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German-language students present gift of poetry The 2009 edition of the Claremont High School Gartenfest will always have a special place in the heart of CHS German teacher Carolyn Spanier. Along with more than 25 recitations of German poetry by CHS German III and IV/AP students, the 10th Annual Gartenfest included a special presentation to Ms. Spanier in the form of flowers and a special poem about her late husband Rainer last Thursday inside Scripps College's Balch Auditorium. Tears flowed from Ms. Spanier's eyes as her students recited the 4-stanza poem in German at the end of the program. “I thought they were just giving me flowers—I didn't know what was coming,” Ms. Spanier said. Prior to his death on February 9, Mr. Spanier was an ongoing supporter of the CHS German Club and the annual Gartenfest event. Like Ms. Spanier, he was a German teacher with stints at Mt. San Antonio College and Azusa Pacific University. According to CHS senior Sally Soto, the presentation was fitting because of Mr. Spanier's participation in the German program throughout the years. The poem was a team effort by German IV/AP students, with legwork coming from Sally along with classmates Adrian Pichay and Jasmine Garlington. Scripps College professor of German Roswitha Burwick provided assistance as well. “Since he [Mr. Spanier] was a part of Gartenfest, we wanted to do something to honor his memory,” Sally explained. “Dr. Burwick helped us with the grammar and we got together at lunch on a number of occasions to practice it. Then as a class, we read it for her.” Gartenfest is an annual event celebrating German culture through poetry and music. The program has historically taken place against the backdrop of Scripps College's Margaret Fowler Garden but was moved into Balch Auditorium due to weather conditions on Thursday. The Fowler Garden is the same location where the idea of the event was born. “My colleague died and we had a memorial in the Fowler Garden,” Ms. Burwick recalled. “Carolyn (Spanier) said we can have a poetry reading there and then we started having it. This is something good for the students because it gives them exposure to the Claremont Colleges.”
Ms. Spanier believes the experience for 3rd and 4th year German students is a lasting one. “This is an event not just for students to read poetry but to present poetry,” said CHS German teacher Carolyn Spanier. “Memorization is a tool that has been forgotten for quite a while. This is something you can take with you for the rest of your life and fall back on. It's something that provides a forum for expression, has good content and builds self-esteem.” Friedrich Nietzsche’s “Ecce homo,” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s “Der Erlkönig” (The Elfin King) and Bertolt Brecht’s “Vernügungen” (Pleasures) were just a sampling of the poems featured by German-born poets. The poems were selected by students, who translated the poems from German to English as well as recited them. “What it does is allow us to take the language a step further and allows us to really feel [the language], better understand it and really grasp what it means,” Adrian explained. “It takes a lot of practice but in the end, we really get into it and enjoy it.” Students played a bigger role in putting this year’s event together than in previous years. Yet despite the preparation and the poetry, Sally said the most meaningful part of Gartenfest 2009 was the student presentation to Ms. Spanier. “Last year, I really wasn't aware of how good this event is,” said CHS senior Sally Soto. “This year, it all came together and it was a cool experience. This year was really excellent, especially the end. It's a great way for the German community to come together.” Here is an English translation of what was read to Ms. Spanier last Thursday: You were a helper, In the class, Your wife was lucky, You are still an inspiration, — Landus Rigsby |
