Retirement for Ariane Ball: 12 years for the Goethe-Gymnasium!

Retirement for Ariane Ball: 12 years for the Goethe-Gymnasium!

On Tuesday, July 3, 2025, an important chapter was opened at the Goethe-Gymnasium in Germersheim as headmistressAriane Ballwas retired. After a twelve-year term, Ball has decided to step down from her position due to personal reasons. Her decision to stay a year longer than planned reflected her commitment to the school. She had previously served as deputy head of the high school in Bad Bergzabern and had already gained valuable experience there. Her farewell motto is based on a quote fromJohann Wolfgang von Goetheabout peace, which underlines their deep connection to the school community.

Although she started teaching late in life, the desire to become a teacher was always an integral part of her life. After completing her legal clerkship in French, ethics and sports, Ball took parental leave for 17 years to look after her four children. Her youngest son's move to secondary school stood in the way of her returning to school, but this ultimately made it possible to start again. Over the course of her career, she was able to gain valuable experience at various schools in Ludwigshafen and Frankenthal before she began working as a school principal in Germersheim. [rheinpfalz.de]. has.

A farewell in appreciation

Ariane Ball's farewell didn't just take place on a smaller scale. As the school management of the Goethe-Gymnasium informed, there was already a similar occasion in 2022, when two long-time teachers,Gisela HerschbachandBrigitte Schulz, retired. This farewell was ceremoniously celebrated by the school community in the auditorium, where the services of the two teachers were honored. Herschbach, who worked at the Goethe-Gymnasium for almost four decades, not only leaves behind a rich legacy in the subjects of Latin and history, but also memories of her lively presence in school life and her special celebration for the Philology Association. Schulz, known for her dedicated involvement in school leadership and her role in the all-day school, was also recognized for many notable initiatives and collaborations. goethe-gym-ger.de emphasizes that both teachers significantly shaped the important tradition of the high school.

The importance of education in changing society also becomes clear when looking back at the history of schools, which has been characterized by numerous reforms since the post-war period. The changes that have taken place in the school system since the 1940s aim to democratize German schools, a process that is still fraught with challenges today. Old structures continue to this day, while new educational concepts are emerging. [bpb.de].

Ariane Ball's farewell ceremony is therefore not only seen as the end of an era, but also as a moment in which the values ​​and traditions of the Goethe-Gymnasium are recorded and passed on to the next generations. Her successor will face the challenge of following in her footsteps and continuing to make the high school a place of learning and inspiration. The school community looks back on the past few years with gratitude and remains excited about future developments.