We visited the Albert Einstein Gymnasium (grades 7-13) today, located in a leafy industrial sector on the outskirts of Berlin. On the cab ride to the school I initially focused on the Mexican Restaurant nearby that will be screening the Word Cup opening match this weekend, but arriving on campus I was soon distracted by the countless wonders of Albert Einstein Gymnasium. At the risk of seeming biased, this was by far the most rewarding and informative school visit Principal Vaughn and I have undertaken during our time in Berlin.
The atmosphere at Albert Einstein Gymnasium was serene and focused, and the students I interacted with were mature, focused, and highly proficient in English. The school's areas of emphasis are music and art, and the hallways and common areas bear this out--student artwork adorns most walls on this campus housing over 1,100 students.
Some of the highlights from today's visit: the senior English class where the discussion centered around illegal immigration and T.C. Boyle's book The Tortilla Curtain; our student tourguides who were sincere, mature, international-minded, and cheerful; the campus that was so clean I would have eaten off the floor without complaint; the English department chair/hostess who was unfailingly helpful and willing to answer difficult questions about German reunification and the integration of immigrants into mainstream German society; being given a copy of an original letter from Albert Einstein dated 1955 that granted the school permission to use his name provided the situation in Germany did not revert to its pre-Word War II status; the senior geography class where students examined the pros and cons of organic food products and the ways in which the European Union monitors farms' compliance with organic produce criteria.
Leaving the campus, I felt honored that AEACMS and Albert Einstein Gymnasium share a namesake; I am hopeful we will learn from the many positive aspects of this school and likewise they can learn from us.
Tomorrow we are off to Dresden. Given the two hour train ride each way and our full itinerary (which hopefully will include viewing at least part of the opening game of the 2010 World Cup featuring Mexico vs. South Africa), I may wait until Saturday to post my next entry.
I would like to thank the AEACMS community for supporting my endeavors and for following this blog, especially out students. If this trip inspires young people to travel abroad and expand their horizons, it will all have been worth it, and then some.
All best.
Go Mexico in the opening game!
DVS
