Hildegard51′s Weblog

Students at the Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall fell in 1989, but a few remnants remain today, nearly twenty years later. When I speak of the Berlin Wall in my high school German classes, many of my students have no idea what I am talking about, and most have only the vaguest idea. The cold war was before their time, and it has no relevance to them. It has no relevance unless we teach history, world politics, reading, writing and understanding. John Donne’s quote that no man is an island is so true. JFK’s speech that when some of us are not free, we all suffer from lack of freedom makes the symbolism of my photograph relevant.

My picture, which I took of some of my students, shows them in front of one of the remnants that were left standing as a reminder of the cold war. As you can see it is covered in painting and graffiti. I ask my students, “Which side do you think this is: east or west?” Someone usually, but not always correctly guesses, “West!” “Why,” I ask. Someone usually figures out that it is the western side because on one could get close to the wall on the western side.

Our job as teachers, no matter what we teach, is to produce citizens of our communities, our country and of the world. I sincerely believe that travel with students is the mo among the very most effective teaching strategies. Very few students get to do this, however.

The power of photography and writing can convey the images and situations of the world to us. Pictures show us the history of the good and evil; the greatness and depravity of humans.

Travel is expensive – beyond the reach of most.

A photograph is priceless, but costs only pennies.