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As part of the math class for 7c, the topic of “interest calculations” was covered over the past few weeks. In this context, the students had many follow-up questions:

Why do interest rates exist, anyway? When did interest rates first come into existence? What is the current interest rate on savings and loans? Who sets the interest rates? Why are interest rates so low right now?

To find answers to these questions, the class reached out to Sparkasse Marburg-Biedenkopf. Jochen Schönleber, a member of the board of directors, invited Class 7c—along with their homeroom teacher, Lisa Braun, and their former math teacher, Eberhard Wieth—to visit the Sparkasse’s main branch. During the visit, he explained to the class the Sparkasse’s responsibilities and how it operates.

Questions presented as a quiz

In addition, the students asked several other questions during the visit: What was the largest loan the Sparkasse has ever granted? What happens if the Sparkasse cannot repay savings deposits? What other functions does the Sparkasse perform? Is it possible to do an internship at the Sparkasse?

Sparkasse employees Felix Müller and Julian Blöcher had prepared the students’ questions in the form of a quiz. The students took the quiz on their smartphones and learned a lot of new things in the process, including about interest rates, the European Central Bank’s (ECB) key interest rate, jobs at the Sparkasse, and more. “Numi,” the robot developed by the Sparkasse in collaboration with the University of Marburg, helped them along the way.

A final tour of the Sparkasse, with additional information provided by Deputy Branch Manager Kevin Kassner, rounded out the visit, which had been organized by Sparkasse employee Meike Stark.

As part of the six-hour “Youth and Law” project, which ran over three weeks, Class 8c—taught by Steinmühlen teacher Dr. Claudia Röder—attended a court hearing at the Marburg Regional Court. The goal was to supplement the theoretical knowledge they had learned about court proceedings with real-life experience. After all, the media often convey certain ideas about what goes on in court. But is that really how it is?

The hearing concerned a juvenile criminal case involving assault. The group of students, whose field trip had been organized by Heike Schneider, a judge at the Regional Court, and Dr. Claudia Röder, was guided by Judge Thomas Rohner.

The students at Steinmühle found the discussion about whether the offense in question constituted minor or serious bodily injury particularly interesting. The parties to the trial also debated whether the male defendant should be sentenced under juvenile or adult criminal law. The arguments for and against were discussed at length, as they have a significant impact on the sentence.

Afterward, the very interested teenagers were given the opportunity to ask the judge and the prosecutor questions. At the end of the visit, Judge Heike Schneider showed the guests from Steinmühle the jury courtroom at the regional court and talked about her work.

Students Visit the Sparkasse: Interest Calculations in Practice

Students Visit Court: Here’s How a Trial Works