Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports:
Zehn Schüler einer Realschule im Alter von 14 und 15 Jahren, drei Lehrerinnen und drei Passanten hat der Amokläufer von Winnenden getötet, bevor ihn die Polizei erschießen konnte. Ministerpräsident Günther Oettinger sprach von einer „grauenvollen und in keiner Form erklärbaren Tat“
The madman of Winnenden killed ten 14-15 year old pupils of a six-form high school, three teachers and three bystanders, before the police could shoot him. Prime Minister Günther Oettinger spoke of a "greyful (gruesome, somber, overcast) and in no way explainable act.“
For those who aren't aware of the German school system, students attend compulsory Form-1 (elementary) school through 6th grade, and then move to one of the following (which is also known as a Form-6 or post-elementary school):
* Hauptschule - designed for students going into a trade (e.g., carpentry, masonry, etc.) and is finished at the 9th or 10th grade.
*
Realschule - designed for students going into a profession and is finished at the 10th grade.
* Berufsschule - designed for accompanying an apprenticeship after Haupt- or Realschule; mandatory to age 18.
* Gymnasium - designed for students going to university/college and finishes at the 12th (G8) or 13th (G9) class.
NOTE: The first cut for college is 6th grade and if you don't make the 'cut' you cannot attend college in Germany, which is free to qualified students.
Richard's $.02