EXPERIENCING THE NEW GEOGRAPHY IN EAST GERMANY
Abstract
ABSTRACT. Following reunification in 1989, East German schools underwent a complete reorganization based on the West German model. This dramatically affected curriculum guidelines and teaching materials. According to a series of structured interviews with geography teachers in several East Saxony schools, it was found that reaction to these far-reaching changes has been mixed. Classroom management has become more difficult. More importantly the study reveals a wide discrepancy benveen East and West schools in the emphasis given to geography - the East focusing on physical geography and the West on social issues and values problem-solving. Although making considerable efforts to adjust, East German geography teachers face an understandable disorientation and express irritation at some of the changes they have been forced to make. RÉSUMÉ. À la suite de la réunification des deux Allemagnes en 1989, les écoles de l'Allemagne de l'Est ont été intégralement réorganisées selon le modèle ouest-allemand. Cette réorganisation a profondément modifié les lignes directrices visant les programmes d'études et les matériels didactiques. Grâce à une série d'entrevues sttucturées avec des professeurs de géographie de plusieurs écoles de Saxe orientale, on a constaté que ces modifications profondes ont suscité des réactions mitigées. La gestion de la classe est devenue plus difficile. Fait plus important, l'étude a fait ressortir une différence profonde entre les écoles de l'Est et de l'Ouest en ce qui a trait à l'importance accordée à la géographie, l'Est privilégiant la géographie physique, l'Ouest les questions sociales et la résolution de problèmes faisant intervenir des valeurs. Malgré de grands efforts d'adaptation, les professeurs de géographie est-allemands sont naturellement désorientés et se disent contrariés par certaines modifications qui leur ont été imposées.Downloads
Published
1996-01-01
How to Cite
Mai, U., & Burpee, P. (1996). EXPERIENCING THE NEW GEOGRAPHY IN EAST GERMANY. McGill Journal of Education / Revue Des Sciences De l’éducation De McGill, 31(001). Retrieved from https://mje.mcgill.ca/article/view/8275
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