The subject Social-practical Basic Education (Sozialpraktische Grundbildung)
Nutrition and health – what has that got to do with me? This new course – Social-practical Basic Education
– which has recently been introduced in the 8th Class, enables pupils to come to grips with this fundamental
question. This pilot project makes it possible to investigate aspects of this topic (including ill health and
addiction) in lessons for a whole year. The “practical” side of things, doing things oneself, is intended to
play a foreground role, for example, nutrition-conscious cooking within the framework of an accompanying
programme but also the investigation of examples from daily life such as advertising strategies for allegedly
valuable foodstuffs in supermarkets, the planning and execution of surveys/questionnaires (“What has
gone into your stomach in the last 24 hours?” and much more), or conversations with experts and
persons affected (nutritionists, health insurance companies), thus enabling pupils to think more about their
own consumer or addictive behaviour and their attitudes to the subjects treated.
In the 9th Class it is, above all, the community and administrative district policy that provides the central
focus, also in relation to its social-political aspects. In this connection, it is important to become acquainted
with the political agents and the political and social facilities in the area. This takes place in the form of
excursions, information-gathering, research, projects and internships in the field of youth education and
social pedagogy.

This brings us to the second main point of emphasis in the 9th Class, the field of childhood and youth. The
goal is to provide the pupils with insights into the development of children and young people, thus
increasing their awareness not only of their own growth but also of changes and problems relating to their
environment and their fellow human beings. In addition, the course deals with some of the typical
problems that the young have, with the intention of arousing and deepening political interest and
involvement on the part of both male and female young persons as a result.
Each school year an at least one-week long practical training takes place directly related to the subjects
treated. In the 10th Class, for example: personality; people in need; social trouble spots in industrial
societies. The subject Social-practical Basic Education, comprising two hours a week, has always been a part
of the Social Science branch of study at our school as has the internship laid out for 100 hours, which is a
precondition for advancing to the 11th Class, and is, for the most part, completed by the pupils in the
holidays.

Goals are:
• Acquainting young people with current trouble spots of our society
• Increased practical orientation of Personal, Social and Health Education at a Gymnasium that places
special focus on Social Science
• Clear action orientation
• Acquisition of qualifications such as the ability to work in a team, self-reliance, and critical
reflection, but also learning to be open to and aware of tendencies and problems of our
modern world and society.