Descrierea organizației

"Schule im Pfeifferhof- Knallerbse" is a non-profit alternative school initiated by parents for their children. The school was established by the association "Mit Kindern leben" in 1993. The school is financed by the parents themselves, that is to say the parents pay monthly tuition fees, organise fund-raising events and ask for sponsoring at local companies. There are some modest public funds which are spent on supporting families with a low income. A team of eight teachers is responsible for the education of up to 90 students. The school works according to reformpedagogical principles (Montessori, Piaget...), that means that our work is oriented at the needs of children. The main learning method is "learning by doing". We try to provide surroundings which enable children to make their wn experiences, where they can study cultural techniques as well as develop social competence. Usually children stay with us for nine years until they have finished their compulsory education. It is part of our philosophy to include children with special needs, different social and cultural backgrounds as well as children who speak different languages. We practise intercultural exchange by inviting volunteers and experts from different countries to work on projects, support our exchange programmes with schools in different countries as well as teaching groups.