Headmistress Petra Mies says goodbye: 22 years for Bad Arolsen!

Headmistress Petra Mies says goodbye: 22 years for Bad Arolsen!

The Neuer Garten primary school in Bad Arolsen has an era behind it. After 22 formative years, Petra Mies, who directed the school's fortunes with a lot of passion and commitment, was ceremoniously farewelled. At an atmospheric ceremony led by school district director Michael Seim, Mies reflected on her time and the many developments that she was able to accompany. What was particularly touching was her looking back at the beginning of her career, when she completed her traineeship at the elementary school in Große Allee 36 years ago. Back then, certificates were still written by hand and copies were made using matrices – nostalgic memories that she shared with a smile.

Companions from various areas came to say goodbye. While Michael Börner from the Karl Preising School praised Mies' remarkable commitment to inclusion, colleagues from neighboring schools highlighted the valuable exchange. Anne Kettschau in particular, who has been part of the school management for 20 years, emphasized the shared passion for music and pedagogical principles with Petra Mies. Even a rewritten song of thanks to celebrate the day provided an emotional surprise.

A look at inclusion

With her dedication, Petra Mies meant a lot not only to the students but also to the parents. Inclusion and diversity played a central role during her tenure. Mies worked closely with the Karl Preising School to create a diverse and supportive learning environment. These topics are not only important in Bad Arolsen, but also reflect a trend in German education. As the Federal Agency for Civic Education notes, inclusive education is a central concern that not only targets students with disabilities, but should generally promote equal opportunities. The UN's claim to make education accessible to everyone clearly shows society's desire to reduce social inequalities.

However, Germany faces the challenge of comprehensively implementing inclusive education. Statistics from recent years show that despite the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the associated goals, the reality often falls short of expectations. Inclusion in German schools is often still a controversial topic that requires deeper structural changes.

In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic has also posed a particular challenge for schools. The school enrollment ceremonies in 2020 at the Neuer Garten elementary school took place under strict Corona distance rules, which was an unfamiliar situation for many parents and students. At that time, Petra Mies urgently appealed to parents to comply with the current Corona protection rules in order to keep the school community healthy. These precautions clearly demonstrated the importance of a safe learning environment - something that was always important to Mies.

Now that Petra Mies is entering her well-deserved retirement, many are looking back on her time at the Neuer Garten elementary school. The city of Bad Arolsen's pride in the school and Mies' work is clear in the words of city councilor Ludger Brinkmann, who emphasized how much the school community has benefited from their commitment. With one laughing eye and one crying eye, the students and teachers say “goodbye” to a headmistress who shaped an entire generation.