#rp25 speaker Bob Blume: 404 – Education not found

‘What's the point of all this?’ Bob Blume knows: millions of students ask themselves this question as they struggle through mathematical proofs or poetry analyses. Meanwhile, libertarian influencers and podcasters claim to have the answer – namely more ‘real life’ content like rent, taxes and financial education.

‘It's not far from there to a hollow concept of education, where it's all about what's useful for work. Or you immediately use ChatGPT and co. and end up with a product, but no plan of how it came about,' speculates Bob. But if neither the pure focus on usefulness nor the digital shortcut can save learning – then what can? At re:publica 25, the teacher, author, content creator and podcaster will discuss how we can design education in such a way that it not only imparts knowledge, but also deeply touches people. 

For Bob, the web can be a door to a meaningful and significant understanding of the world: ‘When we watch people on YouTube or TikTok who are passionate about their cause – writing a code, creating a work of art, explaining a historical event – then we experience resonance. Why shouldn't that also be possible at school?’ This requires committed and inspired teachers – and schools that enable young people to help shape things.

Bob Blume is a senior teacher at Windeck-Gymnasium Bühl. He writes columns for t-online, the German school portal and guest articles for Der Spiegel. In 2022, he received the ‘Blogger of the Year’ award. His book ‘Warum noch lernen?’ (Why still learn?) became a SPIEGEL bestseller shortly after its publication.
 

The motto of re:publica 25 is ‘Generation XYZ’. What is your message for future generations with regard to the digital society?

Bob Blume: "Stay angry, stay brave, stay hopeful!"