Museum Space: Recollecting the Past for Today

The museum space of the project "Recollecting the Past for Today" is taking shape and - apart from some minor changes still to be made - has been completed.

For the school year 2019/2020, 140 German schools abroad were invited by the German Foreign Office and the Central Agency for Schools Abroad (ZfA) to develop projects on the culture of remembrance. Creative contributions were sought that deal with the history of the school, especially in difficult times, e.g.: What was everyday school life like under the rule of the National Socialists? How was learning and living together under colonial rule? The aim of the competition is to strengthen the learners’ understanding of the culture of remembrance and tolerance - even if they have no family ties to Germany.

The Deutsche Höhere Privatschule (DHPS) submitted two project proposals.
The teaching unit and project newspaper on the topic of "Acknowledging Our Past - A History Shared - Unsere geteilte Geschichte" were already completed at the end of 2020. (For more information, please visit the DHPS website.)
The second project - the museum space with illustrative elements on the theme of "Recollecting the past for today" - now adorns the entrance to the school administration and deals with the reappraisal of school and national history.
A critical review and scrutiny of the colonial past is displayed by a timeline, insights into everyday school life over the last 112 years and the detailed presentation of the "time capsule", a document box found in the foundation stone during the renovation of the Georg Teichert House (former "boys' hostel" of the DHPS).

In 2020, grade 10 learners got actively involved in the project as part of their history lessons, embarked on a journey back into the past of DHPS and critically examined the documents found (stamps, coins, pictures, yearbooks, magazine issues etc.).

"The focus and intention of the project and the museum space is to open up "room" for discussion," says Jörg Rapp, teacher at DHPS and one of the project leaders of the competition. "Taking up sensitive topics from the country's and the school's past and critically questioning them with the learners also makes history lessons come alive and enables us to send tolerant and critically thinking young people into the world," says Rapp.
With this project, the DHPS wants to create a place for discussion and remembrance culture - both for the classroom and for dialogue outside the school setting.

You are invited for a first-hand experience of the museum space and we look forward to visits from interested learners, staff, parents and visitors.
As soon as face-to-face teaching is possible again, we will train learners to become "experts" and give advice and assistance to visitors during an official inauguration.

Of course, an opening ceremony will be held as soon as the corona regulations and infections allow. Unfortunately, Mr Rapp, the history teacher involved, will not be able to participate in the official ceremony. After five and a half years of school service abroad at DHPS, he is now on his way back to Germany with his family.
At this point, once again a heartfelt thank you to him and his entire team, congratulations and all the best for the future.

Gallery

Design and Development by Intouch Interactive Marketing