Are childcare facilities and schools closing completely again? The decision will be made in the morning during the meeting of the state government. Health Councilor Thomas Widmann, but also Councilor for Civil Protection Arnold Schuler are in favor of switching to distance learning for all school levels from Wednesday (November 11th) – two days after the resumption of classes after the All Saints holiday. This is necessary to further reduce the number of infections and one Preventing the collapse of the health system, argues Widmann. Distance learning is currently valid from the 2nd grade in middle school. The three educational state councils and also social state councilor Waltraud Deeg are against a renewed closure.
But not just them. Parent representatives are sounding the alarm.
Solutions to lockdown
On the one hand, there is still no information on a possible care emergency service and no solutions for working parents, shows the Parents’ initiative South Tyrol on. On the other hand, “many families have been doing almost superhuman things since spring, now we are at the limit, our health is also in danger, ”said the chairwoman Sigrid Mairhofer to consider. She criticizes: “Parents can no longer compensate for political planning omissions. It is often not possible to simply stay at home, because there is no right to leave from work (only if the child is in official quarantine), especially not paid one, and this neither for employees and even less for freelancers and self-employed! And who will work in medicine and care, in social affairs, in teaching, in the food industry, who in cleaning the premises, etc., when all parents stay at home? “
Together with the Alliance for family the parents’ initiative demands from politics:
- a Lead time from a few days to a possible closure (“If this is decided, then it must be justified in a comprehensible manner and may not begin until the following week.”)
- the organization of one Emergency care service, “Which however does not exclude a large part of the working families due to criteria unrelated to reality”
- ensuring emergency care social support needs or for children with impairment
- an unbureaucratic option for all working parents, to take time off from workin order to be able to take over care and education of the children themselves, which is appropriately remunerated
In addition, the two associations insist on one interdisciplinary task force “family” as it has been called for since March: “A purely medical view of the current situation can no longer be an option. Families urgently need support, don’t leave us alone again, we can’t anymore! “
“Parents cannot replace school”
The demand for an interdisciplinary crisis team also comes from Provincial advisory board for parents in German schools. Its chairman Heidrun Goals sent a letter to Governor Arno Kompatscher, School Councilor Philipp Achammer and Health Councilor Widmann on Monday. It says, among other things:
“(…) We know that fortunately the numbers and statistics have made it clear that the security measures implemented in the schools have worked very well. So it has in German schools not a single case of a school cluster given. In kindergartens and lower-level schools, the number of infections is even significantly lower than in the public sector.
We know and understand that the situation in the medical department is very tense and that the operational notices of the medical department are exhausted due to the current developments and changes relating to quarantine and testing and must be revised
That is why we understand your concern for the common good and would like to complement our concern, namely the common good of children and students.
From a developmental point of view, it should be noted that especially important for the students of the lower grades of the face-to-face teaching is. Distance learning at this age group is also not sensible or effective from a methodological and didactic point of view. At this stage of development in particular, education takes place at the relationship level. We parents are naturally connected to our children on another level of relationship and cannot replace the valuable work of school teachers. Education is a fundamental right for our children and is thus anchored in constitutional law and must not depend on the parents’ social origin.
We therefore urge you to maintain the educational facilities of the lower grades with face-to-face teaching. Should you nevertheless decide to close the school SHORT, we ask you to do so justified with scientific data. A lead time of 3-5 working days would be advisable so that we parents have time to adjust to the new situation in terms of organization and work. (…) ”
No to the closure, yes to the mask
Also the Catholic Family Association South Tyrol speaks out “very decidedly against the closure of kindergartens and schools”, “because the burden for all concerned is enormous is. The children went through all of this last spring and in some cases it really pushed its limits and left its mark, ”says KFS President Angelika Weichsel-Mitterrutzner.
In no case do you speak out against the mask requirement. “We are of the opinion that kindergartens and elementary schools should go up to 1st middle school open in compliance with the mask requirement stay. This is fundamental for the social contacts of the children, who otherwise become emotionally impoverished. I am thinking primarily of children from unstable, problematic families and those with disabilities. An alternative model must be developed and offered, especially for this target group, ”says Weichsel-Mitterrutzner with conviction.
District Councilor Widmann should not move away from his proposal for a new education lockdown. The Courier of South Tyrol quotes him in the Tuesday edition with the following words: “I say to the parents: The situation is worse than during the first wave in spring. I understand the difficulties, but what would the alternative be? If my proposal does not go through, I will no longer take any responsibility.”
– .
