Today we went to Special School Centre Lavec in the Old Town to begin our service learning activities. Slovenian elementary schools are divided into three sections or age groupings: grades 1-3, 4-6, and 7-9. We broke into five small groups and went to different classrooms around the school at all three levels of the program as well as the special classrooms in arts, music, and physical education. After an initial teaching period, we had a 25 minute break. This is typical for Slovenian schools of all types, not just schools for children with special needs…50 minute teaching blocks followed by 25 minute rest periods.
We noted several other differences between American and Slovenian schools. When we were taking a break in the teacher’s lounge, the classroom teachers joined us. This meant that most of the students were not being directly supervised in their classrooms during the break period. This does not seem odd or dangerous to European educators. Also, students wore slippers, just like at home. European educators try to create a home-like atmosphere in their classrooms, including taking off your shoes and putting on slippers, just like at home.
After lunch, we walked to the Mental Health Center to visit with Dr. Tristan Rigler. He explained many details of the mental health system and the way Slovenians deal with individuals with mental health needs and the broader health care/national health insurance system.
After a brief break, we walked to the United States Embassy where we met with embassy staffers Joshua Harris, Stephanie Newman and Ann E. Gilbertson (Auggie alum, class of ’84). We learned about American policies and relations with Slovenia which can be characterized as positive, and more about Slovenian history and policies, which might be characterized as…complicated.
