What happens when the going gets tough in winter? Will schools be closed due to lack of gas? The responsible minister says: Not with her. And students and teachers do not need an electric blanket in the classroom either.
Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) - Baden-Württemberg's Minister of Education Theresa Schopper wants to avoid school closures due to a lack of gas or Corona in winter under all circumstances. The Greens politician said in an interview with the German Press Agency in Stuttgart: "The school environment is infinitely important for our children and young people, as Corona has shown. That's why I wouldn't give my okay for school closures even if there was a gas shortage." Most recently, the minister had already made it clear that school closures should no longer occur due to the pandemic.
Critical infrastructure? Schopper refers to the summit decision
Schopper assumes that there is no longer any way to close schools in the south-west in the event of an energy crisis. "According to pure teaching", schools and kindergartens are not part of the critical infrastructure, which must continue to be operated even in an emergency. But: "At the gas summit, we stated that schools and kindergartens are included in critical infrastructure," said the minister, referring to the state government's crisis meeting last Monday.
Schopper emphasized the importance of school and care for the functioning of society. "If children are not in school, if children are not cared for in kindergarten, then you have the problem that parents cannot go to work." But even so, schools and kindergartens are "a critical, because eminently important infrastructure per se". There children are together, learn important content and experience something that is incredibly important for social development.
Experts: Corona lockdown leads to many disorders in children
The minister made it clear that school closures like the one in the Corona lockdown should not be repeated. "Child and adolescent psychiatrists and paediatricians have once again drastically demonstrated the high proportion of young people with eating disorders, those at risk of suicide and mental disorders." It is completely clear why that is: "The reason is that many children and young people suddenly had the feeling during Corona because the school as an institution is missing, that they are alone and that life has gotten a bit off track."
Schopper on school closures: "I don't want that."
But Schopper also said there are schools that are good at distance learning. "I can imagine under certain conditions, for example in the vocational school classes, that you can do the school lessons in online mode. But it is also important for the older students that they come together as a vocational school class." The minister added: “I don’t see any scope for school closures for pupils in primary schools, but also in secondary school and also in the upper schools, which are preparing for the degrees.” Schopper assured: "I'm very clear on the question of school closures: I don't want that."
Gyms should also remain open
When asked whether gymnasiums could be closed in the event of an energy shortage, the minister also expressed her rejection. "We know that the children in Corona have become fatter on average. Of course, a lack of exercise also has something to do with it." Schopper explained: "It is the case that sport is immensely important, also as a balance for the children. It was therefore also an urgent concern of the experts from schools and medicine not to restrict physical education classes any longer." Due to their size and height, gymnasiums need a lot of energy for heating.
Ventilation is also the order of the day this winter
At the same time, care must be taken in schools to use energy sparingly. "Of course, the radiators in the schools shouldn't be steaming when there's a woolen blanket everywhere else," said Schopper. In addition, the pandemic is not over. "We will continue to have Corona in the schools next year and Corona also means that you have to ventilate the rooms again. You should ventilate the rooms, that's the point, that's what the experts say. And not heat and generally always have the windows open or open tilt."
Freezing at school? T-shirt and sweater yes, electric blanket no
However, the Minister of Education does not assume that pupils and teachers will have to freeze at school in winter. "If we have a winter where it's really, really cold and it's 18 degrees in the rooms, I can't come to school in a short-sleeved t-shirt. A pullover and a t-shirt underneath is definitely not that wrong choice." The official lower limit is currently 20 degrees, but it is foreseeable that this will be lowered due to the impending gas shortage. Schopper still sees no reason to worry: "But I don't think you have to bring the electric blanket with you."
