Educating Germany

This is the latest development in the compulsory schooling law from the region of Baden Wuerttemberg in Germany.

Country wants to protect school children

School law is to be amended - criticism by teachers trade union

Stuttgart - Baden-Wuerttemberg wants to better protect school children by a law change against neglect. Parents, who refuse to co-operate with the school, would have to, in the future, count on the involvement of the youth welfare office, said Secretary of cultural affairs Helmut Rau (CDU) on Wednesday in Stuttgart.



The Council of Ministers had advised an appropriate draft on Tuesday for the change of the school law. According to these, sanctions are to be intensified for offenses against compulsory schooling. The teachers trade union criticized the change of the school law. "This is an example that shows that a child-country cannot be achieved by new laws, but the federal state government must invest more money ", said Rainer Dahlem, regional chairman of the trade union for education and science (GEW).



So far parents are legally obligated to co-operate with the school, said Rau. There has however been no possibility for enforcing this. "The schools will now receive appropriate legal grounds for operation." The Parent-teacher conference must determine first that there is need for a discussion. If parents of truants or aggressive troublemakers failed to appear at the discussion twice in a row, they would

get a visit from the youth welfare office.



In addition a penalty payment is to be introduced, if parents do not ensure, despite requests, that their children go to school. From now on the Administrative Courts and not the district courts would be responsible for possible prosecutions. Also from now on policemen may bring pupils to school ("forced school attendance"). However officials are to be allowed to search the dwelling of the concerned after the law change in exceptional cases. If young people should be truant during school time in the city, the police will be obligated to pick them up and inform parents as well as the school.



According to Dahlem disadvantaged children could be better supported only in smaller classes and with a school social worker. The GEW also wants to see more advanced training for teachers and one teacher training class.

Translated from Stuttgarter Nachrichten with help from others!





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