Wow, you're being ripped off. Come to Fribourg, we have timetables available well in advance, professors distribute readings and generally prepare their own original lectures and better still it's only 600CHF per semester. You might need to BYO Malibu and pineapple juice though as that's not included in the tuition fees.

What noones brought up the swiss conspiracy to make things difficult for moms to have professional careers ?

Do you think Swiss women are brought up to have or even want a professional careers? This is the country that didn't give women in some cantons the right to vote till sometime in the '70s! It's a great point and probably even worthy of a thread on its own. I know I'd love discussing it with some Swiss women on the board to get their perspective because I've had a different experience in my country.

Definetly worth discussing; I don't think there's a conspiracy against women, but I find the thought that my mother grew up thinking she wouldn't have a vote horrifying!

I just started the thread in the Off-topic forum (general) for anybody that's interested. Comparisons of Women

Wow, and I thought the timetable for my kids' school was bizarre, with both of them finishing at lunchtime on Wednesday, and the younger at lunchtime on Thursday...

The school is quite regular and gentle in comparison to all this! Kids can arrive between 07:30 & 08:30, when lessons start... they have lunch (cooked in a very professional-looking kitchen!) on site, and finish at 16:00 (with the option of after-care until 17:30...).

Grave digging, but still relevant.

Yes, with a few minor differences, this is what the timetable is like. And yes, it is driving me nuts!! Especially the bit where you have to help Kid A with homework during the lunch break.

So a Swiss neighbour tells me that they do this to "keep the women busy".. I grab onto this conspiracy theory, shaking with both fists(!)
Instead of finding cures for autism, financial deficits, more ecologically friendly ways to deal with space debris, dihydrogen-oxide run cars, they should stay in their own houses(you dont even have time to meet up with friends, let alone go to work!!) waiting for kids to come and go, while cooking them a wholesome lunch, clean windows, wash clothes.. etc.

It like that old war theory - divide and conquer..

__________________
11. Knowing deep down that you gave your dreams a fair chance. – Most of the time the only difference between a dream that came true and one that didn’t, is a person who wouldn’t give up and one who did.

I totally agree, it as got even worse now, my son started school this year, so both my son go to the same school, and can`t even walk together as they have different timetables i.e. monday my daughter starts at 7.30am, and my son 8.30am, tuesday my son starts at 7.30am and my daughter 8.15am e.t.c They also never finish at the same time so i am constantly looking at my watch.

Goodness I remember that well... I always started the day with wet knees...

And not only that but if a teacher is ill or off for some reason our school (Kanton St.Gallen) does not have replacements or stand-ins........ they just send them home; no checking to see if there will be anyone there to receive them etc.

Jerry

Tsk. Where else would the mother be?

Thats just sad(!!)

Apparently the vote in our "village" resulted in being against "blockzeiten"..

Think of what would happen to the poor economy with so many more people looking for work if they so choose, because they have more than 2 hours at a time "without kids"... house prices rising because now double incomes can pay those prices.. hang on - thats happening already..

same as in France , but at least here they don't go on strike every 2 weeks!

One of the teachers in my daughters school had a bad skiing accident, badly broken leg and a bit more, out for 3 months or more. The class went though 2-3 subsitute teachers during that time. At least we don't live in St. Gall, if so I guess the kids would of had a winter recess of nearly half the school year.

Our eldest son has just started "Sek" and now has to start at 7:20 4 times a week but still gets 2 afternoons off per week. Although I was expecting something like this I still am pretty mad at the system. The poor kid is washed out by the end of the week and has to get up 45 minutes earlier than his brother and sister. We also get 45 minutes less sleep. I admit that I hate getting up early and that I might get little sympathy from early risers. What I don't understand though is how a country that could develop a super efficient transport network should think it desirable that our 3 kids should start school at 7, 8 and 9 in the morning. Would it really be so difficult to say all start at say 8:30. We could all have breakfast together and start the day in a civilised way. I just don't get it.

I feel for you, Sutter. The last two years my daughter seemed to go to school different times each day, I just couldn't keep up. Thankfully this year it's 8 to 5 every day and although her days are long, it's at least more structured and we don't need timetables on the fridge anymore.

@inWinti: Amen.

Add to that the kids have to walk home for lunch and then walk back. It just shatters the whole day itty-bitty blocks of time, which is very difficult to be productive in.

I have also brought this up at the local authorities in my town, and they finally agreed to make it consitent - but in 2+ years Apparently they have already published the school schedule for 2 years, and it can no longer be changed.

They are also going to be building a "KinderZentrum" where the kids can come for lunch (for a minimal fee, supported by the gemeinde), and then go back to school. Many other parents also felt the same way, I guess . . .

I feel ur pain.

For what it's worth, the local schools in Nyon have same hours in the primary schools for the first time this year due to parents pushing for this, but after having to be voted on, but it passed. The different hours of the enfantine and primary classes in the same primary school are now harmonised after a big effort but apparently there are still differences at the secondary/gymnasium level.

This happened to me i was about to go out when my door bell rang and my daughter was stood outside the door, i asked why she was home, and she said her teacher was ill so she was sent home i mean WTF it was winter very cold outside what if i had left a few mins earlier she would of been left in the cold outside until i came back home. Why can`t the school ring and make sure someone is at home

Can you groan at schools on the EF?