Leitideen

I.

„There are two approaches to problem solving. The first involves innovation – applying the latest high-cost technology, such as state-of –the-art computers and other tools, and investing a great deal of money.

The second uses commonsense tools, checklists and techniques that do not cost much money. This approach is called kaizen.

Kaizen involves everybody –starting with the CEO in the organization – planning and working together for success.”

( Masaaki Imai: Gemba Kaizen, New York 1997)

II.

“What will this new teacher do?

Professors of education at New York University never lectured on how to handle flying-sandwich situations. They talked about theories and philosophies of education, about moral and ethical imperatives, about the necessity of dealing with the whole child, the gestalt, if you don’t mind, the child’s felt needs, but never about critical moments in the classroom.

Should I say, Hey, Petey, get up there and pick up that sandwich, or else? Should I pick it up myself and throw it into the wastepaper basket to show my contempt for people who throw sandwiches while millions starve all over the world?

They had to recognize I was boss, that I was tough, that I’d take none of their shit. (…) I ate the sandwich.

It was the first act of classroom management. My mouth, clogged with sandwich, attracted the attention of the class. They gawked at me, thirty-four boys and girls, average age sixteen. (…)

So this is teaching? Yeah, wow. I felt like a champion. I ate the sandwich (..). I felt I could do anything with this class. I thought I had them in the palm of my hand. Fine, except I didn’t know what to do next. I was there to teach, and wondered how I should move from a sandwich situation to spelling or grammar or the structure of a paragraph or anything related to the subject I was supposed to teach, English.

My students smiled till they saw the principal’s face framed in the door window. (…) He opened the door and beckoned me out. …”

(Frank McCourt: Teacher Man, New York 2005)

III.

“In der Pädagogik ist alles erlaubt. Es gibt kein Zulassungsverfahren für Lehrmethoden. Ebenso wenig gibt es eine Rückrufaktion für gescheiterte Methoden, sodass eine schlechte Methode hier gerade versenkt wird und an einer anderen Ecke Deutschlands demnächst wieder als das Neueste vom Neuen gefeiert wird. Ebenso wenig gibt es eine Haftungsregelung, sodass die Kinder eine Wiedergutmachung in Form von Nachschulung erhalten können, wenn sie mit ihren Eltern durch eine untaugliche Methode ihre wertvolle Zeit verschwendet haben. An eine offizielle Beschwerdestelle braucht man gar nicht erst zu denken. Ebenso fehlt es an einem zuverlässigen Eignungstest für Lehrer. Für eine praktische Ausbildung muss sich mittlerweile so mancher Schüler einem Assessment-Center unterziehen. Lehrer kann jeder werden.“

(Eine Mutter von 2 Kindern in Lotte Kühn: Elternsprechtag, München 2006)

IV.

„In Omnibus Veritas“

(Motto der Universität Mannheim)

(Ulrich Damm)