open letter this ZIP letter is in cooperation with radio and Jannis Michael emerged enemy (and for Jannis' point of view written) and is aimed at the North Rhine-Westphalia. Copies and links (with regard to the author) are welcome!
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afraid of their own students
The uncensored response of a student on a gag order in the "Performance Awards"
Dusseldorf, 09.24.2008
Dear summer, Mr Rüttgers
I'm disappointed. When I was invited to the "tribute" to the best of 2008, I asked the lady in charge of the State, who else would speak at the aforementioned event. When I found out that only representatives from politics and the economy should keep talking and not a representative of our elected student council, I asked me in an e-mail itself the right to speak for five minutes. received at this e-mail I have no answer.
When I then filed for the top honor, I renewed my request. This time, called me at the State Chancellery and said that this request could not be met. Because if you allow me, one must allow all. Furthermore, would you, Mr Rüttgers, not five minutes. Urgent connection dates.
At least the latter reason must have been invented without your knowledge at a low level in the hierarchy. Is not it so? Who can seriously imagine that you, the education policy always occupied a prominent position, would have serious events that you would prevent them from listening to people, affected by this policy: the students of your country?
So if the other reasons to be true? Was it impossible to accept my request, since then many others would have also insisted on its own speech? Hardly. My first proposal was eventually to invite a country school representatives as speakers. No one can assume he would have a right to speak, just because its elected representatives may speak. This proposal was rejected without reasonable explanation.
Also I could not talk. Here I was, according to the State until that time the only customer with this concern. So if you would have prohibited an appearance will have?
My friend Michael enemy of the State then made the suggestion that he could instead make a speech. He's emerging artists, stage experience and as a participant in the gifted students in the context of the German Academy certainly subject. He also got a clear rejection.
received few days later, the Immanuel Kant Gymnasium, my former school, which is more in any way responsible for me, a letter from you, which I present to this day. I heard that you are complaining about it on my initiative. Too bad that this letter had to go such detours. This is totally to me incomprehensible.
The question arises, however: Why should not a student speak at this event?
There would be a very good reason: If your government afraid of? Afraid to tell students that their opinions? Fear that this opinion does not believe the government meets?
because you have to be afraid of criticism, women's summer? Lead us, we only see what a salutary reforms have led you in the past three years in the way! In June 2006, you have proudly announced in a parliamentary speech, what their objectives with your plans. Big goals. Enviable goals.
only concern is the fact that your future promises turned out to be hot air. mentioned the basis of ominous statistics, the sources at any point, you tried then to prove that the people of North Rhine-Westphalia support your education policy: The fact was that the people in favor of just certain educational goals, not your politics, women's summer. I like to go once more into the details on what you have said in June 2006 before the parliament and how the reality at present. Six of your theories, I would like to ask specifically for that purpose.
first Thesis: "We want students and increase support for individual students, so as to reduce the number of seats remain striking. "
That sounds reasonable. In North Rhine-Westphalia are not apparent, however, since individual support would be tied to more staff and time. Precisely because it lacks: the class associations are still too large, and the school has been through high school during the Reformwütigkeit reduced the state government for one year. Where should be in such a school system space for individual development? How can you seriously imagine the teachers could attend to each student individually, if we are not prepared to pay for it according to more money? How should individual support for free possible?
second Thesis: ". We want to make German, mathematics and foreign languages to our core subjects and give them a special status"
This idea seems reasonable at first glance. If we find, however, that this means that, conversely, emphasize subjects like art and music from the curriculum, or to them an almost superfluous supporting role assigned to the matter looks quite a bit different, because in the long run is the lack of influence of creative subjects to mental blunting lead future generations. And why should study people who, for example, simply lack any mathematical talent, not Germanic, may only receive because they have no chance to make their high school diploma? Weigh all their other talents that a weakness not to?
third Thesis: "To achieve all this, teachers will get much more freedom, but also take responsibility for their work."
lie! Who in North Rhine-Westphalia introduced the Central high school and imposes the teachers completely inflexible curricula can not possibly expect to provide for more freedom in the classroom. Instead more and more teachers despair because general accommodate materials such as Goethe's "Faust" is no longer in high school-preparation phase, since it is not provided by the Ministry.
4th Thesis: "We are also committed to is crucial, what comes out! To evaluate this, we need to have regular performance reviews of the students, that national tests. We must be sure to be on the right track. For the first time the performance of schools is analyzed. Because the power can be rigid boundaries will relax, we need the competition. "
By the students are still more tests under pressure, the pressure to rise more on to, and under this pressure then increases over time - according to your calculations, woman summer - including the performance of students.
you answer me a question: If you want to teach a group of non-swimmers to swim, how helpful is the depth of the water and thereby increase the pressure to perform? Sure, some are out of necessity learn to swim, but how many have to go for it?
questions please yourself: What is the value of education, which is obtained by dispassionate stubborn learning and exam pressure? What form do you want? People or workers? Responsible citizen or just working, breathing machines?
5th Thesis: "Our school needs re values. So the agency will occupy a central place in the classroom. "
lie! No one controls how the teaching of values comes into the classroom. An implementation of this approach is probably not before. Also automatically adjusts the question of where in this already tight curriculum or the teaching of values to be accommodated ...
6th Thesis: ". [It is] our intention to introduce top notes to assess the work and social functioning again,"
generally recognized is the fact that the so-called Soft skills such as creativity, team spirit and empathy for the professional and personal success are just as important as the pure knowledge. Nevertheless, there is no room in the school for their service - apart from the teachers do not have the appropriate qualifications.
now lays claim to the school to try to assess such skills in the form of top notes. This is sheer mockery.
If, like you, Madam and Mr. Rüttgers summer, has been a long time, even stopped going to school, which should take the time to think of the students and teachers to rate in order not to lose any sense of reality.
I am part of a generation that had to endure the failed education policy in North Rhine-Westphalia. A generation that fits the circumstances and the unreasonable situation hardly opposes. A generation that is necessarily also the country's future.
children who are of school today have to work until about the year 2070 - if they can ever retire. None of us can imagine how our work looks like the world 2020, or 2015, let alone 2070! But we know that you will change dramatically in any case. How can we assume that a school system that at times the Industrialization has been created, the students adequately prepared for working life in 2070?
In a constantly changing world of work creativity as important as reading and writing. But creativity can only reach, where failure is allowed. Who will be continually assessed, expression of a bold ideas - and ideas are the capital of the German economy. The atmosphere with constant work pressure in our schools, only help to kill the natural creativity of the students.
It is still not too late! Do something! Pump up all available money on education! Make new Money available! Investments in education pay off forever! Set to finally, what do you expect full-bodied! And
: Listen to your students, because they are the victims and the victims.
If you can, but finally the 180-degree turn, will be the winners of your students and you will not be afraid again that the thoughts of a student passes to the public.
unfortunately prevented my disease that we now find the opportunity for a personal interview. That is why I choose the form of an open letter. In case of questions I will be happy to help.
With Sincerely,
Jannis radio
responsible for this letter in accordance with press law:
Michael enemy michael.feindler @ googlemail.com
Leonard Wehmeier leo.wehmeier @ googlemail.com
Jannis radio jannis.funk name @ googlemail.com
