Heide Schaffer

 

Primary and secondary school teacher, Vice Principal

- Teaching all subjects of primary school
- Teaching German, English and French for secondary school
- Additionally, teaching PE and Business and Employment studies

- Emancipatory Education and Out-of School Activities for Young People, and violence prevention
- Special Education for pupils with reading and spelling weaknesses (dyslexia)

Violence prevention
- Conflict transformation training for boys
- Self-confidence enhancement and assertiveness training for girls
- Social Learning

Mental and physical violence occurs in various areas. Due to my work as a teacher, I apply violence prevention measures in the area of youth and school.

In school, violence can be seen manifesting itself between students (bullying) or against property. When I apply preventive measures and have to work on existing situations between the perpetrator and victim, I aim to develop the students’ social skills and empathy. At the same time, I work with the parents; they must be actively involved.

Children and adolescents should not be regarded as ‘future adults’. Rather, they are fully-formed individuals with all their facets who follow their visions. They have acquired a particular background and they live in their particular circumstances. Additionally, this life stage constantly requires adjustments and shifts of mind. The transition from childhood to adulthood comes with new freedoms, and at the same time new rules are to be understood and learnt.

The 'Lions Quest' program 'Growing Up' focus especially on children and adolescents. The program emphasizes character education and the learning of “life skills” ('Lebenskompetenzen') the following social, emotional and cognitive skills:

Children and adolescents acquire or strengthen their capability

to like oneself and to know oneself
to be able to empathize with others
to think critically and creatively
to be able to communicate effectively and to establish stable and successful relationships
to make decisions thoughtfully
to know strategies to solve problems and
to be able to cope with emotions and stress.

I am working as a teacher. That is, I train my students’ ability to acquire and apply new knowledge, of various fields, quickly and independently. Likewise, my task and my role means for me to uncover together with the students their life skills. My aim is to strengthen their individual abilities and skills. The students, later as adults, shall be best prepared to live in today's society, that is diverse and unpredictable, and to contribute to it.

The goal is to aim for a successful, and at the same time, a joyful life.