Ecole d'Humanité
60th Anniversary on the Hasliberg
Laudatio by Annemarie von der Groeben
Head of Didactics, Laborschule Bielefeld, Germany
In
Praise of Diversity
How does one congratulate a school on its 60th
anniversary? A school cannot be hugged, it cannot even be spoken to. But one can address it by name, rich in
meaning, revealing the both missions of the school: Ecole d’Humanité – School
of humanity, School of humanitarianism.
Humanity – an abstract concept that signifies a community of millions of
individuals who do not know each other. The
original meaning of the word humanity means both being human, that which the
French call condition humaine. Humanitarianism, revealing the duality of the
word humanité,
can prosper when individuals can be themselves and form a community together, a
community based on the awareness of the shared humanity and the resulting
responsibility for the individual and the whole.
Over the course of many visits to the Ecole I have continually been
fascinated by the school’s ability to fulfill its name through the spirit of
living and learning and how the school embraces a truly unique balance between
a strong community and a diversity unimaginable at
another school.
Diversity of nationalities,
languages and cultural backgrounds
This place, which would the
perfect set for a Swiss scene of happy cows and joddeling
farmers, is in reality an oasis of cosmopolitanism and tolerance. For anyone who has experienced the multitude
of languages spoken at
meals or during assemblies and the bilingual (German and English) debates the
word humanité
changes from an empty word to a living, concrete concept.
Diversity of paths of learning
and profiles of effort: No one can simultaneously learn more than three
things –this maxim of founder Paul Geheeb remains the
foundation of the Ecole’s curriculum. The student decides which three things that
is to be. As such there is an
unmistakable diversity of individual paths of learning and effort. Those who have experienced the serious nature
with which students approach their chosen tasks, gains an insight into
education as envisioned by Martin Wagenschein.
Diversity of choice in
education and experiences
Education is the
acquisition of knowledge about the world.
At the Ecole this also means scaling, paddling, hiking, dancing the
world – to experience in the original sense of the word. Art and handwork, technical skills, theater,
social services and outdoor activities allow Ecolianers
to experience what’s inside them and what it can mean to be a human being in
all its diversity.
Diversity of thinking
Paul and Edith Geheeb, Martin Wagenschein, Ruth
Cohn – these and others have left their mark on the Ecole through their
concrete ideas and the diversity of their thinking. Humanité also
means allowing people to be heard.
During school assemblies every uttered thought has the chance to invoke
change. Conversation, thoughtfulness and
the will for understanding are integral to the democratic character of the
school.
Diversity and simplicity
A good community
must also enforce limits to the multitude of interests, wishes and egotism. At
the Ecole, this happens through simple, clear principles, rules and
traditions. Anyone who has experienced
the power of this community understands that this simplicity is the school’s
strength.
Who should one congratulate most during this anniversary? Initially, of course, those
who live and infuse the school with new energy on a daily basis. But also the all teachers and schools which
attempt similar feats and who can experience here what works when humanité is taken
seriously. And finally those, that is
the humanity, who have found a unique and unmistakable
place on the Hasliberg.