permanent contributed

EXCHANGE TO MEISENHEIMMeisenheim is an ancient garrisoned town in the wine growing district of Germany . Thesurrounding landscape is very beautiful and is unspoilt by the foundation of factories . It is verymuch a rural area, agriculture and wine growing being the dominant occupations . Meisenheimitself maintains its ancient atmosphere through the preservation of the town walls and "Fachwerkhauser". Against such scenery the Paul Schneider Gymnasium is incongruous, and a descriptionof a typical school day will suffice to show how a German school differs from WymondhamCollege .The school consists of both day and boarding pupils, the latter being the minority . The schoolday starts at 8 .30 and finishes at lunch held at 1 .30 . Afternoons are free, but there is keen participationin the numerous sports clubs and societies during this time . We were surprised to find thatone of the main features of English schools was absent from the school day-the assembly . Thisis held only once fortnightly for forty-five minutes .During lessons stress is laid on oral participation rather than written work, a method whichappeared very successful . Moreover the teachers are more detached from their pupils than atWymondham College, and played no part in the social life of the pupils after school hours . Allsocieties and most sports clubs are competently and sensibly led by the seniors . The independenceof the pupils is further promoted by the fact that there is only one member of staff in each house ofabout thirty-five pupils, who resembles the matron in English schools and undertakes no teachingduties . Moreover the added responsibilities of the seniors seemed to increase general respect ofstaff, and school rules . Incorrect or unsatisfactory behaviour is remedied by quick expulsion .Because we had a considerable amount of free time we were able to roam the surroundingcountryside and make trips to various places of interest ; of these a visit to the university town ofHeidelberg proved most enjoyable, with its beautiful "Schloss" on the hillside overlooking theNeckar. Unfortunately the tawdry souvenir shops detract a little from the town's charm, but wewere struck by its overall attractive appearance, and the intellectual atmosphere one so often findsin a university town .Our visit not only helped our knowledge of the German language considerably, but also gaveus deeper insight into the German education system, and the customs of its people . It cannot bedenied that we also had some difficulty in avoiding opportunities to speak English, as not only thepupils, but also many of the staff were eager to practise their English on us . All in all, our stay wasmost fruitful and pleasurable, and we regretted leaving .Eva Szczepanski