About a week ago I was invited by a local reading group to answer questions of their members in regard to our school system during the war years in Berlin.

Some of the questions  were easy to answer, but some others were more difficult. First of all the questions showed me the vast difference in the concept of our upbringing during the Forties in Berlin.  To sum it up evenly, I know that our parents and teachers tried to raise adults. This is in stark contrast to the current belief that children should be children as long as possible.

Believe me, I am not trying to stir up a controversial subject. I am not a teacher, just a story teller, about forgotten times.

However, one of the readers remarked that she is the grandmother of a 17 year old.  She thought that her grandson would have been hard pressed to survive the events I described in my books. Due to his upbringing, I have to agree that this might have been difficult for him.

Yes, we were constantly schooled to use our mind. This resulted that we thought and acted  on our own. We were trained to stay alive under difficult circumstances.

But, here is the real question: “Was it better then? Was it better to know how to act when your back was against the wall?”

NO, I don’t think for a moment that it was better then……….but I also believe that we should teach our children to use their mind. And, the sooner the better.

I can’t see anything wrong with it.

Horst