School as a place of learning and personality development is always in the focus of social discussions. To what extent the existing school system is still up to date and how students can be optimally supported are questions that are regularly asked. A new perspective on these issues is offered by reform pedagogy, which focuses on holistic support for the child and thus aims to give the child room to develop as an individual.
One of the best known representatives of reform pedagogy is Otto Herz, who was passionately committed to the education of children and young people. The Evangelische Freie Gemeinschaftsschule (EFG) was another place where Otto Herz put his ideas of a better school into practice. Now Otto Herz honors the courageous students of the EFG, who stand up for their maturity and individual development, thus living up to his reform pedagogy.
At the heart of the EFG is the concept of student orientation, which promotes active engagement with the subject matter and individual development of the students. Otto Herz has always advocated such a student orientation and has thus made an important contribution to the reform of schools. His work has given many students a new perspective on their own education and personal development.
Overall, Otto Herz’s work and the significance of EFG shows that it is possible to think about and shape school in a new way. The focus is on the development of the personality and the promotion of individuality in order to offer the students an optimal basis for the future.
By honoring EFG’s courageous students, Otto Herz has set an example and shown that his efforts and dedication have paid off. Today, his work remains an important contribution to reform pedagogy and an incentive to keep rethinking and redesigning the school.
EFG students honored for their commitment
Reform educator Otto Herz honored eight EFG students on Tuesday for their courageous commitment to change. Students had been actively involved in shaping their school life and contributing their opinions.
Herz emphasized the importance of involving students in the process of school reform when awarding the certificates. He praised the students’ commitment and emphasized that they set an exemplary signal for other students with their courage to come of age.
- Participation as the basis for successful learning
EFG student engagement demonstrates that participation is fundamental to successful learning. Only when students have the opportunity to voice their opinions and participate in shaping their school life can they identify with their school and develop their full potential.
- Equitable assessment systems
- Integration of students with an immigrant background
- More say in the selection of teachers
EFG students had particularly advocated for fairer assessment systems, the integration of students with an immigrant background, and more say in the selection of teachers. With their commitment, they have shown that students are also capable of taking responsibility and courageously standing up for their interests.
Power to maturity: What is hidden behind these words??
The idea of power to maturity is one of the central pedagogical concepts of Otto Herz, an important representative of reform pedagogy. It describes the ability and responsibility of human beings to make decisions independently and on their own responsibility and thus to shape their own future.
In the context of the EFG school, this power to empower is demonstrated by the courage of students to stand up for their beliefs and take responsibility for their school and community. This commitment and willingness to initiate and implement change is evidence of a strong sense of maturity and self-determination.
However, in order to achieve true power to maturity, appropriate education is needed to provide students with the necessary skills and competencies. This includes not only subject knowledge, but also social and emotional skills such as empathy, creativity and communication. Only in this way can young people grow up to be critical and reflective decision-makers and shapers of their future.
- Reform pedagogy: Movement in pedagogy in the late 19th century. and early 20. This was a nineteenth-century movement that opposed traditional learning methods and advocated for more self-determination and hands-on learning for students.
- EFG School: A school where students advocated for more co-determination and transparency in the school’s management, thus initiating a broad discussion about the school’s future.
- Maturity: The ability to make independent and responsible decisions and to stand up for one’s own goals and convictions.
The struggle of the students of EFG for their interests
EFG students have fought for their rights and interests in recent years. In doing so, they have campaigned for a redesign of the school system and honored the reform pedagogue Otto Herz for his courage in promoting maturity.
In the process, they have fought not only for their own interests, but also for the interests of all students. EFG students’ demands include the abolition of grades, more personal responsibility for students, and a greater appreciation for alternative forms of education.
The students have not only spoken out against the traditional teaching and learning model, but have also advocated for better involvement of students in the design of lessons and for greater cooperation between teachers and students.
- EFG students have shown that they are willing to stand up for their interests.
- They have shown that they have a vision for a better school and want to make it happen.
- The EFG students have thus made an important contribution to the reform of the school system.
The impact of student engagement on school and society
EFG students are honored for their courage to become mature citizens, an important step toward educational reform. Through their involvement in student organizations, projects and debates, a new culture of learning is emerging that is redefining schools.
Student engagement has positive effects on the school and society. Students learn not only technical skills, but also social and personal skills such as teamwork, responsibility and creativity. They learn to represent and respect their own opinions, contributing to the development of a culture of democracy.
Society also benefits from engaged students as they advocate for important social issues and raise their voices to bring about change. They become active citizens who stand up for their rights and the rights of others and assume responsibility.
- Engaged students help close the gap between school and society and build a bridge between the two.
- They show that school can be not only a place of learning, but also of engagement and co-determination.
- Through their involvement, they create positive momentum for school culture and foster identification with the school.
Honoring EFG students for their courage in coming of age is an important step toward transforming the school. Through more voice and participation, students can individually shape their learning path and develop their talents and interests. This leads to a strengthening of self-confidence and empowerment culture and promotes social cohesion.
The importance of “power to consent” in schools
As part of Otto Herz’s reform pedagogy, the promotion of “power to consent” is considered a central goal in schools. This involves empowering students to form and express their opinions independently. By promoting this competence, young people should not only grow into critical, self-confident and independent personalities, but also be motivated to actively participate in shaping society.
For this reason, the concept of “power to maturity” should be increasingly used in schools. In this context, teachers can, for example, promote a culture of discussion in the classroom and give students the opportunity to take and represent different points of view. Teaching media literacy also plays an important role, as students can better form and express their opinions through the competent use of various media.
- Promoting the “power to consent” already at school helps young people to be more self-confident later on in their professional and private lives and to better pursue their goals.
- By teaching students to think critically and form their own opinions, this skill can also contribute to the development of innovation and new ideas.
- Promoting the “power to consent” in schools is thus an important contribution to strengthening democracy and the participation of young people in social decisions.
It is therefore essential that schools increasingly integrate the “power to consent” as a target dimension in their concept, thus equipping students for a self-determined life and an active role in society.