The Report of „Human Diversity in School” Project in the Comenius School Detective Program, Frankfurt / Germany /, 2-7 December 2013.

In December 2013 I went over to Helmholz School in Germany to the exchange visit of the Comenius program. I was accompanied by two students, Kinga and Michael, both 16 years old as the school detectives. The journey by train was very comfortable. We were met at the railway station by two students, who were the hosts of my students. We went by train to school, where we met the headmaster of the school and Thomas, the leader of the Comenius program at school.

Helmholtz School is located in the city center and it is much bigger than our school. The majority of the students live nearby so they usually walk to school. There are two buildings. The three-storey building is the main and the older part of the school. The new one consists of the library, some classrooms and a school canteen, where students can have their lunch. This building was completed around 7 years ago and it is quite modern. There are two sport gyms. Unfortunately, there are no outdoor sport facilities, except a school yard, where students spend their breaks.

There are about 1000 students and 80 teachers. The school consists of a gymnasium and a high school. Students start their education in the 5th class and can finish it with the final exams at the age of 18/19. The last two years are called Introduction Qualification, which is the time to get prepared for the final exams.

Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, IT, German, English, Latin, Spanish, French, History, Geography, Biology, Sports, Art, Music, Religion are taught at school.

Students have six 45-minute lessons before the lunch break, which is 45 minutes long. After each two lessons they have a 20-minute break. There are no bells informing about the end of the lesson. You can see a lamp on, instead, which I found really convenient. The school day starts at 8 o’clock and the last lesson finishes at 6 pm. Younger students, from 5th and 6th classes have lessons only before lunch. Extra classes, like choir, music band, drama club and writing exercises are held after the lunch break. Unfortunately, there is no sport club. Weak students can have some additional lessons in the afternoon.

I learnt that teachers meet quite often, but not regularly. There are no parents’ meetings. Teachers contact with parents on the phone or invite them to school individually when it is necessary.

I observed six lessons, two English, Latin, Chemistry and two German lessons. Students worked individually and they were active during the lessons. Teachers did not introduce any special methods. Checking up homework / chemistry and Latin / took most of the time. During English and German lessons students were reading some extracts from the texts and then they were discussing them. The atmosphere during the lessons was really friendly, which had for sure a positive influence on the teaching process.

Kinga and Michael participated in the lessons before lunch and then they spent the time together with the German students. They visited the Christmas Market, they went on a sightseeing tour of Frankfurt and to the cinema. They also took part in the school project concerning the cooperation with the police so they visited the police station .

I had also a good time socializing with the teachers. I had dinner with Christine, a Latin teacher. I was invited to the Opera Café by the Headmaster. Thomas showed his cooking abilities on the last evening inviting me and Gunild to his place. He also drove me around the city showing the most important places.

The visit at Helmholtz School was a great experience for me as a teacher and a foreigner. I had the opportunity to see everyday life at school and after it. I appreciate the hospitality of Gunild Rachow, a German teacher, who was a valuable source of information about realities of German school and a wonderful partner for conversation.

Krystyna Łuczkowska