Workshop on Library Management

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The State Working Group for School Libraries in Hesse (LAG) visited the Steinmühle school library on Monday, November 6, with its LAG Café and workshop. From 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., interested teachers with library responsibilities and other school library staff from various schools in Hesse had the opportunity to exchange ideas over coffee, cake, and snacks. The Steinmühle employs its own librarian, Katrin Reichel, to handle all aspects of library operations; she herself is a member of the LAG School Libraries advisory board. She welcomed a total of 12 attendees, who asked questions of the presenters—Matthias Matzen, a teacher at the Gesamtschule Gießen Ost, a member of the LAG Executive Board and an employee of the IT Service Center for School Libraries in Hesse, and received various tips and tricks. Without exception, the guests were enthusiastic about this accessible event and the opportunity to network, and they hope the event will be repeated soon.

A Word of Encouragement for Anyone Who Wants to Start a Business: What Matters Most Are Innovative Ideas and a Strong Team

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Axel Täubert, bestselling author and Head of Startups at Google, visited the Steinmühle

Those who fail are often met with ridicule: “He went bankrupt,” “his company went under,” “so much for those great ideas.” Even today, founders whose companies couldn’t hold their own in the market are still stigmatized in Germany. Axel Täubert, who graduated from the Liebigschule in Giessen in 1996 and is now Head of Startups at Google, made this the topic of his talk at the Steinmühle on Tuesday evening. The provocative title: “Failure as a Business Model.”

It’s easy to forget: Anyone who starts a business has dealt with things that many employees only know about from hearsay. Formalities, business plans, capital requirements, and—if necessary—the search for investors—not to mention the willingness to work longer hours than “nine-to-five.” Almost essential: putting together the right team. “Anyone who wants to start a business needs people who are not only passionate about the same idea but whose skills complement one another.” One person is at home in the world of finance, while another loves sales and interacting with people. A third person has the expertise that the company relies on—whether as a technician, engineer, scientist, or whatever field the startup specializes in. This explicitly includes skilled trades businesses.

 

“Everything should start with the user”

Many entrepreneurs rely on financial support during the startup phase. If they can convince investors in such a situation with a novel, innovative business idea and the structure of their team, venture capital often comes into play. Investors provide funding to high-growth, unlisted startups without requiring collateral and offer not only financial assistance but also advice and access to networks. This takes the form of a venture capital fund as part of an equity investment in the company. The investment results in co-ownership, though the investors do not seek a majority stake.

Venture capital-eligible companies are those that, through their activities, offer clear customer value and an innovative advantage. Axel Täubert: “Everything should start with the user.” He cited the example of a company that, using decorative elements and a special design concept, transformed MRI diagnostic equipment into an “adventure cave” that, rather than instilling fear in children, encourages them to enter and undergo the examination.

 

If you’re going to fail, do it quickly

Only one in ten startups becomes truly successful, reports Axel Täubert. Relevant statistics show that between 80 and 90 percent of all startups fail within three years. “It’s important to recognize early on when things aren’t going well,” advises Täubert. Admitting failure shouldn’t be unnecessarily delayed in the false hope that things will still turn around. Of course, this doesn’t rule out adjusting the business plan before throwing in the towel. Fortunately, failure after starting a business is no longer seen as a stigma. On the contrary, investors often view it as a sign of experience.

“Believe in your ideas; if necessary, have them patented,” advises the speaker, who had come to the Steinmühle through the efforts of Jens Ihle, the managing director of Regional Management Central Hesse. According to Täubert, the organization, based in Gießen, is also a possible place for potential founders to pitch their ideas or find out where they can do so. During the Q&A session following the presentation, Täubert also explained that there are geographical differences in Germany regarding which regions or cities are best suited for founders: “Certain universities simply offer better opportunities for support, and in certain places there is simply a strong startup ecosystem. The Lokschuppen in Marburg is one of them.”

 

Essential Skills for Founders

The speaker specifically described the role a school can play in turning graduates into potentially successful entrepreneurs as follows: “Anyone who can read for meaning, is good at math, is a team player, and can work independently has every chance of becoming a successful entrepreneur.” Principal Björn Gemmer, who guided the highly engaged audience through the evening, also noted that the course “Jugend gründet” (Youth Starts a Business)—analogous to “Jugend forscht” (Youth Researches)—is already established at some German schools, even as a “Special Learning Achievement” and thus as an Abitur subject.

 

Grades 5 through 7 discussed Axel Täubert’s book *The Classroom Coach*

A change of scene. Axel Täubert, father of two sons aged 13 and 15, fills the forum on Wednesday morning with students from grades 5 through 7 at Steinmühlen. He reads from his book *Der Classroom-Coach*, which he co-authored with education entrepreneur Daniel Jung. A little less than four years ago, Daniel Jung—the math YouTuber to whom so many students owe a debt of gratitude for help with math problems—stood here as well. A memorable quote from that time: “You saved my butt on my final exams.”

This time, in Axel Täubert’s bestseller *Classroom Coach*, the story revolves around a learning app—a tutoring app whose development stems from an idea by a student named Nele. She and her team—which, besides her, consists of Karl, Mehmet, and Aliyah—are acting as founders. It’s an exciting journey that is first read aloud on stage by Axel Täubert himself and later by four Steinmühlen students taking on the respective roles.

Despite the longer listening time, the young audience was captivated—just like Axel Täubert himself: “The students didn’t just read it—they acted it out,” he said enthusiastically, referring to the way Leo Keil (5b), Thomas Pfotenhauer (6b), Lotta Jerrentrup (7a), and Samri Wulf (7a) portrayed their respective roles.

Afterward, there was plenty of time for questions, and the students had plenty of them. It became clear just how well-informed the students were about the latest relevant websites, and they peppered the expert guest with all the questions that were on their minds. Among them were questions that Axel Täubert preferred to sidestep, such as “How much do you earn at Google?” He credited his decision to inspire young people to become entrepreneurs to his acquaintance with financial entrepreneur Carsten Maschmeyer. Together with him, he also wrote the bestseller *Die Start-Up-Gang*.

“If you’re going to do something, do something new,” the guest concluded his appearance at the Steinmühle. And who knows—maybe he’ll run into one or two of those enthusiastic young people again someday.

Axel Täubert is a retired rapper, SPIEGEL bestselling author, and Head of Startups at Google. He lived in Gießen until he graduated from high school (Liebigschule, 1996) and, prior to his current role, served as Head of Gaming at YouTube, among other positions. He founded several companies at a young age and now supports various startups as a business angel. He is also the author of children’s books and lives in Munich with his wife and two sons.

Exhibition on Sustainability Issues

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Ines Vielhaben’s Advanced Art Class has creatively curated an exhibition featuring impressive documentary and staged photographs that shed light on selected Sustainable Development Goals in a compelling way. This visual journey through commitment and vision awaits all interested visitors in the open workspace of the Steinmühlen main building. The photos not only tell very different stories but also encourage reflection.

According to Ines Vielhaben, the exhibition is more than just pictures on the wall—it is an invitation to view the world through the lens of sustainability.

This selection of photos provides a glimpse into the various photo series.

DIV Training Course for Quality Management Representatives: “The Boarding Schools Association” Visits the Steinmühle

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From September 18–21, the DIV (Die INTERNATE VEREINIGUNG e.V.) met at the Steinmühle as part of a training program for quality management officers. The DIV is an association of renowned boarding schools in Germany and Switzerland. The boarding schools undergo regular internal and external evaluations, collaborate with research institutions and universities, and place great emphasis on the professional development of their staff.

Quality management—including the planning and implementation of quality improvement initiatives at member boarding schools and within the association—is one of the DIV’s core responsibilities.

In 2014, the DIV General Assembly therefore unanimously adopted the “Framework Concept for Quality Management in Boarding Schools.” The gradual implementation of the quality standards set forth in this document is mandatory for DIV members and is reviewed at regular intervals.

Since March 2021, the DIV has been training quality management officers at each of its member boarding schools; these officers are responsible for establishing and gradually implementing the DIV’s framework for quality management in boarding schools.

The first generation of QMBs successfully completed their training in March 2022.

The participants in the current training program are already the second generation of QMBs, as the DIV is constantly welcoming new boarding schools into its ranks or existing members wish to have another QMB trained.

As part of their practical training, which is specifically tailored to the boarding school context, participants will acquire not only the theoretical foundations of quality management and hands-on experience with supporting tools, but also the ability to conduct quality management audits at member institutions.

In this regard, the DIV places particular emphasis on ensuring that trainees receive a quality management (QM) certification in accordance with the requirements of the DIN EN ISO 19011 audit standard.

The training program is divided into several sessions (some in-person, some online). Following an initial Zoom kick-off at the end of June 2023, the current session at the Steinmühle marked the first in-person block; two additional training blocks will follow before the second generation of QMBs is expected to complete their training in September 2024.

In addition to the technical content, participants were also treated to an engaging social program. A guided tour of Marburg’s picturesque Upper Town and a group visit to one of the university town’s most charming venues, the “Sonne,” rounded out the conference.

Making the Teaching Profession More Attractive: The “Future Bus” at Steinmühle

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To further promote teacher recruitment, the Hessian Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs’ “Future Bus” stopped by the Q1 and Q3 upper-level classes at Steinmühle on Monday, September 11.

As part of the initiative“The Future Needs You! Become a Teacher in Hesse,”the bus is touring more than 100 schools in Hesse this year—and it also stopped at Steinmühle. Also on board: a new, innovative motivational video in virtual reality style. The goal of the video is to provide insight into the work of a teacher. The approximately 3-minute, 270-degree short film becomes an immersive experience when viewed with VR goggles. After watching the VR film, there was even a chance to find out just how much teaching potential the Steinmühle high school students have. The “Teacher Test” could be taken digitally on-site, with results appearing immediately afterward. And who knows—maybe a few of tomorrow’s teachers are already in the starting blocks.

The event at the Steinmühle was organized by Dr. Claudia Röder, who is in charge of academic and career guidance at our school.

On the recruitment of teachers in Hesse:

In addition to increasing the number of spots in elementary school teacher training programs, various career-change programs and opportunities for further training have already been established. The starting salary for elementary school teachers has also been raised. According to the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs, 2,500 teachers are hired into the teaching profession each year.

Making Their Position Clear: Political Leaders Discussed Issues with Students

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Steinmühlen High School showed great interest in engaging with the candidates


All of the district’s leading candidates running in the upcoming state legislative election gathered on stage at the Steinmühle Forum to share their views on controversial political issues with 12th and 13th graders. The politicians devoted most of their energy to distinguishing themselves from their political opponents.

Speaking before a packed auditorium, in front of students who will be first-time voters this year or next, was likely what made this event so appealing to the candidates. The questions to be addressed were provided by Jonathan Eckardt and Jan Templer. They are students in the advanced “Politics and Economics” course in the 12th grade at Steinmühlen High School.

The questions posed by the two young moderators and the follow-up questions from the audience focused, among other things, on opinions regarding the phase-out of the internal combustion engine, attitudes toward gender equality, and gender-neutral language, as well as Marburg’s “Move 35” transportation plan and the related question of how people from the surrounding areas—especially older residents of the city’s neighborhoods—should envision their future mobility. General issues were also discussed, such as the proposed solution to the teacher shortage or the environmental protection measures that the candidates considered both feasible and appropriate—to name just a few examples.

Given the generally well-known positions of the individual parties, there were few surprises in the answers. The candidates’ stances were sometimes polarizing, and if there was one thing that could be described as exemplary about the event, it was the fact that it took place in a mostly objective atmosphere.

There would have been plenty more “material” to continue the discussion. Unfortunately, however, the allotted time—90 minutes—was not enough. In any case, there is certainly no sign of the political apathy among young people that is often claimed in public discourse here at the Steinmühle.

Thanks to the efforts of subject teacher Dr. Claudia Röder, Steinmühle High School succeeded in inviting the candidates from all political parties, without exception, to participate in the school event. Principal Björn Gemmer thanked her and the political guests for this extraordinary and fruitful morning, which likely served as another important step toward helping the student body form their own political opinions.

This lineup promised a lively discussion. Participating in the political discussion with the students (from left) were Jan Schalauske (Die Linke), Sebastian Sack (SPD), Angela Dorn (Alliance 90/The Greens), Lisa Deißler (FDP), Dirk Bamberger (CDU), and Pascal Schleich (AfD). Jonathan Eckardt and Jan Templer (center) moderated the morning session.

 

Caught on camera:

Angela Dorn (Alliance 90/The Greens)

Angela Dorn, Alliance 90 / The Greens

The phase-out of the internal combustion engine was an EU decision. That is often forgotten.

The Federal Constitutional Court has also ruled that there are more than two genders. Incidentally, this can also be observed in the animal kingdom.

We have doubled funding for road repairs. The FDP, however, is always in favor of new construction, but never of maintenance.

It takes too long to plan bike paths in Germany.

When it comes to local public transportation, we continue to support the “Every Village, Every Hour” initiative. However, this cannot be free of charge.

Our greatest resource is our mind.

We need a genuine educational revolution. Steinmühle can serve as a role model in this regard.

Go abroad! Take the time to look closely. Do internships! (Addressed to the student body, regarding career guidance).

Our prosperity is at risk if we do not meet our climate goals.

 

Dirk Bamberger (CDU)

Dirk Bamberger, CDU

We need to recognize that even electricity is not entirely CO2-neutral.

I take a critical view of gender-neutral language. For people with disabilities, it makes language more complicated.

Move35 suddenly disappeared behind closed doors. The concept is aimed at the car.

In 10 to 15 years, we may have autonomous vehicles, including buses.

Student tickets for everyone—we also need to consider how this will be funded.

In Hesse, we currently have more teachers than ever before, with fewer students than ever before—and more school psychologists than ever before.

 

Lisa Deißler (FDP)

Lisa Deißler, FDP

The question arises as to whether the timing (for phasing out the internal combustion engine) is wise. And whether we have the infrastructure for charging (electric cars).

When it comes to Move35, there’s a lot I don’t understand either.

For a Green Party transportation minister (Tarek Al Wazir), the rail and bike paths in Hesse are underdeveloped.

We need private transportation. Otherwise, things will get bleak in the outlying neighborhoods.

We need technology for the future and must continue our research in that direction.

When it comes to renovation, government buildings need to be addressed first before imposing regulations on the public.

 

Pascal Schleich (AfD)

Pascal Schleich, AfD

Phasing out the internal combustion engine is a complete mistake. We simply don’t have the energy for electric cars.

People are laughing at us. Biologically speaking, there are only two sexes.

Teachers have a higher rate of sick leave than people in other professions. This is due to overwork.

We support the preservation of special education schools. Inclusive classrooms require trained teachers.

When it comes to climate protection, we need to get others on board and, first and foremost, hold them accountable.

 

Sebastian Sack (SPD)

Sebastian Sack, SPD

We need to take responsibility. In the long run, this means the end of the internal combustion engine.

Remote villages in the county still rely on private transportation.

I’m in favor of small buses and frequent service.

The community bus is a useful service.

Education must be free—whether it’s a vocational certificate or a master’s degree.

It is important to renovate houses.

We should stop picking on each other.

 

Jan Schalauske (The Left)

Jan Schalauske, The Left

We must do everything we can to meet our climate goals. Phasing out internal combustion engines is the right thing to do.

I see the issue of gender language the same way Ms. Dorn does. It has to do with respect.

Roads should be repurposed to prioritize pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

The car-sharing concept is important for rural areas.

My vision for local public transportation: free of charge, no fare.

Educational success still depends on parents’ income.

To increase the number of teachers, we should focus on attracting people from other fields.

Steinmühlen students are having a great time at the SFM summer camp

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During the final week of the summer break in Hesse, from August 28 to September 1, 2023, the SFM organized a STEM summer camp for students from Central Hesse. The program featured exciting experiments, interesting STEM sites, and, of course, lots of fun. A total of 40 students from grades 7 through 12 signed up for the camp. Three 7th-grade students from Steinmühle were also there. Maya Fischer, Anna-Lena Griesler, and Justus Pöschl had a great time.
The workshops were led by the SFM team, including Steinmühlen teachers Malte Klimczak and Dr. Jutta Töhl-Borsdorf, who are on secondment to the SFM.

All students were able to sign up for the various activities on their own and thus put together their own personalized schedule. Specifically, the following 11 workshops were offered:

  • Robotikum – Guide and create dialogs with the Nano voice bot
  • The Lahn—Together, we’re investigating how clean the Lahn is
  • Mathematikum – We Get to the Bottom of Mathematical Models + Viseum – Explore Optics from Every Angle
  • Chemikum – The Vast World of Hydrogen and Climate
  • MS Wissenschaft – On a floating science center, you can dive into the depths of our universe
  • Genetics – Genetic Fingerprinting
  • FIRST LEGO League – Work as a team to solve tricky challenges using LEGO robots
  • WOW Experiments — It’s easy to spot a phenomenon, but how do I figure out what’s behind it?
  • Microcontrollers + Soldering – We’re Building an Environmental Monitoring Station
  • 3D Printers – Discover the Technology and Possibilities of 3D Printers
  • Planetarium – Let’s Discover Our Night Sky Together

The camp came to a close with a group barbecue at the Elisabethschule boathouse on Friday, which was also attended by many parents.

A detailed report on the individual workshops is available on the SFM website (https://sfz-mittelhessen.de/).

During the final week of the summer break in Hesse, from August 28 to September 1, 2023, the SFM organized a STEM summer camp for students from Central Hesse. The program featured exciting experiments, interesting STEM sites, and, of course, lots of fun. A total of 40 students from grades 7 through 12 signed up for the camp. Three 7th-grade students from Steinmühle were also there. Maya Fischer, Anna-Lena Griesler, and Justus Pöschl had a great time.
The workshops were led by the SFM team, including Steinmühlen teachers Malte Klimczak and Dr. Jutta Töhl-Borsdorf, who are on secondment to the SFM.

All students were able to sign up for the various activities on their own and thus put together their own personalized schedule. Specifically, the following 11 workshops were offered:

  • Robotikum – Guide and create dialogs with the Nano voice bot
  • The Lahn—Together, we’re investigating how clean the Lahn is
  • Mathematikum – We Get to the Bottom of Mathematical Models + Viseum – Explore Optics from Every Angle
  • Chemikum – The Vast World of Hydrogen and Climate
  • MS Wissenschaft – On a floating science center, you can dive into the depths of our universe
  • Genetics – Genetic Fingerprinting
  • FIRST LEGO League – Work as a team to solve tricky challenges using LEGO robots
  • WOW Experiments — It’s easy to spot a phenomenon, but how do I figure out what’s behind it?
  • Microcontrollers + Soldering – We’re Building an Environmental Monitoring Station
  • 3D Printers – Discover the Technology and Possibilities of 3D Printers
  • Planetarium – Let’s Discover Our Night Sky Together

The camp came to a close with a group barbecue at the Elisabethschule boathouse on Friday, which was also attended by many parents.

A detailed report on the individual workshops is available on the SFM website (https://sfz-mittelhessen.de/).

 
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Do you have questions about the school?

School Administration & Management

Björn Gemmer & Dirk Konnertz
Phone: 06421 408-20

schule@steinmuehle.de

Do you have questions about the boarding school?

Boarding School Administration & Management

Anke Muszynski & Dirk Konnertz
Phone: 06421 408-0

internat@steinmuehle.de

Do you have questions about the school?

School Administration & Management

Björn Gemmer & Dirk Konnertz
Phone: 06421 408-20

schule@steinmuehle.de

Do you have questions about the boarding school?

Boarding School Administration & Management

Anke Muszynski & Dirk Konnertz
Phone: 06421 408-0

internat@steinmuehle.de

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