P.S. Die kleineren Tueten sind fuer alle Kinder, die grosse habe ich natuerlich fuer meine Tochter selbst gemacht. Uebrigens lieben Dank auch an die Damen die am Immigration Museum 'Germn Day' muehevoll Schultueten gebastelt haben mit voellig fremden Kindern ... damals bin ich auf die Idee gekommen - eben weil eigentlich die Tuete zur ersten Klasse gehoert (weil doch dann der 'Ernst der Schule erst beginnt'
. Hier also der Artikel - ich habe ihn selbst uebersetzt aus dem Internet, nachdem ich das Thema besser erklaeren wollte fuer die Australier .... Here it goes :
'Who cannot remember it ? The very first day in the life of school : an unforgetable experience ! There were so many new children to meet, and at the end of the day you even got a "Schultuete". This little tradtion is spreading its way across many European school districts, and is gaining the fond approval of many children in Grade 1. Proud as a star we all knew at last that a completely new and exciting time had begun !
In the history of man there are many big and small inventions, but often the small inventions have a very special meaning for the mortal human being, such as : the school cone. The school cone belongs very naturally to the first day of school life. But where, oh where does the tradition of the school cone come from ?????
The majority of sources claim that the school cone appeared for the first time in 1817 in the town of Jena, Germany. Bit by bit the tradition spread across areas of East Germany, where the school cone was referred to as "Zuckertuete" - sweet cone, due to its sweet content. The sweet cones grew on a sugar tree that was located outside the school house !
(believe that one from mum and dad ...) So until the present day, some of those cones still actually hang on trees ...
With the introduction of the national mandotory school attendance, the school cones slowly made their way across the nation to the West of Germany. Austria and small parts of Switzerland adopted the school cone after the second world war. A hectagonal model was popular across the East. But even as far as Rome 2000 years ago, school kids enjoyed a similar tradition. The roman poet Horaz described the issueing of sweets to children on their first school day. The origins of this funny tradition in North Europe probably date back to another reason: the school cone is said to be a sweetener : when young siblings enter the world, parents have less time for the older children - especially whilst experiencing to departure into 'big school kids life'. So it was thought in some areas, that by marking this special occasion with the unforgetable experience of a large celebratory type cone, families would balance out attention from the arrival of smaller siblings.
'Sweet nothings' are allowed in a school cone and are NOT to be missed - let alone for their symbolism. But in todays age of health concious parents, you will find other little surprises in the cone of a Grade 1 child that is entering the new life of school : for example an alarm clock, a key ring, a small diary, or even a toothbrush ! Other parents, who would like to surprise, mark, remember and reward their kids for the first day of school entry, include vouchers for a visit to the Zoo, or a small day trip to an animal park or funpark with the parents.
The school cone itself is a product of special attention : especially when the parent sits down and manifactures the school cone together with the child into an unforgetable masterpiece, or when they surprise their children with an extra large and extra colourful example of a school cone (in the childs favourite theme or colour). Sometimes siblings may receive a miniture tiny version to lessen the envy.
The school cone is and will remain forever the joy and best friend of a child who enters big primary school life for the first time (this could be seen as Grade 1 or Grade Prep - depending how one looks at the meaning of Grade 1) Some children in Europe keep their "Schultuete" for years to come as an object of big affection (the cones are not only very large and huggable, but also give reassurance in the new environment). For some, where the cone has gone out into the bin, there are always the priceless fotos of children with their school cone. They are usually NEVER forgotten and rank amongst graduation pictures in importance. Their popularity is usually never missed .... "Remember when I was on my first big day to school".
This article appeared in the magazine "Treffpunkt" online and was written by Konstanze Keller, translated by myself. For the occasion of my daughters entry into Grade 1, I thought of sharing with you all these special and fond memories of a very small event - the tradition of a "Schultuete". Today, patterns can be found online, and school cones can be purchased from Ebay via mail order - the special meaning of them and the pictures of these wonderful companions on my fondly remembered website of my very own primary school were simply worth sharing with you.'
Momentan warte ich noch auf die Zustimmung der Lehrerin 
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