A Tradition Through Generations

St Martin Lantern Parade – A Tradition Through Generations

Can we assume that St. Martin (350 A.D.) still fits into today’s time? As teachers we are always faced with the question whether “traditions oblige” and so we tell the students and parents the story of St. Martin and the beggar, when we came together on November 11th in Old World Village, Huntington Beach, CA, for the St. Martin lantern parade:

“It was cold that day. Mighty cold. The people preferred to stay in their houses, hardly anyone dared go out into the street. The wind was icy, it was snowing, and it was like it would never warm up again. But one was on the street that day, one who had no roof over his head, a beggar.
With his teeth clattering and half frozen, he squatted huddled together at the city gate. He had nothing clever to put on, he was almost naked. He whimpered from the cold. But another one was on the road that day. Martin was called the Man, a soldier on horseback. Quick as the wind he rode with a blowing cloak through the deserted streets. Still through the city gate and he would be at home.
But – what was that? Martin stopped the horse to trot more slowly. That was but – indeed! Somebody was sitting there. A man. Martin looked at him. Hardly he was wearing. And how he trembled with sheer cold. Next to him remained the horse.
Martin didn’t think long. Without further ado he took off his coat, pulled out his sword and divided with it the cloak in the middle. He gave half of his coat to the beggar, and even before he knew what happened to him, Martin galloped away too.
The beggar gratefully wrapped himself in the half of his coat. How warm it was and how good it was. For a long time, he looked after Martin.”

During the week we had a pre-relief session about St. Martin in order to illustrate the story to the students and how they can deal with a beggar today:
“Anyone can be a beggar, beggars don’t just sit at the roadside. Beggars are sometimes among us – at school, in the family, in our free time, in the neighborhood; because everyone sometimes needs something that might be missing.
Sample: It is Tim who forgot his lunch at home. With a growling stomach he looks at Max, who is about to bite into his ham sandwich. Max notices that Tim is watching him. Without further ado he divides his bread and gives Tim half.
“What is divided here – how is a boy helped?”
Martin had a big heart for others.
“How can you help others or what can you share with others?
“Sometimes, I need help,
sometimes I can’t do it alone,
I’ll beg for advice then, or for a hand,
or around feet that accompany me.
Sometimes, I’m a beggar too.”

Working Together For German Language Education

School President of the German School Campus, Mrs. Ursula Schoeneich flew to New York to attend the 40th anniversary of the GLSC (German Language School Conference). 162 teachers, students, principals, school boards, speakers, sponsors and guests of the German language schools met for the 38th GLSC Education Conference. Numerous participants from the US states, Toronto, Bremen and Berlin were present.

As every year the conference started in the early morning hours in the German House at the UN Plaza. Over coffee and pastries, the first book displays of the sponsors could be visited.

Anna Garrido from the Cultural Department of the German Consulate General New York welcomed the attendees and President of GLSC Dr. Renate Ludanyi gave a short speech and honored members.

To the surprise of the students and the audience, gifts were presented to them by an international youth star. The 15-year-old Malina Weissman is a German-American model and meanwhile also a well-known actress. She used to be a student at the German language school in New York.

A wide range of workshops for teaching students of different ages about STEM, curriculum design, exam-relevant questions, studying language students in Germany as well as presentations in the administrative area ensured a varied workshop day.

In the afternoon, the conference reached its highlight with the visit of Ulla Schmidt, member of the Bundestag and of the Subcommittee on Foreign Cultural and Educational Policy in Berlin, Germany. Following her presentation on the role of language schools in the USA, she answered questions from participants on a wide range of topics such as the importance of the German Language Diploma in the USA, the financing of language schools and the consideration of pre-school and kindergarten children in school development. Mrs. Schmidt encouraged the language schools in their work and wished the GLSC many more successful years.

Following the conference program, the German Consulate General New York invited all participants and guests to a reception.