Two months for the summer holidays in France, against only six weeks in Baden-Württemberg in Germany: at first sight, there is no picture, it is easy to imagine the model favored by the students. But on closer inspection, it’s not that simple. School children on the other side of the Rhine benefit from fifteen days of vacation at Pentecost and finally six weeks is already a lot.
“At the end of the holidays, I can’t wait to get back to school and my friends”underlines Laura, third in the bilingual section of the Einstein Gymnasium in Kehl, “even if this feeling disappears very quickly at the start of the school year.” Confirmation with Julie: “at the end we get a little bored, we don’t really know what to do anymore.” For parents, convenience comes first. Many of them explain to the bilingual primary school in Kehl, the Falkenhausenschule, that they appreciate not having to find childcare and activities for two months for their children.
Psychologically, it’s hard, school in July. “
The hardest thing for French parents who have educated their children in Germany is that classes continue throughout the month of July. “Psychologically, it’s hard, school in July. And then we have homework, until the end, real homework.” But here again, young people seem to take it more easily than their parents. “I love going to school in the summer”, says Marie who is finishing her 3rd year. _”It’s daylight when we get up, we see the girlfriends. At school we don’t do much, and it’s too good.” VSconfirmation with Max in 6th grade. “We watch a lot of movies.”_
And the heat then? “It’s true that we sometimes have difficulty concentrating”recognizes Julie. “But the teachers too, they’re hot, so they’re careful”adds Laura.