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Germany - April 2010 |
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Alfred Graf von Soden-Fraunhofen |
April was the month of the 50th anniversary of our school. Our group of students studied the life of the man who gave his name to our school. At the anniversary a display, showing the life of Alfred Graf von Soden was given by the Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen as a present to our school.
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Soden was born on November 21st, 1875 in Neufraunhofen (Bavaria). After high school and his military service he
studied law, graduating in 1898. Despite his parents’ initial opposition he decided to take to study mechanical
engineering at the Technical University of Munich where he graduated in 1902. Soden started his career in the
testing departmentof Daimler in Stuttgart, first as a general assistant, later in the automobile department.
There he developed with a former student colleague a new diesel engine.
During this time he met Graf Zeppelin on private trips to the Lake of Constance who was very fond of the ingenious
young man and his ground breaking inventions So soon Graf Zeppelin decided to invite this man to join his team.
1910 Graf Zeppelin offered Graf Soden the position as a manager of the newly established testing department of the
airship manufacturing company. Soden agreed and soon started to develop new engines, transmissions and propellers.
It took not long until the „Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen (ZF)” as an independent gearwheel factory was founded,
the beginning of the ZF. Graf Soden became first the technical director, later general manager of the ZF. He had
this position for more than 30 years until his death in 1944.
Today the ZF Friedrichshafen employs 60,480 people all over the world and has factories in China, Japan, South
Africa, Brasil and the USA. There are branches in nearly all countries of the world and ZF is one of the major
partners of the automobile industry in the whole world. |
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The display showing Count Soden’s life was unveiled during the ceremony at our school on April 12th, 2010. |
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The anniversary of our school also encouraged us to look for people who had contact with Alfred Graf von Soden-Fraunhofen during his life and we were lucky!
We were successful and found Mrs Schultheiss (94), the former personal secretary of Graf Soden, and she agreed to give an interview at our the celebration of our anniversary. |
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Here are the main parts of this interview:
Mrs Schultheiss, when did you start working for Graf Soden?
In 1940, I worked with Graf Soden until he died in 1944. In 1946 I finished my work at the Zahnradfabrik
Friedrichshafen.
What was your first impression of Graf Soden?
He was a very serious, very quiet, but a very elegant man.
How would you describe his personality?
He was friendly, always of good manner, never shouted. When he got angry he just slammed the door behind him and
stayed in his office. He never was rude to his staff, always very polite and calm. He often brought small presents
when I had to work longer.
What was important for him at work?
I always had to be punctual, ready to work until late. He always wanted to finish everything right in time. And he
was very reliable. What he promised was done always in time and with the best results. What he expected fro himself
he also expected from his staff.
What was your job?
I had to write letters, accompany him to meetings, organize his journeys, book trains and hotels for him, organize his daily routine. When he wanted to have some tasks done, it had always to be done quickly.
What should the pupils of Graf-Soden-Realschule learn from him?
They should be as patient as he was, have the same good manners, be as ingenious as he was. And they should know more about him as he was a very great personality and a very good man.
Thank you for this interview, Mrs Schultheiss.
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Poland - April 2010 |
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In April we visited our senior friends. We were invited for a folk band rehearsal. The seniors were making preparations for their spectacle which was humorous and educational as well.
Their performance was about a man who was a shoemaker. The seniors told us how to make leather shoes, a straw doormat, a bristle brush and a straw window gasket. We enjoyed the performance very much.
We hope that one day the elderly will teach us their craft. |
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Turkey - April 2010 |
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The 1st of April was the day that Hayrettin KARACA ( 84) the
founder of TEMA visited our school. He spoke to the Year 4 and 5 students about the
importance of our environment
The first week also saw the visit of Arslan Bayar, a senior author who lives in our community. He encouraged the
junior students to enjoy reading for both pleasure and knowledge.
Between the 15th and 22th of April is Tourism Week. We invited some of our foreign students grandparents
to school so we could show and talk about some of the old handcrafts in Turkey.
A panel showing all the activities for the first six months was displayed in the school foyer.
Some of our students joined in with the senior English citizens folklore group, as they performed at a concert during
Tourism Week.
Both parents and grandparents were invited to the school’s annual concert on 22nd April. The children
danced and sang while the grandparents watched with enjoyment.
After many hours of practise on Wednesday afternoons the choir group of seniors and juniors finally
gave a performance at a school dinner held on the 24th April. |
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| The warmer weather,
Has brought more warmth
Between generations |
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Latvia - April 2010 |
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The students of form 10 invited their ex-teachers – seniors to school. The German language teacher Ilga Upeniece told us about her present life. She has a lot of free time, but she is a very active person. Ilga looks after her grandchildren, dances in a senior dance group, they have many concerts every month. She invited us to the concert taking place in the Latvian culture centre next weekend.
Ilga had a very interesting life too, when she was working. She showed many photos representing her life. Ilga was the first who started work with Comenius projects. She is longing for school and her students.
We prepared a small gift to our ex-teacher – flowers and amber bell. |
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