education in the FRG, inc. post-war re-education policies; cultural and generational tensions in the FRG Flashcards
LO: ideological influences, education system, higher education, Western culture, the past, and entertainment
what was the main ideological influence on education in the FRG after WW2?
the primary ideological influence was to promote democracy and tolerance, counteracting the Nazi legacy
how did the Allies approach the re-education of German teachers after WW2?
teachers were re-educated about liberal and democratic values, with significant involvement from the Americans, who invested about $150 million in the process by 1952
what changes were made to the education system in West Germany after WW2?
it was restructured to promote democratic values, and a curriculum focusing on civic education was introduced.
textbooks were also revised to remove Nazi influences
what were the main types of secondary schools in the FRG after WW2?
the tripartite system included Gymnasium (academic), Realschule (technical/vocational), and Hauptschule (general education)
what was the major issue in the FRG education system in the 1960s and 70s?
concerns about underachievement compared to other countries, with fewer students staying in school until 18 and fewer going to university
what significant reform occurred in higher education in the FRG during the 1970s?
the federal govt introduced financial aid and expanded higher education with 24 new universities, leading to a rise in student numbers (from 200,000 in 1960 to 1.9 million in 1992)
how did the education system in the FRG maintain inequality despite reforms?
the selective structure from the Weimar era was maintained, and education was still elitist, with significant differences in standards across the states
how did Western culture influence post-war German society?
Western culture, particularly US influence, shaped youth culture with a focus on affluence, consumer goods, and rebellion.
Hooliganism also grew, influenced by youth discontent
how did the student protests in the 1960s reflect societal tensions in the FRG?
the protests were driven by opposition to US influence, the Vietnam War, and former Nazis holding positions of power.
The protests were a response to the unwillingness to confront the Nazi past
what role did literature play in reflecting tensions about the Nazi past?
authours like Gunter Grass and Heinrich Boll explored the Nazi past and post-war struggles, highlighting tensions within FRG society over dealing wth their history.
how did the entertainment preferences of West Germans change after WW2?
most Germans preferred simple entertainment, such as thrillers and romances.
however, the New Cinema movement in the 1960s focused on artistic films with social commentary
how did football contribute to West German culture after WW2?
football gained popularity, and victories in the 1954 and 1974 World Cups boosted national pride and helped unite the country
how was Nazi art viewed in post-war Germany?
Nazi art was rejected, and new forms of artistic expression, often linked to themes of realism and idealism, emerged under the influence of Western ideas
what was the main reason for the emergence of the New Left groups in Germany?
the New Left opposed Western capitalism and Russian communism, criticising the materialism of Western society and advocating for greater freedom
what challenges did the FRG face in confronting its Nazi past ?
despite some efforts to address the Nazi past, many Germans were reluctant to fully confront it, with many former Nazis remaining in positions of power in the 1950s
what was the term hooligans?
applied by media to gangs and anti-social and criminal behaviour e.g. in 1954 journalist Albert Brusemann wrote that crime among teenagers was up 13% in the previous year
how far were student protests accepted/supported?
Der Spiegel survey in 1968 found 92% of Berliners opposed student violence
which group protested to talk about the country’s Nazi past?
the Socialist Students’ Union (SDS) campaigned against former Nazis holding positions of power
which thinker influenced Germans to reject materialist culture?
Herbert Marcuse, who argued capitalism and mass media created false needs for consumer goods, while people’s real needs for freedom and sexual fulfilment were strictly controlled
which youth organisation support traditional German culture?
the German Youth Ring, created in 1946 as an umbrella organisation for all youth groups, offered expertise in traditional German pastimes such as folk dancing and hikes
what % of university students were women by the early 80s?
only about 38%
