During the "My School, Your School" campaign, students discussed their ideas with each other and with Heidelberg's mayor.

The city of Heidelberg, in collaboration with the nationwide "Bürgerrat Bildung und Lernen" (Citizens' Council for Education and Learning), launched a project called "Meine Schule, deine Schule" (My School, Your School). This initiative involved students from 13 Heidelberg schools visiting each other's schools, attending classes, and sharing their experiences. In a workshop, they summarized the pilot project and discussed their ideas for improving school life with city officials. Key themes that emerged included the desire for a more relaxed learning environment (like a bi-weekly 4-day school week to reduce stress), making school a more livable space, and promoting student participation and self-directed learning. City officials expressed enthusiasm for the project and plan to explore ways to expand and sustain it throughout Heidelberg. The "Bürgerrat Bildung und Lernen" emphasizes the importance of citizen involvement in shaping a fair and sustainable education system.

March 28, 2025

Press releases from the education sectorCitizens' Council Education and LearningHeidelbergMontag Stiftung Denkwerkstatt

Source: News4Teacher

Article Content

"My School, Your School" Initiative: Students and Mayor Discuss Ideas for the Future of Education

The core idea is simple: Schools learn from each other and jointly develop new concepts in education and school life. This is the concept of the "My School, Your School" initiative, a joint project of the city of Heidelberg with the nationwide active Citizens' Council for Education and Learning.

For the city of Heidelberg, Social and Education Mayor Stefanie Jansen has taken up the approach. Since November 2024, children and young people from 13 Heidelberg schools have visited each other, participated in lessons as guests, and exchanged their experiences in everyday school life. At a creative workshop on March 18, 2025, they drew a conclusion on the pilot project and discussed their ideas with Mayor Stefanie Jansen, the school superintendent at the Mannheim State School Authority Florence Brokowski-Shekete, and the head of the Office for School and Education of the city of Heidelberg Sascha Lieneweg.

Bold Ideas for a Better School Experience

Cutting, gluing, writing, building: At first glance, what happened on Tuesday in the Chapel in Heidelberg looked like a colorful chaos. On closer inspection, it quickly became clear that bold and well-thought-out ideas were being created here. Educational ideas, creatively displayed by nearly 60 education experts: school principals, teachers, and students from 13 different schools.

One of the artworks consisted of a table, placed upright, from which a cardboard box with a neon-yellow demand dangled: "4-Day Week." And above it, in slightly smaller letters, the explanation: "Every two weeks a 4-day week to get back to school STRESS-FREE." The students explained that it was not about being able to spend a free day at home, but that they primarily wanted more space in the schedule to tackle projects beyond the classroom and invest in social interaction. Another group of students had created a miniature school out of cardboard in a very short time to make it clear that school must also be a living space. On the opposite side of the room hung a large poster with triangles in bright colors, in which ideas such as "self-determined learning," "democratic education," or "arousing students' interest" and "participation" were written.

Discussion with the Mayor

Mayor Stefanie Jansen was enthusiastic about the many new impulses: "It is nice to see how fruitful the cooperation between elementary schools with vocational schools, secondary schools and comprehensive schools and also between different age groups is here. School is important to students. They want to make it a place where they feel comfortable, where they can learn as well as possible, and where social interaction also works." Her conclusion of the school exchange campaign: "We have seen today that such a format works. Now we need to think about how we can make it usable and permanent for all of Heidelberg."

School superintendent Florence Brokowski-Shekete was positively surprised at how openly the students addressed things that are important to them: "A free and good space for discussions has emerged here. There was nothing to be felt of reserve, which I thought was very good," said Brokowski-Shekete. "The students obviously want their living space to be seen in the school and also taken into the school. That touched me very much and I think we still have a lot to do."

Everyone agreed on one wish: Not to stop talking to each other, to continue the conversation - and across school types. School superintendent Sascha Lieneweg put it this way: "A lot is already going very well in Heidelberg, but you can always learn more from each other and get better."

Revolutionizing Education: Introducing BlitzFast

Inspired by initiatives like "My School, Your School", which aim to create a more student-centered and collaborative learning environment, we at BlitzFast are rethinking the future of education. We understand the need for flexibility, safety, and a curriculum that not only covers the standard German curriculum but goes beyond.

BlitzFast is an innovative online school, powered by AI, offering a flexible and secure educational alternative. Founded by Engin, a father of four, BlitzFast was born out of the desire to provide children with a high-quality education, regardless of location, and in response to challenges like bullying and violence.

What Makes BlitzFast Different?

AI-Powered Learning: Personalized learning paths that adapt to each child's pace.
Future-Ready Skills: Beyond traditional subjects, we focus on entrepreneurship, AI, digital literacy, critical thinking, and sustainability.
Flexible & Safe Environment: Learn from anywhere, in a stress-free and secure environment.
Community: Connect with peers and mentors from around the world.
Focus on practical knowledge: Equipping children with skills to excel in the real world.

We believe that education should not only prepare children for exams but also equip them with the skills to become successful entrepreneurs, innovators, and problem-solvers in a rapidly changing world. This is why BlitzFast integrates subjects like entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence into it's core curriculum.

A Call to Action: Shape the Future of Education with Us!

BlitzFast is currently in development, and we are looking for an exclusive group of parents to help us shape this vision. By joining our newsletter, you'll be among the first to:

Receive updates on our progress.
Participate in feedback sessions and influence the development of the platform.
Be considered for our exclusive test group.

Join the BlitzFast revolution and help us create a future where every child has access to a high-quality, personalized education. Sign up for our newsletter today! https://blitzfa.st

Key Takeaways

The "My School, Your School" initiative highlights the importance of student-led discussions and collaborative learning.
BlitzFast builds upon this idea by offering a flexible, safe, and future-focused online education.
By signing up for the BlitzFast newsletter, parents can contribute to shaping the future of education.

Let's work together to build a better future for our children, one where they are empowered to learn, innovate, and thrive. https://blitzfa.st

This article is based on content from News4Teacher. Visit the original source for more information.

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