Germany's most famous boarding school is located in Salem on Lake Constance. The Schloss Salem school is located in a former Cistercian monastery. The grammar school has around 600 pupils from all over the world. Its most prominent alumni include the late British Prince Consort Philip, Thomas Mann's daughter Monika and reggae singer Patrice.

Ms. Mergenthaler-Walter, what have you done recently?

Vacation - my husband and I were in Sardinia and enjoyed our time together by the sea. Affording something doesn't always have to be financial. Experiencing something, taking time for each other, treating yourself to attention also means affording something.

Was that the vacation you needed after two years of coronavirus schooling?

In any case, the coronavirus period was very stressful. We had to rewrite some plans six or seven times. At our boarding school, we had a cohort quarantine at peak times. All the young people were accommodated on our sites. This was a difficult phase for both young people and adults.

So dealing with corona at boarding school was even more stressful?

I wouldn't say that. We were actually able to use the advantages of our boarding school community to our advantage. We were able to act very flexibly and adapt many things more quickly. After a week, for example, we had functioning online lessons and enough air purifiers by the first fall. I have been working at this school for 36 years in various roles and have experienced a lot. However, the corona period was a special and very intense experience.

For those who do not receive a scholarship, education in Salem costs over 40,000 euros per year. What kind of students come to you?

First of all - as you rightly said - not everyone pays the full amount. In addition to the scholarship, which is taken up by around 20% of our students, we also have the Salemer Weg, which is aimed at children and young people from the region. We are a very diverse school community with pupils from all parts of Germany and from abroad.

This is likely to be a challenge for the college.

Without question. At the beginning of every school year, we first have to deal with different languages, cultures and learning levels. In the first few weeks, we adjust the learning level of our students. We also have a little more time for this because we have a six-day teaching week. And our colleagues are usually on duty around the clock. After all, they are important caregivers for the pupils who live here.

And sometimes as a substitute for parents?

Absolutely not.

It is important to make this separation, as teachers are not parents. Of course, we still make sure that every student has at least one contact person on campus whom they can trust. Our teachers are supported by psychologists, as depression or eating disorders, for example, require professional help.

The majority of your students come from good to very good backgrounds. How important is it to teach them a healthy relationship with money?

Handling money has to be learned, even by our pupils. That's why we give them pocket money. In the tenth grade, for example, this is 25 euros every two weeks.

And the parents don't secretly slip something to their children?

We cannot rule this out, but we ask parents for their cooperation and support. In this way, we also avoid status symbols becoming an issue. All our students live in shared rooms and wear school uniforms during lessons.

But even so, the pupils at a boarding school like this move around in quite a bubble, don't they?

This danger exists, but we are actively counteracting it. Once a week, students take part in a community service project, for example with the fire department, technical relief organization or a social institution. In addition, there are sports and sustainability projects in which we also work closely with local institutions and organizations.

And the pupils go along with all this without complaint?

Our students take to this very well. Some of them even volunteer for an additional service.

In order to successfully complete school, children and young people have to achieve a lot - even more than at other schools.

How does this idea of achievement go down with parents? Do they accept that their child may be left behind despite high tuition fees?

Our parents take it for granted that a transfer cannot be bought. Many parents have very high expectations of their children's lives. Our job is then to ensure a balance between performance and free time.

Even if you have to say: The child simply can't do the Abitur?

That's also part of our job. But it's not just about finishing school. Boarding school is not right for everyone. If we have the impression that a child would perhaps be happier with an apprenticeship than with a school-leaving certificate, then we support them. After all, good craftsmen are just as important as good doctors.

Thank you very much for the interview.

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Personal details: Brigitte Mergenthaler-Walter has been principal of the Schloss Salem boarding school since 2022 and is one of two managing directors of the institution. She has been working at the grammar school for 36 years. She previously studied to become a teacher at the University of Tübingen.

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