As part of the school programme "denkmal aktiv – Kulturerbe macht Schule" (active monuments – cultural heritage goes to school), our pupils at Georgianum Grammar School and Emsland Comprehensive School have launched an exciting project on the subject of monument preservation. The aim of the project is to raise awareness of the importance of monuments and to give pupils the opportunity to actively engage with local history. The project is run as a revolving door model by Ms Späth, who teaches at both schools.
The visit to the city archives was also a highlight. Dr Crabus gave the pupils valuable insights into the documentation and preservation of the city's history. The pupils were able to browse through old documents themselves and learned how important archiving is for future generations. The project receives further important support from Mr Bollmer from the Lower Monument Protection Authority, who introduced the pupils to the topic of monument protection. He explained how important it is to preserve historic buildings and what challenges this entails. The lecture inspired the pupils to develop their own ideas for communicating monument protection and to think about the preservation of our culture.
Throughout the project, the pupils will continue to actively work on research into their chosen topics, interviews and visual presentations. The aim is to develop an exhibition that documents the history and architectural features of Lingen Prison and highlights the challenges of monument preservation.
The project not only offers an excellent opportunity to engage with local history, but also promotes awareness of the responsibility we have for our cultural heritage.
Text and photos: Yasmine Späth