Theodor Körner (pedagogue)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Theodor Körner (born October 7, 1880 in Hamburg ; † November 18, 1944 there ) was a German school reformer and association functionary .

Working as an educator

Theodor Körner was born in Hamburg as the son of a primary school teacher from Mecklenburg. He studied mathematics and physics at the University of Leipzig , the University of Göttingen and the University of Kiel . From 1904 he worked as a senior teacher at the Wilhelm-Gymnasium in Hamburg . From the age of 29 he wrote for daily newspapers and later for the educational specialist press. In doing so, he was guided by Georg Kerschensteiner's ideas of reforming mathematics lessons as work lessons. He also advocated encouraging students to think for themselves instead of letting them memorize unrelated data. Körner, who saw mathematics and natural sciences as part of general education, advocated teaching young people responsibility and a sense of social duty. He therefore welcomed the fact that from 1920 the Hamburg schools were allowed to administer themselves. Towards the end of his apprenticeship, he advocated reducing the range of subjects in the upper level and structuring them clearly. This should lead to a concentration on fewer subjects and a more in-depth educational offer. In addition, the pedagogue called for the teaching structure of elementary and secondary schools to be better linked.

Körner's teaching activity ended in 1930. From 1930 he became the first director of the newly opened Hamburg planetarium .

Association and club activities

Körner was involved in two committees of the association of senior teachers, which represented teachers. In May 1919 he took over the chairmanship of the association which was renamed the Hamburg Philologists Association during his tenure. In the newly appointed board there was a generation change with the associated dwindling influence of classical philologists. During Körner's time, the Wilhelm-Gymnasium developed into a double institution with a humanistic grammar school and a German secondary school. Körner, who had campaigned for the reorganization, prevailed against the will of his predecessor Karl Dissel. Körner worked together with elementary school teachers in the organization structure . The primary school teachers had sidelined by boycotting the school synod. Körner managed to reintegrate the teachers. Körner hoped to be able to depoliticize the work at the school. He tried to prevent the teaching staff from breaking up into different political groups.

In 1920, Körner took part in the Reich School Conference and was elected member of the teachers' chamber. He represented the higher schools in the high school deputation and was a member of the civil servants' council from 1922 to 1933. At the level of the German Reich , he participated in the Reich Association of Higher Officials , in which he brought the concerns of Hamburg's senior officials forward. Even if he strongly advocated senior teachers, Körner did not succeed in gaining the same level of attention as the Society of Friends of the Patriotic Schools and Education System, in which the elementary school teachers were organized. He failed to resolve the problems faced by teachers with inflation and downsizing. After he was criticized for lack of success, Körner did not run again in 1924.

In 1929 Körner took over the chairmanship of the self-help organization Verein Hamburgischer Staatsbeamter . Under his leadership the financial situation of the association improved. Körner, who had good contacts in politics, succeeded in integrating the civil servants' association in Altona and the Beamten-Bank Groß Hamburg in the association of state officials.

Theodor Körner died of a stroke.

literature

personal data
SURNAME Körner, Theodor
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German school reformer and association official
DATE OF BIRTH October 7, 1880
PLACE OF BIRTH Hamburg
DATE OF DEATH November 18, 1944
Place of death Hamburg