Meet Mr Dequanne

In an interview with a journalist of the Zuger Zeitung, the new headmaster of the International school of Zug and Lucerne (ISZL), Canadian Barry Dequanne, spoke of his initial experiences here and what challenges he expects to face.
 
When asked how he felt on arrival in Walterswil after having worked in populous cities such as Brasilia and Buenos Aires, he said he was not too taken aback, after all, he grew up in a small town in Canada and, while Brasilia is big, it feels more like a small town, perhaps because of it having been developed artificially. “What I enjoy here is the peace and quiet; it is good for my soul,” he said.
 
When asked if it really made a difference where one worked in such an environment, bearing in mind international schools are very much of a muchness, the 49-year-old said it did indeed make a difference. “I love skiing, hiking and cycling,” he said, “and Switzerland is just perfect for this, isn’t it? We want our pupils to be able to benefit from all the country has to offer, too, and not just on the sporting front, but in matters like recycling, too. Our pupils should learn from the Swiss way of doing things.”
 
When asked whether this was realistic, bearing in mind pupils are only here for three years on average, and for the most part ensconced in the school, too, Dequanne agreed it was true the pupils lived in a sort of bubble. “In my opinion, it is a great loss not having any contact with the local people. However, efforts to rectify this have already started and we intend to pursue this further.”

Might it be such contact is avoided so as to avoid too much pain when the pupils eventually have to take their leave of Swiss friends?
“With social media, such separation is not so much a problem today. Some of our pupils are involved with local sports clubs and others attend lessons at the music school, something we very much support.”
 
On this point, Laura Schoepfer, the spokeswoman for ISZL, confirmed that 30% of pupils, or 400 of them, were active with local clubs of one sort or another.
 
When asked how he had found Switzerland so far, the Canadian said that, in comparison with Brazil where the people were very friendly and open, he had heard the people here were more reserved towards foreigners. “However, after 12 days, I found this not to be the case at all. Despite not speaking a word of German, I found it very easy to enter into contact with Swiss people. This reputation for being distant is not true at all, unlike the ones about chocolate and organisation. I have been very impressed about how Swiss people care for the environment, too.”
 
While the new headmaster admitted he did not speak German, he was taking steps to learn it. “I have always taken the trouble to learn the language of the countries where I have worked,” he said. “I think it shows a lack of respect if you do not.”
 
When asked how he came to be appointed ISZL, the journalist asked him if he was previously on a list of potential heads for such schools, and he admitted indeed he was. “What is more, it is a very competitive area, too. The selection process is very thorough. For example, my wife and I had 12 hours of interviews over a three-day period. The final decision was taken by members of the foundation council, but staff, parents and even pupils had a say, too. I now regard it as a challenge to get to know as many people as possible, not just the staff and 1250 pupils, but their families, too.”
 
When asked about the school’s reputation worldwide, the new headmaster said it enjoyed a very good one, not just based on the higher-than-average results of tests, but also on account of the school’s location in Zug. “The school is regarded as exemplary and our community is very proud of all we achieve,” he said.
 
When asked about how pupils learn today, he recalled his own school days, when, if you wanted to find something out, you had to ask a teacher of parent or go to the library. “These days they all have smart phones, and we recognise this. However, it is important that gaining knowledge as such is not lost. I was recently with my wife, who is expecting, in hospital. First of all, she was examined by a trainee doctor and then by an experienced one in the former’s presence. This is just how education should be.”
 
With Dequanne being a Canadian, the journalist asked him about ice-hockey, of which, not unexpectedly, he was a great fan, and a sport which he had played for 20 years, at which point he was able to show the reporter a photo of him when playing at university, adding how he has missed out on ice-hockey in recent years. “I walked by the Bossard Arena with my two dogs recently; I cannot wait to watch matches there.”
 
Finally, the interviewer asked about Dequanne’s home. “Well, firstly it is where I am living at the moment, here in Zug, but also it is where my family and that of my wife live, namely in Toronto and Brasilia. I know that, once born, my daughter will have something of all these places about her.”