We were learning about California in my 8th grade class and I asked if anyone knew the capital of California. Many students thought they knew. I heard Los Angeles, San Francisco, and even Las Vegas, but they had never heard of Sacramento.
Not unreasonably, they thought the governor was still Arnold Schwarzenegger and had never heard of Jerry Brown.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Private grades?
One of the differences between American and German schools is whether a student's grades are regarded as private or not.
Here at the MLS, I've seen teachers reporting grades to their students by reading them out loud in front of the whole class; whereas in America, grades are generally seen as something private, between the teacher and student (and perhaps parents).
The rationale for grades to be public (as it was briefly explained to me by one teacher) is that it allows the students to compare how they're doing against their peers and to check that the teacher is giving them a fair grade in relation to the rest of the class. My students do not seem to be shy about their grades and willingly share them with the whole class.
In America, I remember grade sheets being posted with students given ID numbers so that no one else would know who had which grade. Also, my fellow students would try and hide their returned tests so that no one else could see how they did.
Because their grades have always been public, these students are accustomed to them not being especially private. And also, if someone isn't doing well and will be repeating a year*, everyone will find out about that anyway. Partly, I think this is a result of the students knowing each other better at the MLS. There are fewer students per grade than I had in high school, and students often stick together in the same classes for years on end.
So the big question is: Which leads to a better school environment? I think the teachers should feel the freedom to give grades individually and personalize the learning experience for each unique student, but at the same time, it helps students know where they stand when they see how their classmates are doing. And even if the grades are given in secret, classes usually know in general how their peers are performing. So, I think I'll still hand out grades in private, will continue to ensure that the class knows how they are doing as a group (providing grade tables (Notenspiegel), and the like, which is also quite common at the MLS). And the class should have some sense of how the whole class is doing.
*Repeating a year at the MLS is much more common than I've seen in the U.S.
Here at the MLS, I've seen teachers reporting grades to their students by reading them out loud in front of the whole class; whereas in America, grades are generally seen as something private, between the teacher and student (and perhaps parents).
The rationale for grades to be public (as it was briefly explained to me by one teacher) is that it allows the students to compare how they're doing against their peers and to check that the teacher is giving them a fair grade in relation to the rest of the class. My students do not seem to be shy about their grades and willingly share them with the whole class.
In America, I remember grade sheets being posted with students given ID numbers so that no one else would know who had which grade. Also, my fellow students would try and hide their returned tests so that no one else could see how they did.
Because their grades have always been public, these students are accustomed to them not being especially private. And also, if someone isn't doing well and will be repeating a year*, everyone will find out about that anyway. Partly, I think this is a result of the students knowing each other better at the MLS. There are fewer students per grade than I had in high school, and students often stick together in the same classes for years on end.
So the big question is: Which leads to a better school environment? I think the teachers should feel the freedom to give grades individually and personalize the learning experience for each unique student, but at the same time, it helps students know where they stand when they see how their classmates are doing. And even if the grades are given in secret, classes usually know in general how their peers are performing. So, I think I'll still hand out grades in private, will continue to ensure that the class knows how they are doing as a group (providing grade tables (Notenspiegel), and the like, which is also quite common at the MLS). And the class should have some sense of how the whole class is doing.
*Repeating a year at the MLS is much more common than I've seen in the U.S.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Hathway Vorstellen
Eine kurze Notiz von Virginia (MLS '59-'60):
Guten Tag, allerseits! Es ist schon wieder Zeit, einen neuen Gastlehrer vorzustellen. Nummer 10 sogar! Wir haben Dr. Karl Fink zu verdanken, dass der Rimbach-Teacher-Award jedes Jahr weiter verliehen wird. Thank you, Karl, for your hours and hours of work to advertise the Award, solicit applications, meet with the selection committee and then orient the award-winner about what is in store at the Martin-Luther-Schule in Rimbach.
Der nächste Gastlehrer, d.h. der Nachfolger von Michael Lenz, heißt Ian Edward Hathway (siehe Foto unten), aus Janesville, Wisconsin (unweit von Madison). Hauptfach: Englisch. Nebenberufliche Leidenschaft: Tanzen. Er schreibt:
"I lived for a year in Brazil on a Rotary Exchange, and that experience has had an incredible impact on my life. I started dancing swing and ballroom as soon as I entered St. Olaf, and dancing has since become one of the most important facets of my life. I teach and compete in swing dancing and am a Teaching Assistant for both Ballroom I and Ballroom II here at St. Olaf."
Ian has been involved in several theater productions at St. Olaf, most recently in an Interim production of "As You Like It" and currently as the Vizier in "Arabian Nights." In addition, he is an aspiring novelist!
"My interest in teaching English was sparked when I lived in Brazil. The English teacher there didn't speak any English; she taught solely written grammar and spelling and asked me if I would teach a short supplementary course in spoken English. The course started well but it ended prematurely when the teachers went on strike!"
Ian spent six weeks in Germany as a high school student. Er freut sich sehr auf eine Wiederkehr and bedankt sich bei uns allen fuer unsere Teilnahme an dieser Gelegenheit, ein Jahr an der M-L-S als Gastlehrer zu verbringen. Man erwartet schon, dass er neben seinem Englischunterricht einen Tanzkursus bieten wird.
Herzlich Willkommen, Ian! Wir wünschen Dir viel Glück und viel Erfolg!
Monday, March 14, 2011
What did you think about Germany?
This is a question I was asked this weekend: "What did you think about Germany before you arrived?"
I had no answer. What did I think last July before I arrived? What surprised me once I got here? I knew enough to know I didn't know a lot, so that allowed everything to "surprise" me in an expected way. Can you be surprised when you already don't know what will happen?
I've certainly learned a lot since moving here in late July and I continue to learn. What do I think about Germany now? My first thoughts are that I like living here. There are nice people, interesting things to see, and most importantly, good food. Anyway, it is a big question and will require more thought.
I had no answer. What did I think last July before I arrived? What surprised me once I got here? I knew enough to know I didn't know a lot, so that allowed everything to "surprise" me in an expected way. Can you be surprised when you already don't know what will happen?
I've certainly learned a lot since moving here in late July and I continue to learn. What do I think about Germany now? My first thoughts are that I like living here. There are nice people, interesting things to see, and most importantly, good food. Anyway, it is a big question and will require more thought.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Pastor Hornle
The following is a story as told by Josephine Haugen Senft '48, the very first Guest Teacher.
Upon arriving in Rimbach, Germany, in June of 1948, I was welcomed with love and generosity by the Hornle family and the faculty and students of the Martin Luther Schule. A faculty member told a story about Pastor Willi Hornle, the founder and organizer of the school.
During the war years Pastor Hornle preached in his sermons to the congregation about the Nazis and their misdeeds. He was informed that the Nazis would arrive in town at some time and "take him away." What could he do to prevent this was his question. He had a family and a congregation and he was needed to assist and help them. He decided that he would join the "regular" German Air Force--which he did. He was allowed to continue with his work in Rimbach but he wore his Air Force uniform rather than civilian clothes.
One Sunday morning during the church services the inevitable happened. The door to the sanctuary opened and several Nazi officers entered. The congregation was stunned into silence. Pastor Hornle walked down the center aisle and as he approached the Nazis he removed the robe to reveal the German Air Force uniform. Seeing that, the Nazis could not arrest him.
-----
Sometime between 1945 and 1948, Pastor Hornle organized the Martin Luther Schule to provide educational opportunities beyond the elementary school in Rimbach for the children and the young people of the entire community surrounding Rimbach.
When I met Pastor Hornle and others in Rimbach in June of 1948, the currency reform and the formation of the Bonn Government had not occurred. At that time, three years after the war ended, Pastor Hornle was still wearing his Air Force top coat, as it was the only coat he owned. Those were difficult times for the population. Food, clothing and other essentials for living were scarce. Also, all families were required to share their homes with other German families who had to flee their homes in the East.
It is amazing to think about the kinds of challenges that faced the early Guest Teachers in comparison to the challenges I face in 2011!
Upon arriving in Rimbach, Germany, in June of 1948, I was welcomed with love and generosity by the Hornle family and the faculty and students of the Martin Luther Schule. A faculty member told a story about Pastor Willi Hornle, the founder and organizer of the school.
During the war years Pastor Hornle preached in his sermons to the congregation about the Nazis and their misdeeds. He was informed that the Nazis would arrive in town at some time and "take him away." What could he do to prevent this was his question. He had a family and a congregation and he was needed to assist and help them. He decided that he would join the "regular" German Air Force--which he did. He was allowed to continue with his work in Rimbach but he wore his Air Force uniform rather than civilian clothes.
One Sunday morning during the church services the inevitable happened. The door to the sanctuary opened and several Nazi officers entered. The congregation was stunned into silence. Pastor Hornle walked down the center aisle and as he approached the Nazis he removed the robe to reveal the German Air Force uniform. Seeing that, the Nazis could not arrest him.
-----
Sometime between 1945 and 1948, Pastor Hornle organized the Martin Luther Schule to provide educational opportunities beyond the elementary school in Rimbach for the children and the young people of the entire community surrounding Rimbach.
When I met Pastor Hornle and others in Rimbach in June of 1948, the currency reform and the formation of the Bonn Government had not occurred. At that time, three years after the war ended, Pastor Hornle was still wearing his Air Force top coat, as it was the only coat he owned. Those were difficult times for the population. Food, clothing and other essentials for living were scarce. Also, all families were required to share their homes with other German families who had to flee their homes in the East.
It is amazing to think about the kinds of challenges that faced the early Guest Teachers in comparison to the challenges I face in 2011!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Cloth Napkins
Here is a story from Virginia Larson, ´59, who was the Guest Teacher in the 1959-60 school year:
In the upstairs Internat, where I ate many noon meals, we each had a Serviettentasche with a cloth napkin, which we used for one week. By the end of the week, some were pretty gross, having been used three times a day for seven days. Then they all went in die grosse Waesche, where white things were "gekocht" and emerged pristine as the driven snow. Herr and Frau Praetorious presided over that Internat, all boys.As we celebrate the upcoming tenth Guest Teacher of the current series, Viriginia is collecting stories about the program. If you have stories, feel free to send them to me, and I'll post them here.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Trip to Nuremberg
Last December I got to take a great trip to Nuremberg with the thirteenth graders. We left very early in the morning and didn't get back until very late (I think it was after 10:00 pm).
We started with the Nazi party rally grounds (Reichsparteitagsgelände) where there was an excellent museum in the incomplete Congress Hall. We also had an outdoor tour of the grounds, including the Great Road and Zeppelin Field. It was really cold that day, and I did not wear appropriate foot wear. My shoes were not protecting me from the cold, even though I was wearing double socks.
We also watched Triumph of the Will (Triumph des Willens), a Nazi propaganda film by Leni Riefenstahl. Apparently it is illegal to sell or show it Germany today, so the museum had to import a copy from England.
After leaving the grounds, we went to the Nuremberg Christ-child (Christmas) Market (Christkindlmarkt). There were good chances to shop here and I bought some presents, along with some food and drink, especially Glühwein (mulled wine). There were some amateur musical groups, especially brass bands. Again, it was quite cold, and I had to warm up in a grocery store for a while. Should have bought some boots.
Along with some of my travels to other places, you can see some of my photos from that day here.
We started with the Nazi party rally grounds (Reichsparteitagsgelände) where there was an excellent museum in the incomplete Congress Hall. We also had an outdoor tour of the grounds, including the Great Road and Zeppelin Field. It was really cold that day, and I did not wear appropriate foot wear. My shoes were not protecting me from the cold, even though I was wearing double socks.
We also watched Triumph of the Will (Triumph des Willens), a Nazi propaganda film by Leni Riefenstahl. Apparently it is illegal to sell or show it Germany today, so the museum had to import a copy from England.
After leaving the grounds, we went to the Nuremberg Christ-child (Christmas) Market (Christkindlmarkt). There were good chances to shop here and I bought some presents, along with some food and drink, especially Glühwein (mulled wine). There were some amateur musical groups, especially brass bands. Again, it was quite cold, and I had to warm up in a grocery store for a while. Should have bought some boots.
Along with some of my travels to other places, you can see some of my photos from that day here.
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