Corona: Decision to toughen school rules postponed for now

The indignation of some prime ministers at the change with Chancellor Angela Merkel for a possible tightening of the protection measures of the crown was great: the Federal Chancellery is promoting proposals. It was agreed to wait for the effect of the partial closure before taking further measures. The proposals for schools in particular caused ire. The subject is very delicate. Most countries currently do not want to change regulations in schools, he said in the run-up to the deliberations.

There was the draft resolution of the federal government, which called for a new tightening, but already in the world. Therefore, the political priority remains to be applied: schools and nurseries should, in principle, remain open during the pandemic. However, the federal government now sent a big but later:

• The mask requirement should apply to schoolchildren of all ages and also to teachers for lessons.

• Classes should be held in classrooms twice as large or divided in half so that distance can be maintained.

• Groups are not to meet, neither in the school building nor on the school bus.

Before the meeting with Merkel, prime ministers apparently managed to change the draft resolution. Therefore, decisions should only be made at the next meeting on November 23. For proposals, this means that they will most likely be resubmitted.

Mask requirement for everyone

The regulations in the federal states have so far been different: while primary school children in Bavaria and Schleswig-Holstein already have to wear masks in class, in Thuringia there are no mask requirements in class, even for older age groups. age. Most federal states prescribe it from at least the fifth or seventh grade.

The mask requirement is particularly controversial for elementary school students. In addition to the factual criticism that the duty for the little ones is disproportionate and makes lessons difficult, for example because facial expressions are lacking, understanding or concentration suffers, there are conspiracy theorists who, despite all the facts, denounce health risks and deaths from the mask.

The president of the professional association of pediatricians, Thomas Fischbach, told the “Welt” last week that, in principle, there is no health risk associated with a mouth and nose cover for healthy children from the age of two. »The complaints we hear are subjective discomfort, which we also have as adults. But they are not dangerous or life threatening ”. However, only children from the age of six should wear masks if epidemiologically necessary.

However, epidemiologists are also inconsistent in their judgments on the question, which has to do with the fact that it has not yet been conclusively clarified what role children play in transmitting the virus. However, the RKI figures on the incidence of infections in children are concerning. Consequently, more than 10,400 corona infections were reported in children under the age of 14 in the first week of November. In early September there were fewer than 1,000 infections per week.

The numbers worry RKI experts and could help decide whether the federal and state governments will decide to make the mask mandatory in schools. Until now, the federal states have hesitated. Only a few, such as Bavaria’s Markus Söder, advocated expanding the general mask requirement to primary schools in the lead-up to the meeting. The tenor among Prime Ministers is: First, wait to see what the partial closure in early November has brought and what role the schools have played. The lawsuit, which Federal Minister of Education Anja Karliczek has repeatedly voiced, has yet to be ruled out.

Halve classes or double room size, strictly separate groups

Parent-teacher associations, but also, for example, SPD leader Saskia Esken, have been calling for the model for a long time, and over the weekend the federal student conference also came out in favor: classes should be divided and taught alternately at home and at school. The RKI recommends it as the number of infections increases. This alternation model, also known as hybrid teaching, should at least be offered to older age groups or high-achieving students, according to parent representatives.

Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder also called on Monday at the ZDF “Morgenmagazin” to think about alternative models. In many federal states such as Schleswig-Holstein, North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, the project is rejected.

“Such suggestions sound good in theory, but are hardly feasible in practice,” Schleswig-Holstein Prime Minister Daniel told SPIEGEL at the weekend. “When you divide classes, you need a lot more teachers. Where should they come from? And we don’t have new rooms. “

North Rhine-Westphalia Family Minister Joachim Stamp also rejected the proposal as not feasible due to lack of staff. “I can’t imagine the prime ministers deciding something that could only be implemented if we canceled about half of the lessons,” Stamp said.

As pressure is no longer only mounting from parents and teachers, but also from federal policy, these lawsuits are likely to be raised again. The suggestion by Kiel researcher and educational psychologist Olaf Köller is worth considering. It recommends that, at the very least, older students who no longer need to be served receive fully digital instruction. Not just for a few weeks, but long term until the end of March. This would mean that more rooms would be available for younger age groups.

With digital lessons, however, it is questionable whether schools, teachers, and families are adequately prepared for it, regardless of whether they are alternate or full. Several studies have confirmed that Germany is lagging behind when it comes to digitizing schools and equipping students and teachers. The digital pact and funds made available especially due to the pandemic are meant to help, but in many places it will take time before the technology is actually available.

Strictly separate groups, both at school and on the bus

Parents have long complained about the absurd: although children are supposed to keep their distance at school, they squeeze into the bus like sardines.

Therefore, some federal states have made funds available for additional buses, but the problem persists in many places. It was not until the beginning of November that the transport companies again asked to stagger the starting times for the start of the lessons so that the buses and trains were emptier.

However, the idea only works in cities with regular transport services. In rural areas, school buses generally do not run often enough to switch to a later bus.

Lessons also for students in quarantine

The latest requirement in the federal government’s original draft resolution did not foresee a hardening, but a promise: schoolchildren who are in quarantine also have the right to receive lessons. In theory, the federal states see it that way too, but in practice there are classes canceled due to quarantine measures.