Specialism in social sciences
The Max-Rill-Gymnasium is a model grammar school specializing in social sciences – we lead the way and set an example to others in Bavaria. Our long-standing social studies teachers helped develop the curriculum for this category of school, and wrote and edited a textbook approved for grammar schools in Bavaria (“Im Fokus”, published by Schöningh). Thus excellent teaching in this field is guaranteed.
The topics addressed in our special subjects from Class 8 onwards and the 100-hour social work internship in Classes 9 and 10 encourage pupils to develop a willingness to accept political responsibility and help to hone their budding social skills.
Pupils in Classes 11 and 12 have the opportunity to delve into social studies and social science issues in greater depth. Topics in the upper school include:
- The social structure of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Social change and the associated challenges for the state and society
- Main features of present-day political systems:the democratic constitutional state and political orders that jeopardize freedom
- Peace and security as the mission of international politics (UNO, NATO)
- Opportunities and problems of globalization for national politics. Our international pupils in particular learn important information relating to their understanding of German society and the Western European world outlook that will prove invaluable for their integration and further education.
(More information is available in “Social-practical education” / PDF in the download section)
Social learning and responsibility
Our specialist teaching in social studies, economics and law is echoed in the daily social learning activities at the school – both during lessons, and in the course of social activities, as well as sporting, theatrical and musical pursuits. Our commitment to the desired diversity of the student body, coupled with our willingness to admit children with special needs specifically demonstrates that we not only teach social learning, but practise it as a matter of course.
Some examples:
Social learning in class
Pupils from Class 5 to Class 12 hold a joint weekly gathering at Friday lunchtime to mark the end of their school week, led/presented by their team of class teachers. Here, social learning takes place in the community. The contents may include discussions, games, learning organization, or even maintenance of the grounds.
Social activities
At mealtimes, everyone takes a turn at setting and clearing the tables, serving and tidying up afterwards. Our grounds – which are extensive – are also regularly cleared and tidied, and our classrooms have to be cleaned too. All boarding school pupils are responsible for the state of their own bedrooms and living areas.
Charitable collections
At events such as the Advent Market and our Open Day we collect donations that are passed on to designated partners: the special needs educational day centre and the volunteer fire service in Reichersbeuern, and in 2016 – as an individual case – a refugee initiative. Our partner school in Nairobi also receives regular donations.
The team of class teachers bids farewell to its pupils at the end of the school year with a letter summarizing the main events, which serves as a memento.
(More information is available in “Letter to our class” / PDF in the download section)
Theatre
Theatre plays a crucial role in enabling young people to discover themselves and their talents. It requires a high level of discipline and commitment – success depends on cooperation between those involved. It is here that young people get an authentic taste of what it feels like to work with others towards a common goal.
The theatre at the Max-Rill-Gymnasium has been nominated for the Süddeutsche Zeitung’s Tassilo culture prize on a number of occasions, demonstrating the exceptionally high quality of our amateur dramatics productions. (We are ineligible to participate in school drama competitions, as our productions of one-and-a-half to two hours in length are longer than the stipulated period of one hour.)
We work systematically to develop our pupils’ capabilities:
- Improvisation exercises as are held as part of the German reading course: staged readings, monologues from a character’s perspective, etc.
- Reading competitions teach pupils how to present texts well
- Theatre guilds in the lower and middle schools
- Elective “Theatre and film” course in the upper school
- Training in martial arts, dance, choreography, improvisation, lighting and stage technology and dramaturgical work in putting on stage plays
The focus is on staging unusual, and generally contemporary productions. We also aim to work with particularly talented students to stage appropriate plays featuring an exclusively youthful ensemble at a professional level, and hold performances outside the school environment, e.g. in the Black Box at Munich’s Gasteig, the Kulturhaus Oberbräu in Holzkirchen and the like.
(More information is available in “Theatre conflict and self-discovery” / PDF in the download section)
Music and art
Music and art give a lot of pleasure, promote creativity and are among the best means of individual development. Form and function would be without expression and emotion were it not for aesthetics. Music and art offer us an entirely individual means of perceiving ourselves and the world around us. We offer pupils the following opportunities to further their aesthetic education:
- Choir lessons in all classes as part of music teaching and the music guild
- Individual singing lessons
- Instrumental training from qualified specialists (piano, trumpet, trombone,
- drums; other instruments in the local music school)
- Participation in the school band (rock and pop music)
- Participation in the jazz formation
- Elective course “Vocal ensemble” in the upper school
- Music and Art courses in the upper school
- Project seminars on media production and set construction in the upper school
Sport
Sport encourages people to challenge themselves as well as others – in individual and team sports alike. Overcoming fatigue to carry on running and fighting, disciplined training, and concentrating when it matters – stamina, team spirit, a winning mentality – are also required in order to learn successfully. Regular sport is just as conducive to learning as music. We therefore offer a wide range of sporting activities and challenges:
- Our annual three-day hiking tour in the Alps, with classes tacking different routes according to age group in the Karwendel mountains, the “Steinernes Meer”, the Rofan or Kaiser mountains
- A number of guilds offering ball sports, water sports, outdoor activities and other types of sport (see Guilds link)
- Annual winter and summer “Olympics”
- Friendly contests against local schools and clubs
- On our own premises: in the hall, on the hard court, in the gym, at local swimming pools, in the Alps
- Pupils can also join one of the numerous local sports clubs to play e.g. ice hockey, golf or tennis
(More information is available in “Sport concept” / PDF in the download section)
Intercultural learning
The increasingly international nature of our student body means that we are faced with intercultural learning on a daily basis. This happens
- In lessons
- In projects such as the Open Day and Day of Democracy
- During weekends spent with host families
- During student exchanges
- During study trips
- As well as in the course of our daily interaction with one another.
(Please read the “International” section for more information on these topics)