Swiss Review 5/2018

Swiss Review / September 2018 / No.5 3 In front of many Swiss schoolroom doors today chil- dren’s shoes of different sizes are lined up: very small ones next to larger ones. The shoe rack is an indication of what is happening inside the classroom. More and more primary schools are introducing classes of mixed age groups. Instead of teaching the children ac- cording to the year in which they were born, classes are being formed of kindergarten children alongwith first- and second-year pupils. That is to enable children at the beginning of their education to learn at their own speed and acquire social skills. Such changes are immediately obvious, but there are others that are more far-reaching. Primary schools are currently adapting to a new curriculum, a curriculumthat is changing their basic education concept. In addition to pure knowledge, schools in future will primarily convey learning strategies, that is, the skills to be able to confidently navigate the seas of knowledge. All those for whom such changes cause worries complain that the “com- modity of education”, so important to Switzerland, is in danger of losing im- portance. One thing is for sure: Switzerland is investing a great deal in edu- cation. Around 37 billion Swiss francs is spent on it every year by the federal government, cantons and municipalities. This is always eagerly pointed out in educational debates. Thosewho look closely, though, put the numbers into perspective: in relation to our high gross domestic product, spending on ed- ucation is quite average. Seen in this way, Switzerland ranks only in the mid- dle field of the industrial nations – in 23rd place. The debate about the primary schools of the future often seems to be somewhat academic. Something completely unplanned and unintended is also bringing about change: as our author Mireille Guggenbühler points out, fewer and fewer men are teaching in primary schools. They consider the wages to be too low. The majority of teachers in the classrooms are women. Without them, school life would collapse. But without men as teachers, chil- dren are being deprived of key rolemodels. That is also one of the aspects de- termining the quality of schools. And finally, on a personal note: the months of my interim heading of “Swiss Review” have come to an end. As of now I am editor-in-chief, respon- sible for the “Review”, helping to shape it and further develop it – with the support of a great team. I hope that the “Review” succeeds in continuing to draw a coherent and valid picture of that which impacts and drives Switzer- land. For this to happen we rely on the feedback of our readers. In times of growing media frenzy, the “Review” wants to remain as it is: solid and relia- ble. MARC LETTAU, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Editorial 5 Mailbag 6 Focus Compact construction primarily spares the land, but not the nerves 10 Politics International law: Switzerland votes on something very fundamental Tiny group brings off referendum against social detectives 13 Report Swiss primary schools undergoing rapid change 16 Literature series Writer Thomas Hürlimann in divided Berlin News from around the world 17 Society Rita Soltermann was a contract child: scars from that time still remain The unsuccessful campaign for a new national park 22 OSA news OSA launches petition for the swift introduction of e-Voting 26 news.admin.ch 28 Images Walter Mittelholzer, the aviation pioneer with a camera 30 Books / Sounds 31 Top pick / News Contents Assorted shoes, mixed schools Cover photo: It’s all neat and tidy at the Spitalacker School in Bern. Photo: Adrian Moser