The defendant’s future as a key factor: Case 8b heard in district court

, ,

As part of the “Youth and Crime” project, Class 8b attended an exciting court trial at the Marburg District Court. One student wrote the following report about the experience:

On November 20, the 8th-grade class from Steinmühle visited the district court in Marburg. Thanks to our intensive preparation—which involved studying various offenses as well as background information and legal terminology—our class had acquired a certain amount of prior knowledge that proved useful during the subsequent trial.

 

A Look Inside the Detention Cells

At 8 a.m., we all met in front of the district court on Universitätsstraße. There, our teacher, Dr. Claudia Röder, introduced us to Dr. Wilhelm, who works as a judge at the district court. We were also lucky enough to run into two court officers there who were willing to give us a tour of the court’s holding cells.

Ten minutes later, we were all standing in the narrow hallway in front of the five simply furnished detention cells. The interior of the detention cells was basic: a wooden table mounted on the wall, a simple chair, a sink, and a toilet. The police officers also shared a few anecdotes from their daily work, which gave us a small theoretical insight into how people feel when they’re held here for a short time.

 

Visit to the Criminal Courtroom

As a result, before the trial began, we had a little time left, during which the court officers showed us around the criminal courtroom. There, the court officers and Dr. Wilhelm explained further examples of different types of court proceedings and their specific characteristics. This was good preparation for us ahead of the upcoming trial.

 

Narcotics were the topic

The trial began at 9 a.m., and as it progressed, we were able to get a good overview of the general structure of such a trial. This case mainly concerned the use and trafficking of narcotics—a topic we had covered in class, but not nearly in such detail.

 

Reading Chat Histories Aloud

Despite the many legal details, we were able to follow the proceedings well, even though it was harder to stay focused at times. For example, when the evidence was being reviewed. The defendant’s cell phone had been analyzed by the police, and the reading of the chat histories and call records ended up taking almost exactly one hour.

 

26 prior convictions and a report from a psychiatrist

The two police officers who had been called as witnesses reported on the investigation into the defendant, which was very informative and provided yet another perspective on the trial. Twenty minutes later, there was another rather theoretical segment in which the judge read aloud the defendant’s 26 prior convictions, which gave each of us a small glimpse into the defendant’s past and childhood. As we saw from the statements of the probation officer and the psychiatrist—and as we realized for ourselves—such background information is always important. Most likely, everyone—including the prosecutor and the judge—would have had a different impression of the defendant before hearing the statements from the probation officer and the psychiatrist. But with this assessment, which was a great help to the judge, many aspects of the case changed.

 

It’s not about the maximum sentence, but about the future

After all, in the end, everyone wants to find a good solution to the problem or the situation at hand. The goal is not to sentence someone to the maximum penalty, but to find a solution for the person in question. Everyone involved worked to secure a future for the defendant and to guide him, thereby enabling him to find his way back into society.

Annamierl Pierenkemper, Class 8b

 

Practical tips and first-hand information at the Career Information Day

, ,

For a full 28 years now, Steinmühle has been hosting its Career Information Day every November—a successful event organized in cooperation with the Rotary Club Marburg-Schloss. Once again, we owe our thanks not only to the organizers: Steinmühle teacher Dr. Claudia Röder and Hans-Heinrich Bähr from the Rotary Vocational Service. We would also like to thank the representatives of the many different professions who so enthusiastically answered questions and provided information to our upper-level students.

 

Information, Inspiration, and Insights

The event, opened by Principal Björn Gemmer, featured presentations on the following professions and fields during three sessions that evening: Attorney, Business Administration (Operations Management), Dentist, Physician, Psychologist, Software Company, Tax Consultant/Certified Public Accountant, Finance/Savings Banks/Banks, Social Service Year, Police Service, Pilot, German Armed Forces, Dual Degree Program at THM, Journalist, Political Scientist, Materials Science, Physics, Advertising Agency/Media, Architecture.

Our students certainly went home with some valuable information, a few ideas, or a new insight into their future career aspirations.

Dear business owners and their representatives: Thank you for enriching the information evening for the young people! Our photos show a selection of participants.

Don’t take your eyes off the glass

,

Knockout drops at parties or events are a source of fear for parents, teenagers, and even older adults. The idea that strangers might slip substances into your drink when you’re not looking—substances that first make you “drunk” and then render you helpless—is a major cause for concern. But what exactly are knockout drops? How can you recognize them, and how can you protect yourself from them? And what should you do if you do become a victim of a knockout attack?

Question after question—and during a one-and-a-half-hour prevention session at Steinmühle School & Boarding School, the 10th-grade students had two knowledgeable advisors to turn to: Lara Baade and Lucie Lemberg from the association Frauennotruf Marburg e.V.

 

A Sudden Shift from Euphoria to Helplessness

It’s not just a single substance that can be used as a knockout agent. Around 150 different substances—some of which can be ordered online—are “suitable” for temporarily and deliberately removing specific individuals from their self-determined lives. These are substances—some of which are misused—that do not necessarily stand out visually or in terms of taste when added to a drink. For up to 30 minutes after consuming the drink, the person feels somewhat intoxicated and euphoric. After 20 to 30 minutes, however, the tipping point arrives—and it happens suddenly.

“Then comes the sedative phase,” the speakers report. Those affected are dazed, listless, experience impaired consciousness and a racing heart, and are overcome by vomiting. They are unable to defend themselves against active abuse or mistreatment—including rape—and have no strength. Depending on the substance and the individual’s physical condition, this phase lasts about 6 to 8 hours.

 

Consumption Simulated Using Special Glasses

“It depends on whether and what you’ve eaten, or whether you may have consumed alcohol beforehand or something similar,” explain the experts, who had the students complete an interactive obstacle course at the end of the field trip. Using special goggles, the activity simulated the effects of having previously consumed dangerous intoxicants—an experience designed to give students a rough idea of what it’s like to be a victim of knockout drops.

 

At celebrations of all kinds

Incidentally, the place where these insidious activities take place isn’t always a club or a bar. It can be private parties, a fair, or celebrations of all kinds where large groups of people usually gather. And, by the way, it isn’t necessarily a stranger who picks out the victim or victims on such occasions. Sometimes it’s someone from your circle of acquaintances who plans a cruel prank—or worse—in this way.

Contrary to popular belief, while the targets are usually female, they are not always so, and it is not uncommon for them to no longer be teenagers. “Older people can also become victims of knockout drops,” the speakers said.

The prevention session for the 10th-grade students at Steinmühle took place in individual classes or groups. Our photo was taken during the prevention session for the class taught by subject teacher Nicole Hohm.

 

Land Grabbing, Fossil Fuels, Monoculture: Exhibition Highlights Global Challenges

, ,

An exhibition is on display in the main building of the Steinmühle through mid-November, highlighting key global challenges and their social, environmental, and legal dimensions.

Among other things, it involves:

• Land Grabbing as a Criminal Offense: The Illegal Appropriation of Land and Its Impact on Local Communities.

 

• Monoculture: How industrial agriculture is displacing the traditional ways of life of indigenous peoples, as exemplified by the Bender people.

 

• Fossil Fuels: Global energy demand has doubled, yet 80 % of it still comes from fossil fuels. New record highs are being set every year.

 

• Legal proceedings against oil companies: Shell plans to withdraw from Nigeria following public protests against oil spills. This raises questions of responsibility and justice.

 

• Global water crisis: Despite a growing world population, water is becoming increasingly scarce. 2.2 billion people lack reliable access to clean drinking water. A large portion of indirect water consumption occurs in poorer countries, often at the expense of the local population.

 

• Land use for paper: Germany consumes 230 kg of paper per capita (2023), with 20 percent of its pulp coming from Brazil. The Pataxó Indigenous people are losing their land to pulp cultivation and face repression when they protest.

Ines Vielhaben, a teacher at Steinmühle and the ESD coordinator, borrowed the roll-ups—which can also be incorporated into lessons—from the Motives e.V. association.

Survey of 2,250 young people: Steinmühle is in the lead

, ,

In a survey of 2,250 Marburg students, in which they were asked to evaluate their secondary school based on specific criteria, Steinmühle came out on top: It ranked first in terms of food, media facilities, Wi-Fi, school restrooms, and overall condition.

 

Investigation Initiated by the Children’s and Youth Parliament

The large-scale study was launched in the summer of 2023 by the Children and Youth Parliament (KiJuPa) of the university city of Marburg. The study was motivated by a desire to answer the question of what young people need and what they hope for in their lives in Marburg.

The young people were surveyed not only on the topic of school and education, but also on topics such as politics and civic engagement, transportation and mobility, leisure, media and digitalization, safety, discrimination, and the future.

 

With the support of two experts

With support from Philipps University, KiJuPa analyzed the survey results on its own. With Prof. Dr. Ivo Züchner from the Department of Education and Philipp Klingler from the Institute of Political Science, KiJuPa had two experts at its side who guided them through the survey “jungle,” explained complex issues in a clear and understandable way, and gave everyone a crash course in research methodology.

 

Steinmühlen Principal Praises the School’s Supporting Association

“The outstanding results for Steinmühle give me reason to extend my heartfelt thanks to the School Association on behalf of the school administration team!” commented Steinmühle Principal Björn Gemmer on the survey results. “As the school’s governing body, the School Association provides nearly ideal conditions for our students—far better than the (once) financially strong public school system is able or willing to do,” he said, praising the dedication of School Association Chairman Egon Vaupel, his deputy Gerhard Müller, and Steinmühle Managing Director Dirk Konnertz.

The complete survey section on the topic of school can be viewed here: https://kijupa-marburg.de/wp-content/uploads/Umfrage-Schule.pdf

Angela Heinemann

 

“The General University Entrance Qualification has no expiration date”

,

Career guidance is traditionally a focus for 11th graders at the start of each new school year. Slowly but surely, students should be making their decisions regarding the advanced courses they will choose at the end of the so-called introductory phase to upper secondary school (“E-Phase”). But where should this journey actually lead? Dr. Claudia Röder, who is responsible for internships and career guidance at Steinmühle, invited an expert to speak—especially for students who are still unsure. But the entire grade benefited from the event.

Choosing a career is a process

Elke Seim holds degrees in education and public administration and works as a career counselor at the Federal Employment Agency in Marburg. In her presentation, she not only gave the students food for thought regarding their choice of advanced courses but also offered tips for their future career planning. “It’s about finding your own path; choosing a career is a process,” explained Elke Seim. She emphasized that experience gained through an internship or even vocational training could certainly precede a college degree. “A vocational college entrance qualification or a general college entrance qualification has no expiration date.”

Personalized “Roadmap”

It’s important to honestly answer a few questions for yourself: Where do I want to work? What fields interest me? What am I good at? What do I value in life? This year’s 11th-grade class needs to tailor its own individual roadmap through 2028, the year they’ll graduate from high school. For those aiming to pursue a dual degree program or vocational training immediately after graduating from high school, the report card from the first semester of 12th grade is particularly important.

Using a PowerPoint presentation, Elke Seim outlined in brief points what else plays a role: Choosing from among the many professions and fields of study, the goal of completing the respective degree program with a bachelor’s degree (B.A./B.Sc.) or even a master’s degree (M.A./M.Sc.), and the opportunities that this opens up.

The career counselor is available to answer any questions students may have following the presentation or in the near future (elke.seim@arbeitsagentur.de).

Sustainability Management—A Promising Addition to a Business Administration Degree

, ,

How can one combine the unique challenges of sustainability with the popular business administration program?

One person who knows this all too well is Prof. Dr. Julian Conrads. For the past three years, he has been teaching business administration with a focus on sustainability management at the Technical University of Central Hesse (THM). His lecture at the Steinmühle, given at the invitation of Bernd Hülsbeck—a subject teacher and head of the social sciences department at our school—contributed to career guidance and once again fostered exchange with the university.

 

In Focus: Textile Manufacturing, People, and the Environment

This issue affects everyone, and to have a say in it, all you have to do is look down at yourself: What am I actually wearing? Textile manufacturing around the world is a hot-button issue—one that’s generally well known but often ignored. “Surely expensive brand-name manufacturers don’t tolerate poor working conditions,” many reassure themselves, attributing the environmental impact of the textile industry solely to low-cost producers. — That’s often the case and may be true, but it isn’t necessarily so, as Prof. Conrads knows.

 

Utilization of all conceivable resources

Vietnam, Taiwan, Bangladesh: Conrads went there in person to see for himself the conditions under which the items we wear are produced and how, for example, backpacks are sewn together. The focus is on the three pillars of sustainability: ecology, economy, and social responsibility. Aware that synthetic materials are petroleum-based and that dyeing—along with cotton cultivation—places an enormous strain on water resources, we can immediately announce another startling fact: With 1.2 billion metric tons of CO2 per year and 6–8 percent of global emissions, the textile industry has a greater impact on our climate than air travel and shipping combined.

In fact, these are all figures you should be aware of. And here are a few more examples: The textile industry consumes 20 percent of the world’s water supply. For every kilogram of clothing produced, about one kilogram of chemicals is used.

 

A Look at Working Conditions

However, alongside these sobering facts, it is also true that the textile industry is a major global employer. It is estimated that 70 million people—particularly in developing and emerging economies—earn their livelihoods from it. Yet even these figures must be viewed in context, given the often inadequate wages paid to workers—who are mostly women and frequently lack basic rights. It is not only the natural environment that suffers from the production of textiles due to air, water, and soil pollution; human resources—specifically, the labor of workers—are also exploited.

Compliance with core labor standards is part of social responsibility. This includes the elimination of forced labor, fair wages, and reasonable working hours. Independent third-party firms conduct audits to ensure that certain standards are met or maintained. Another important criterion in this context is the elimination of child labor.

 

Business Statements Send a Message

To ensure that employees—most of whom are women—are aware of their rights, training sessions are offered in the areas of occupational safety and labor law. Complaint hotlines are available if on-site conditions do not appear to comply with the law. To send a clear message, companies issue a business statement in which they commit to adopting a sustainable approach. This also addresses supply chains, the diversity of suppliers, and the highly complex substances to be processed.

 

Is sustainable business economically viable?

Social responsibility and sustainable business practices entail costs for companies. “Can this even be economically worthwhile anymore?” the speaker asked the group, consisting of 11th-grade students from Steinmühle High School. They had the right answer ready. To ensure this is the case, companies rely on marketing and on building a reputation that resonates with consumers.

 

Possible Career Paths

The Business Administration (BWL) program in Sustainability Management, leading to a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree, can lead to careers in corporate management, work with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), a career in politics, or starting a business. Prof. Conrads: “It’s an addition to business administration. We’re trying to make sustainability a normal part of business administration.”

Angela Heinemann

 

 
12
 
123456

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

  • NEWSLETTER
  • PUBLICATIONS
  • WORK AT THE STONE MILL
  • SUMMER CAMPS
  • LEGAL NOTICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • CONTACT