The State of Vorarlberg on the Internet

The kindergarten is a tiny world of its own. It is also a mirror image of our adult world with all of its guidelines, written and unwritten laws and social conventions. A complex world which is rapidly and constantly changing and in which even adults can sometimes lose their way.

In the mirror of the kindergarten, in the eyes and in the behaviour of the children we see ourselves. We see directly how we live out our values as a society and to what extent we are prepared to commit to them. Values such as education, self-determination and personal freedom for example. Solidarity, human dignity and empathy, honesty and tolerance of others. We recognise not least of all whether we are fulfilling our joint responsibility to the coming generations. To those people who will soon be actively involved in making our world what it is.

As kindergarten operators, kindergarten teachers and parents we have to set our targets high and realise them. Then the kindergarten is not just a mirror of the world. Then it becomes a model which the children can follow, a wide open door onto a fulfilled life.