Just before Christmas Break, the new German Club said Hallo (Hello in German) with a kickoff meeting and seasonably appropriate gingerbread house contest. The club is led by advisor and German and Social Studies teacher Dan Murray.
Although this is his first year back in this position, Murray has been teaching German for 35 years. Murray jokes that his passion for German culture began with the movie Hogan’s Heroes, a ‘60s television sitcom about the World War II prisoner-of-war camp in Nazi Germany. He was especially interested in the fact that numerous cast members were in fact in the French army in WWII.
BSM has had a German Club in the past, however, due to a lack of interest it died out. Now that it is back, Murray hopes to find more sustainable means of structuring the club. “People being interested in my ideas and their ideas, and kids were interested, that’s the success,” Murray said.
Even in its previous form, the club has been dedicated to the unique qualities of German culture, including traditional German songs and crafts. Murray aims to incorporate a lot of history into club events through an interactive approach. Students who attended the introduction meeting had the opportunity to build and decorate gingerbread houses to honor the tradition of the winter solstice, which traces back to the 16th century in Nuremberg, Germany. Known for its structural soundness and longevity, it is also commonly associated with Hansel and Gretel. Like the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tales, gingerbread was recognized as mystical. “If you’re a baker in the city of Nuremberg, you’re sworn to secrecy as to what the actual recipe is for Gingerbread,” Murray said.
The German Club also aims to revive its annual trip to Germany to bring the education of the subject to the next level and inspire a deeper appreciation for the culture. “[The main goals are learning] German language, culture, getting back there, and learning what it’s like there now, how Germans live, and how we have the same and what’s different,” Murray said.
The club aims to be as inclusive as possible as it is open to any students with interest. While members do not need to be from a German heritage, the club does celebrate the opportunity for students to connect with their German roots.