Almost every school form is available as a private school or a state school. It seems that it is a beneficial way to receive education with all additional service in private schools. But are private schools really better for a child than state schools? Is it necessary to pay a possibly high school fee? Or are state schools possibly better? Both types of school have advantages and disadvantages.

Costs and Service

A major difference between schools is that private schools charge monthly tuition for their performance. This can vary greatly in amount and range from 50 to 2000 euros per month. However, school fees are often linked to parents' incomes. For this purpose, private schools attach great importance to individual support, smaller class sizes, additional offers and, if necessary, special pedagogical concepts. Parents are hoping for better education, better care and thus better future opportunities. However, there does not appear to be any concrete link between the financial investment and the performance of the pupils. In an analysis by the Education and Science Union, private school pupils show better performance, but this is related to the socio-economic background. Taking into account the composition of pupils, state schools perform similarly well or even better. Thus, better performance is not a resilient criterion when deciding whether a private school or a state school is better for your child.

Special Pedagogical Concepts

There are big differences between schools, not just in quality. A special pedagogical concept or ideological orientation towards a private school is often pursued. This is an important point that should be considered in the decision for a private or state school.

Private or State School

There are a few things to consider when choosing a private or state school. As already shown, it is not necessarily the case that students from private schools have better performance. Taking into account the composition of pupils, the performance of pupils in state schools is often equivalent or even better. However, the amount of lessons in private schools is much better. This is due to the higher staff ingesis available in private schools. As a result, there is less teaching. The proportion of foreigners in private schools is lower than that in state schools. Critics asserts that private schools promote exclusion, as German children from an educational background are often found here. This is probably linked to school fees and also to the interest in education. Families who are less educated are less likely to come up with the idea of sending their child to a private school. Due to the often innovative or special pedagogical concepts of private schools, it is the case that they enable a pedagogy oriented towards the child, rather than one oriented towards the curriculum. This makes it easier to realize pedagogical ideals. But innovative approaches can also be found in state schools. Here, too, there are some good concepts and teachers. To answer the question of whether a private school or state school is better for your child, you should consider the special pedagogical concepts. If one of these is yours, it makes sense to attend a private school. However, if it is simply a matter of suggesting that private school students would perform better, you should reconsider the choice of a private school. Not every private school is good just because it is a private school. As with state schools, the quality of schools can vary widely in private schools. In addition, state schools also offer some good development opportunities for students. The benefits must also be regarded as equivalent. Ultimately, the decision whether a private school or state school is better suited to your child is a very individual one, which you should also discuss with your child.

The Basic Law is the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany.

It is the most important legal basis for coexistence in Germany.

The Basic Law

Articles 1 to 19 of the Basic Law protect the fundamental rights of the individual towards the state. Particularly important fundamental rights are:

• Protection of Human dignity
• Right to live and personal interity
• Equality before law for all
• Freedom of Belief
• Freedom of speech
• Freedom of assembly
• Freedom of occupation
• Guarantee of property and inheritance law
• Freedom of the press

Article 20 describes the main principles on which the political system of the Federal Republic of Germany is built:

• The Federal State
• Democracy
• The Rule of law
• Welfare state

The Federal State

The Federal State of Germany contains 16 states:

• Baden-Württemberg
• Bavaria
• Berlin
• Brandenburg
• Bremen
• Hamburg
• Hesse
• Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
• Lower Saxony
• North Rhine-Westphalia
• Rhineland-Palatinate
• Saarland
• Saxony
• Saxony-Anhalt
• Schleswig-Holstein
• Thuringia

Democracy

Germany is a democratic country, which means that the all state power comes from the people by the ways listed below：

• Election
• Votes
• Legislative bodies (Parliament)
• Executive power (government and administration)
• Jurisdiction bodies (courts)

The parliament is called the Bundestag in Germany and is the elected representative of the people.

Germany is a state governed by the rule of law. The decisions of the state – the government – are bound by the law. The actions of the state may be controlled by courts. For example, the Federal Constitutional Court can check whether newly enacted laws are in accordance with the Constitution. This protects citizens' fundamental rights and regulates state action.

Welfare State

Germany is a welfare state. This means that, in principle, every citizen should provide for their own livelihood through work. However, the state helps people who are unable or only limited to secure their livelihoods on their own. There are a number of state social benefits. The most important are statutory social security and unemployment benefit II, but also child benefit.

Montessori School

Montessori School include following pedagogical concepts. With the motto "Help me to do it myself" the individual needs of the children are brought into focus and promoted here. An important aspect is the promotion of children's independence. They should act independently and decide what makes self-determined learning possible. The design of the teaching is very different from that in state schools. There is free work, group work, project work and tied lessons. The first two to three hours allow students to decide for themselves which topic they want to cover and for how long. Older and younger students learn together. Tied lessons, on the other hand, take place in an age group. The learning material is taught and explored in a playful way and with all your senses. The children are given few rules and structures and have to organize themselves. Children with difficulty concentrating could therefore have a hard time in this form of schooling. At a Montessori school, any degree is possible.

Waldorf School

Waldorf School believes in its own pedagogical concept. A guiding principle of this concept is "receiving the child in awe, educating in love, and released in freedom." Here it is assumed that each person possesses three basic abilities, thinking, feeling and wanting. The development of artistic, social, creative and practical skills plays a major role here. The main subjects are taught in epochs. For several weeks, the children deal with a subject at the beginning of the day. Afterwards, other subjects are dealt with. Projects often link multiple subjects. There is no fixed curriculum, it is more suited to the development of children. There are no books, but numbers are rhythmized, letters are sung and the feelings are expressed through expressive dance, which converts sounds into movements. The environment should be harmonious and stable for the students, there are small groups, a teacher who is as unchanged as possible, no grades and no repetition of a class. It is important not to build up any pressure to perform. In principle, after 12 years, students receive the non-state-recognized "Waldorf degree". However, there is the possibility of obtaining state degrees through additional examinations, including the baccalaureate. Students usually have to go to school for another year.

Confessional private schools

There are also many confessional private schools. These are bound to one faith. In Germany, these are mostly Catholic or Protestant schools. Here, the focus is on Christian values such as charity, compassion and a sense of justice. Religiosity is not a prerequisite for going to such a school, but religious instruction must be taken part. Here different levels of school grade are provided.

Globally, Germany is a pioneer of climate protection as well as of the development of renewable energy.

The 21st century is considered the "century of the environment", and the main threat of our time is the accelerated climate change. In the following decades, it will be decided that to what extend the natural living conditions of our future generations will be changed. Environmental and climate protection have long been a vital issue in Germany. Globally, Germany is a pioneer of climate protection as well as of the development of renewable energy.

With the transformation of the energy sector, Germany has left the fossil-nuclear energy age behind and has embarked on a sustainable energy future. This includes the phase-out of nuclear power by 2022. By 2030, Germany intends to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent compared to 1990 levels. It is aimed to reduce at least 70 percent by 2040, and by 2050 80 to 95 percent shall be achieved. In November 2016, the Federal Government has published the "Climate Protection Plan 2050", which made it the first country in the world to set its climate policy principles and targets. By 2017, a reduction of 28 percent has been achieved.

In the global context, the Federal Government is also committed to environmental protection, cooperation on energy issues and environmental-friendly development. According to the Paris Agreement in 2015, the global temperature should rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and, if possible, to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Germany has fully committed itself to reach this goal. By the second half of the century at the latest, a large-scale global greenhouse gas neutrality should be established. This requires an 80 to 95 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emission in developed countries. The complete "decarbonization" is to be achieved in the course of the century. The UN Secretariat, which supervises the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change, is located in Bonn.

A protected environment, fresh air, clean water, diversity in nature, is essential for a high quality of life. Environmental protection, as a state aim, has been enshrined in the Constitution since 1994. In terms of air and water quality, the indicators have shown a significant improvement over years. Emission of pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides have fallen sharply, although not yet sufficient. The consumption of drinking water per capita has also fallen noticeably, from over 140 litres per day at the peak to around 120 litres.

Germany's strategy is to bring economic growth and environmental protection together in order to achieve sustainable economy. In conjunction with expansion of renewable energies, it is also crucial to increase the energy and resource efficiency as well as to use renewable raw materials wisely. It is a double-dividend strategy. On the one hand, the environmental and climate pollution is reduced, while on the other hand new business areas and jobs are created.