starts earlier than kindergarten

However, pointing out that integration is essentially a two-sided affair, the government has called on German citizens to demonstrate acceptance, tolerance, civil engagement, and a willingness to honestly welcome legal newcomers to their country.

Scattershot government "initiatives" never, never cut it. What proof is there that immigrant children need to learn German? They don't need it to exist in the cultural enclaves that flourish in German cities, and it seems like the only jobs out there for them involve emphasizing their cultural differences, and even then learning enough German to complete a sale.

Children can, and will, learn two languages. But the dendritic connections in the brain are gone even before pre-school starts, and when your parents aren't German, the effort is significant. But the idea is that it must be undertaken.

Postulation: if you are a German citizen, born in Germany, German should be your first language. Every parent wants the best for their children: if there was some proof that learning German would ensure a child's success, I reckon the change would come shortly thereafter. But Germany has a lot of issues to work out before they can offer their immigrant population anything out of the ordinary -- so, uh, any ideas?