Herman Nohl School in Kirchheimbolanden honored as a pioneer of sustainability

Herman Nohl School in Kirchheimbolanden honored as a pioneer of sustainability

The Herman Nohl School in Kirchheimbolanden was recently recognized for its outstanding commitment to sustainable education. At the second Sustainability Day in Mainz, the school received the title “Sustainable School” and also a special prize for its extraordinary actions and measures. This recognition shows how seriously the school takes the issue of environmental protection and social responsibility. What is interesting is that the Herman Nohl School now also has the opportunity to offer a sustainability course free of charge, which can give students an even deeper understanding of environmentally friendly actions.

The award is the result of efforts to implement various sustainability measures. The school has listed in a catalog of criteria how, for example, waste separation, bicycle parking and carpooling are taken into account in the school infrastructure. Diana Rietz from the curative education department emphasizes that the minimum number of points has almost doubled due to the measures that have already been implemented. A cross-class environmental group, which will be started in the new school year, is now intended to develop further measures, and the interest of many students in this group speaks for the commitment of the young generation.

The commitment to the environment

The remarkable example of the Herman Nohl School fits into a broader context of schools that are actively committed to sustainable development. For example, on June 29, 2022, the Sankt Veit School supported its application for the “Sustainable School” award with a video documenting its commitment to the environment. The activities there include creating lavender beds in the schoolyard as part of the “Bee-Friendly City of Mayen” initiative and the sustainable cultivation of fruit and vegetables in the school garden, which is also used as an open classroom.

These projects not only help to beautify the school grounds, but also raise students' awareness of ecological issues. Project days with nature-related topics are an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of environmental issues and to actively involve students in shaping their environment.

Education for sustainable development

Education for sustainable development, or ESD for short, plays a central role in social development. As part of the 2030 Agenda, the UN calls for high-quality and inclusive education for all. In Germany, ESD is already anchored in the curricula, but implementation is handled differently. A modern educational concept should take economic, ecological and social aspects into account, and schools are called upon to provide students with the necessary skills for a sustainable life.

Practical projects that deal with mobility, climate protection or sustainable consumption are of crucial importance. Around 900 schools in Germany have already received the “Environmental School in Europe – International Agenda 21 School” award, which underlines the growing importance of sustainable school development.

In summary, it can be said that the Herman Nohl School and similar educational institutions play an important pioneering role in promoting sustainability. With commitment and creativity, they create a future worth living for future generations. It remains exciting to see what further steps schools will take in the future to further advance education for sustainable development.