The public Welfare Association of Hesse (LWV) and the Children in Homes
A Short Chronicle
With its founding in 1953, the public welfare association of Hesse (LWV) took on responsibility for nine residential homes for children and adolescents (orphanages), for districts and cities in the state of Hesse. At the time, approximately 1,700 children and youth live in these homes. Supervisory authority is the Social Ministry of Hesse.
The following homes are concerned (listed according to size):
The Kalmenhof and the youth home Idstein, as well as the home for youth in Wabern and Homberg/Efze today operate under sponsorship of the Vitos Corporation, a subsidiary of the state welfare association. During the 1970s, the girls' home in Fuldatal, the youth home Steinmühle and the youth home Weilmünster were closed down. In January 2002, the Saint Elisabeth non-profit organisation (St. Elisabeth Verein) takes over the operation of the youth home Staffelberg in Biedenkopf and the youth home Lahneck in Marburg.
During 1968/69, serious deficits in the homes are made known through the activities of the APO ("außerparlamentarische Opposition", extra-parliamentary opposition). Through handouts and on the radio, Ulrike Meinhof, Astrid Proll, Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin and members of the student movement harshly criticise the educational practices in the homes such as attempts to break the will of the residents of the homes, physical abuse, censoring of their letters and confinement in so-called detention rooms for insignificant offences. Primarily the Kalmenhof, the youth home Staffelberg and the Fuldatal girls’ home in the former location of the Breitenau monastery are also the focus of professional criticism. Employees of the homes themselves publicly criticise the conditions in these homes.
In December 1969, the Social Ministry of Hesse creates a commission to make recommendations for the homes.
In 1970, reforms are implemented. The number of residents occupying children and youth homes is sharply reduced. And more educators (teachers and social workers) are hired. Up until then, teachers and social workers were only occasionally found in the children, youth and girls' homes.
From 1954 to 1974, the number of residents in Kalmenhof decreases from 1,100 to 200. There are 150 girls in the girls' home in Fuldatal in 1953, but only 35 in 1970.
In 1972, Kalmenhof is reorganised. The result is three distinct children and youth homes with new educational concepts, a home for handicapped or disabled children and youth, and a home for handicapped or disabled adults. Today there is also a sheltered workshop there.
In 1973, the Fuldatal girls’ home is closed.
In 1987, on the occasion of the centenary celebration of the Kalmenhof special education home, the LWV contracts two social scientists from the University of Münster to research and document the history of the home. In 1988, Christian Schrapper and Dieter Sengling publish the book „Idee der Bildbarkeit – 100 Jahre sozialpädagogische Praxis und Heilerziehungsanstalt Kalmenhof“ ("The idea of educatability--100 years of sociological education practice and the special education institution Kalmenhof") with the publisher Juventa.
In 1997, the state welfare association of Hesse opens their files to two comprehensive school students from Melsungen for a research project. Lucas Schirmer and Christine Wolf receive a prize in the student competition "German History" for their documentation of the girls’ home in Fuldatal.
In 2004, the LWV invites former residents of their homes to an initial airing of their feelings at Kalmenhof. The "Verein ehemaliger Heimkinder" (the association of former residents of homes) is founded at this meeting.
On 5 April 2006, the membership body of the LWV apologises to former residents of their homes, for injustices suffered. "The state welfare association recognises that until in the 1970s a method of education occurred . . . in its children and youth homes that, from today's perspective, is harrowing." The resolution unanimously passed that day goes on to say: "The LWV regrets that children and youth in their homes were exposed to everyday physical and psychological violence."
On 9 June 2006, the LWV organises a seminar at Kalmenhof in order to raise public consciousness of the topic. That seminar was initiated by the state director, Uwe Brückmann, along with the magazine "Der Spiegel" and the International Federation of Educative Communities. Speakers, participants and former residents of homes unanimously urge the creation of a round table.
In December 2008, the LWV Hesse is invited to Berlin by the Petitions Committee of the German Parliament in order to report its findings.
On 2 April 2009, the round table meets again in Berlin for the second time. Evelin Schönhut-Keil, vice president of the board of directors of the public welfare association, reports concerning the activities of the LWV Hesse.
On 10 November 2009, the LWV and the International Federation of Educative Communities organise a talk between experts with the title "40Years of Campaigns Concerning Homes-What Have We Learned?".
On 30 November and 1 December 2009, Klaus Lehning, the LWV expert for the task, and Georg Gorissen, the expert of the state government of Schleswig-Holstein, offer a workshop titled "Former Residents of Homes Seeking Our Counsel Today" at a round table symposium.
On 16 June 2010, the board of directors of the LWV decides to evaluate the files of former residents of homes, and to create a travelling exhibit about the education practices in the homes of the LWV in the 1950s and 60s, and to create a catalogue.
