Herman Langhorst has been active in education for 40 years. ‘You should empower children for who they are, not for their academic achievements’

Enjoying being together and building relationships with the children is something he continues to emphasize to teachers. “Think of the period around Sinterklaas and Christmas. You read stories together, practice songs and really live it. Those kinds of pleasant moments will always stay with me.”

Former students

Of his forty years in education, Langhorst himself has been in the classroom for more than twenty years. He completes his studies, but finding a job in education is not easy. In 1983 he joined the Defense Department, something that was still mandatory at that time. “That was fine, because jobs in education were still scarce at that time,” he explains.

Yet he finds his first job as a master quite quickly after his service. Langhorst starts working at a school in Hengelo. Here he teaches groups 3 and 4. “During the school trip we went on the tree trunk attraction, where I fit in together with all the children from group 3. I kept the photos from that day. I recently looked at them again,” he reflects. He has to laugh. “Now I see that one of the students really enjoys it, the rest look very tense.”

Langhorst starts teaching in the lower groups, but later mainly teaches students in the upper grades. He takes a trip to the Noordoostpolder and starts working at a school in Emmeloord, where he has, among others, radio DJ Paul Rabbering and Sander Gordijn – also known as Meester Sander – in his class for a number of years. “It is very special to have a former student now as a teacher within our organization,” he says. He then became director of a school in Bant and later he started working in Meppel, where he is now at the helm.

‘Empowering children’

He never considered quitting his work in education. Doubt did creep in. “I had just become director at Het Kompas when the position I have now became available. I did think about whether or not to respond, knowing that I would not be in front of the classroom much in this position.” Something he sometimes misses. “Mainly the contact with the children, the group discussions. I don’t really miss the administrative responsibilities,” he admits jokingly.

As a director, Langhorst was involved, among other things, in the realization of square education, a place where gifted people can learn and speak with like-minded people. “I still remember the first day very well. I was standing in the schoolyard and saw a mother crying. “What’s going on, did something go wrong?” I asked her. She replied that she was moved to tears because it was the first time her child walked out of school arm in arm with another child. I thought that was really nice.”

On the other hand, there is the realization of the PlusKlusklas. A place where students get the opportunity to work with their hands. “This class visits a company every week. For example, they have sometimes gone to a nursing home to work with them and they regularly cook in the country restaurant Op De Deel in Zuidwolde.” It is good that these methods of teaching exist, says the director. “I am very proud of that. You should empower children for who they are, not for their academic achievements.”

‘Frightful time’

There are plenty of highs, although there have also been lows in the past forty years. One of these is the burning down of the Anne Frank child center, about fifteen years ago. “That was quite a scary time. Several schools and childcare centers were set on fire at the time.”

The moment he heard that the Anne Frank child center, one of his schools, was on fire is still vivid in his memory. “It was the night from Friday to Saturday, I got a call and I went there straight away. When I got there, I saw the teachers, some in tears, standing around the building. Everything was gone, including many personal items.” Shortly afterwards a temporary school was built. “I still think it is special that Meppel society was ready to help realize that.”

Suitable education

A highlight is the realization of childcare at all KindPunt schools. “I found that step terribly exciting. After all, it is a completely different branch of work. I see it as an enormous enrichment. Children of all ages come together there and interact with each other.”

The director is also looking forward to the start of KindPunt Gavelanden in Nieuwveense Landen and is positive about the realization of the DiscoverPunt. Master Sander Gordijn is involved in both initiatives. “Appropriate education for everyone, that is what I think is important. It is very nice that all kinds of initiatives are being put forward within our organization to make this possible.”