later, a rope runner. Eventually a professional cyclist. My parents always remained relaxed, knowing full well that career aspirations can change almost by the hour during puberty.
At some point, I was called in to see a careers counsellor. «I'm quite skilful with my hands,» I replied when asked what I was particularly good at. «And I like the fresh air.» The man triumphantly held up a brochure: «Then become a roofer.»
But I wanted to keep all my options open and decided in favour of the sec and against the royal road. The rest is easy to say: I attended commercial secondary school, completed a banking apprenticeship - and became a journalist. I still don't have a school-leaving certificate - and only know university from public lectures. Believe me, I haven't felt bad about it for a single day.
Our society is based on a great promise. Anyone can achieve anything. Manyparents try to make up for this by spending thousands of francs on private preparatory courses and torturing their children into grammar school. The result: families in a state of emergency. I know of mothers who have cut back on their work in order to cram for the exam with their son. And I know fathers who groan out loud when it comes to the grammar school exams: «It was hell. But we had to get through it.»
When preparing for secondary school leads to burnout
Why do people do this to their children? Is it because many parents are worried that their children might one day be worse off than they are? Or do mothers and fathers fear social relegation if their child only manages secondary school, the «problem child ghetto»?
Virginia Nolan explores these questions in the dossier «Sek oder Gymi?». She, who likes to think back to her own grammar school days, has researched facts and figures on the Swiss school-leaving certificate rate and spoken to learning researchers, parents, teachers and prospective grammar school pupils.
And she portrays a girl who was driven to burnout by preparing for the Gymi . Despite this, the 16-year-old is attempting the exam again. «I wouldn't know what profession to choose. Everyone in our family went to university. Nothing else really comes into question for me either.»
And then there's this: Thank you, dear reader, for allowing us to continue to accompany you through the wonderful and also stressful times of parenthood. You, who are holding this magazine in your hand, are not alone. 204,000 readers regularly consult our parenting guide. This is confirmed by the figures from the latest MACH Basic Study (2019-2), which is conducted twice a year by WEMF AG für Werbemarktforschung.
For the fifth time in a row, we were able to increase our readership - contrary to the trend that most print products are losing readers.
Looking back a little further is even more pleasing: Fritz+Fränzi has gained 26,000 readers in the space of two years (MACH Basic 2017-2)! On behalf of Stiftung Elternsein, the publisher of Fritz+Fränzi, and the editorial team, I would like to say: Thank you very much for your loyalty. Even in the 19th year of our existence, we will not stop improving.
Yours sincerely - Nik Niethammer
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