«Homework should be abolished»

A radiant picture of happiness in the classroom, cheerfulness from every corner, even the tranquil playground seems out of this world. This is Lisa Lehner's place of work: the Rütihof school in Baden. The headteacher, who loves to laugh and respond spontaneously, fits in well here with her big eyes that look curiously at the world - and her dainty feet that bounce during the conversation.

Mrs Lehner, is it more difficult to be a schoolchild today than it used to be?

I think that, on the one hand, it is easier because nowadays there is much more focus on the individual child. The school takes the child's individual level of learning and development into account more than in the past. On the other hand, the children feel the high expectations placed on them from various sides, which doesn't make it any easier to be a schoolchild.

Individualisation is the word of the hour. However, schools now have to make savings - precisely in those areas that make this individualisation possible.

Of course I don't think that's good, because children need targeted support. There are children in the classes who have learning difficulties and others who have special talents. A teacher with an average of around 20 pupils cannot always do justice to all of them. Additional specialists are therefore needed who can meet the specific needs of individual children. What makes a good teacher? They do this job because they like children, are flexible and open-minded and have a positive attitude to life. They should also be motivated to accompany the children on their way to becoming independent, interested and self-confident people. At primary level, the teacher is a role model and must be aware of this. A teacher who believes in the strengths of their pupils and encourages them in a targeted manner, while also placing a high value on community building, will have successful pupils. I am convinced of that.

How important is the parent-teacher relationship?

Very important! If a child realises that their parents cannot respect the teacher, even if they do not say so, they are putting the child in a conflict of loyalty. The child wants to please their parents, but also their teacher. In such a case, the child no longer knows who to please. In most cases, their performance also drops.

«The expectations of a schoolchild are greater today than they used to be.»

Now parents are complaining that school has become more and more complicated.

Teachers, on the other hand, find dealing with parents more complicated. Everything has become more demanding and diverse. In most cases, both parents are working. The time they spend with their children is limited. Dealing with this new situation requires a great deal of mutual understanding and good communication.

For example?

A lot of information between school and parents has to be in writing. If this is not read properly by the parents, things can go wrong. For example, a class recently went to the forest for a whole day, one child arrived too late, without forest clothing and a packed lunch. The mum had completely forgotten about the excursion and could not be contacted. As a result, the child was unable to go on the excursion with the class in the forest and had to stay at school.

How does good parenting work?

The most important tasks in working with parents are to have mutual trust, to show understanding and to recognise the common goal, namely the good development of the child. In order for the co-operation to be profitable, I advocate parents' evenings in the first weeks of school and a good mutual flow of information. If the parents do not know what the teacher's goals and intentions are, mistrust sets in, which favours conflict. If, on the other hand, there is trust and the parents can understand the teacher's work with their child, parents will also accept that the teacher has the necessary expertise. Also in matters of assessment.

In which cases do you lack the understanding for parental intervention?

When parents write an aggressive, reproachful email to the teacher at 11 pm out of the heat of the moment. You should sleep on it at least once. I definitely understand constructive intervention. If parents realise that their child is suffering because the interaction between teacher and child is difficult or the child is not getting on in class, it is very important that they seek a discussion with the teacher or, in a second step, with the school management.

How do you realise that a child is not well?

The child behaves conspicuously, is loud and aggressive or withdraws into himself. Their school performance decreases. Teachers notice this. Parents, in turn, notice when their child doesn't like going to school, doesn't want to get up or has a constant stomach ache.

«School is still too strongly focussed on a child's weaknesses.»

Is it more difficult to be a good teacher today than in the past?

In earlier times, the teacher was his own boss in the classroom, a kind of decathlete. However, the demands of parents and society were not as high back then. Teaching and educating children was left to the teacher without questioning their work. Today, there are high demands on schools and education so that children can find their way in this complex world as adolescents.

The world of teaching has also changed. Many teachers work part-time.

This presents a school with major challenges because teamwork and working for the school as a whole is an important part of a well-functioning school.

Does it make sense for three teachers to share a class workload?

The younger child needs one or two main contact persons. In most cases, the pupils are also taught by other subject teachers. If these different teachers share a common pedagogical approach, this works without any problems.

Schools today prescribe values. Is that right?

In a school, as in any community, there must be rules that must be adhered to, otherwise it is unthinkable to live together satisfactorily. Today's society demands a high level of self and social competence from us. With this in mind, schools must also encourage and strengthen children in these areas.

Incorrect behaviour has consequences: Notices, entries, reprimands. Is that in keeping with the times?

We are in favour of logical consequences. We are convinced that this makes more sense than a classic penal system.

So if a child forgets their gym bag, for example, can they still take part in gymnastics?

Yes, of course. It's not the child's fault alone if they forget their gym bag. The parents are also responsible. However, if the child forgets their gym kit several times, there must be a logical consequence, such as tidying up the gym or assisting the teacher instead of taking part in gymnastics.

Collective punishment still seems to be popular. My son's PE lessons were once collectively cancelled because the behaviour of one pupil was unacceptable on several occasions.

I am not in favour of collective punishment. As a head teacher, I would look for other solutions with the teacher in such a case.

«I have no sympathy for an aggressive parental email at 11 pm.»

Should the parents complain in such a case?

They have the right to defend themselves. But it depends on how you do it. Don't just start ranting, but find out what happened. Many conflicts at school could be avoided if the true facts were clarified first.

I think such criticism is important. Extreme opinions are there to question something and, if necessary, to move it.

Not only parents criticise the school system, but also experts. Remo Largo, for example, says that schools should socialise children, but are not fulfilling this task. What do you think of such criticism?

Another point of criticism is that too much emphasis is placed on the children's weaknesses.

That is indeed a problem. The school was and is too strongly focussed on weaknesses. My goal is to realise a school that builds on strengths.

Can you give an example?

At our school, we promote the various talents of the children, for example with workshops, which we offer in phases during half a school day. These workshops are mixed-age and the children work in the workshops in which their strengths lie.

Now I rarely hear of teachers having their lessons assessed by the class.

There are those who do. Student feedback is an important tool for further developing your own teaching.

Keyword «transition»: expectations are high.

At my school, we take up this topic at an early stage and clarify and discuss mutual expectations and assessments with the parents. That way we can avoid surprises

What does your ideal school look like?

In the ideal school, children go to school curious, eager to learn and with joy. They are supported by motivated teachers, both individually and collectively. Children, teachers and parents work together with respect and understanding. Each teacher works in a teaching team that plans, prepares, evaluates and develops lessons together. Everyone involved in the school has a say and is committed to a lively, open-minded and fun-loving school.

Sounds good. But school is a sluggish system.

We live in the 21st century and our school system dates back to the era of industrialisation. So we really are lagging behind. In the past, children had to be taught as much as possible. Today, this is no longer possible because anyone can get knowledge from the Internet. Teachers must therefore be far more than mere imparters of knowledge.

With mixed-age learning, we can respond much better to each individual child.

What else do you need to be?

Today, it is extremely important that children at school learn how to obtain and acquire knowledge. The teacher must therefore also teach learning techniques and learning strategies.

You are switching to mixed-age learning. Why? And what does this mean for the children?

Sometimes you have to try new approaches. With mixed-age learning, we can respond much better to each individual child. The children practise similar topics as a group, but at different levels. A first-grader who can already read well may then be reading together with second-graders. And a second-grader who is still struggling with arithmetic will practise maths with the younger children.

School starts in August. What advice do you have for parents whose children are starting school or entering a new stage?

Have confidence, be calm and positive. Every new beginning is sometimes difficult. It is then important to be present as parents, to provide a good atmosphere at home, to carry and support the child. Children often need a lot of rest and attention at such times in their lives. If they get this, they are sure to cope well with this new phase of life.

For the sake of simplicity, only the masculine form is used in this text. The female form is of course always included.

Lisa Lehner about ...

Early French - yes or no?
Keep it. The way languages are taught or could be taught today, children enjoy it.

Homework - keep it or abolish it?
I would prefer to abolish it and integrate it into lessons, as it often harbours potential for conflict at home. When I was still teaching myself, I often left homework out or was very sparing with it. I tended to give observation assignments or creative work.

Keep or abolish grades?
Very difficult. In the form that assessment and selection still take today, they are at odds with the idea of supporting children according to their level of performance and development.

Early intervention - useful or not?
I am in favour of encouraging the child's creativity. That means taking the child into the forest and letting them learn through play. Movement and play are absolutely central.

Separate lessons by gender - yes or no?
In certain subjects this makes sense, in others less so. In gymnastics, for example, it can make sense to teach by gender from the fifth or sixth grade onwards.

Mobile phones at school - yes or no?
At our school, children are allowed to take their mobile phones with them if they absolutely need them after lessons. However, it must be switched off during lessons and breaks.

Early school start - yes or no?
Our children actually tend to start school too early. At our school, I make sure that school starts before eight o'clock on as few days as possible. Unfortunately, however, timetables depend on many factors (rooms, teachers' workload, class collaboration, etc.), so it is very difficult or almost impossible to create an ideal timetable for everyone.

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