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HELLA BARCHFELD DE KRUSE

But be not afraid of greatness
Some are born great
Some achieve greatness
And some have greatness
Thrust upon them
(William Shakespeare)
A difficult task I confront today but I believe it was harder to be a young good looking
Headmistress of „Goethe-Schule“ in the seventies.
Hella showed her guts and fought for the values of German Education to help students
to become worth beings for themselves, the society and the Argentine - German
community.

It is not easy for me to grasp the idea what meant to be Argentine Headmistress of the
Goethe-Schule (a big, old building in Belgrano at the time) while sharing the work and
decisions with a German Headmaster.

It must not be assumed that she passed away without a trace, on the contrary, she
chose to be absorbed or assimilated by the experience she went through as Literature
teacher and Headmistress of the school.
Hella Kruse is for me an unforgettable character on the stage of „Goethe-Schule“:

Her presence in the morning when hoisting the Argentine flag or

Her easy way of improvising a speech on the spur of a moment on any subjec or
A hint of a smile when facing the whole bunch of students to wish a Good Working
Day! ...

Hella had a good sense of humour which she showed at any time, at any comments.
There are anecdotes among teachers and students that remind us who she was and
the years she spent at the school as teacher, headmistress, friend, colleague, advisor…
But do not think Frau Kruse ́s teachings, words, advice are written on students ́,
teachers ́, friends ́ souls, with chalk to be washed off by tears... SHE will remain in our
daily tasks.

Alcira Reinhold

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