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Berlin Gymnasiums Adopt Simplified Classics as Authorities Call Use a Pilot

The publisher reports growing uptake by teachers in lower secondary grades.

Overview

  • Cornelsen confirms increasing use of its simplified editions by Gymnasium teachers, citing rising demand.
  • The Berlin education authority says the materials are used only in select classes and characterizes the practice as a pilot.
  • Teachers report class sets at schools such as Lessing-Gymnasium and note frequent use in eighth and ninth grades, with time constraints cited for some choices.
  • Parents and students at Georg-Büchner-Gymnasium say the series has been used for years, contrasting with the official pilot description.
  • Critics warn of lost aesthetic substance and lowered standards, while the Fachverband Deutsch argues simplification broadens access for weaker readers, including youths with migration backgrounds.