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In a classroom in the Schadow Gymnasium in Berlin, the chairs are on the tables
Photo: Christophe Gateau / dpa
Schools will remain closed in January, newspapers and news agencies reported Tuesday evening after the Corona resolutions.
Some praised the heads of government for their clear edge, while others were outraged by the alleged disregard for children's rights.
Hours later, the first state leaders and ministers of education said that they would soon bring more school classes back to face-to-face classes.
Berlin went furthest.
Education Senator Sandra Scheeres (SPD) announced next week that students in grades 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 should compete.
The following week the first three primary school grades, on January 25th grades 4, 5 and 6. No, not in regular operation, emphasized Scheeres.
Only half of the group size, half of the distance lessons remain.
Still, teachers, parents and students rubbed their eyes.
And many were outraged: "No classroom lessons in Berlin as long as Covid-19 is not under control," calls for an online petition that reached more than 37,000 supporters within a few hours.
Who has misunderstood what here?
Now the Berlin Senate has reacted and cashed the plans again.
Baden-Württemberg still wants to open primary schools on January 18, if possible, Lower Saxony as well, and in Bremen the requirement to attend schools remains suspended until the end of January, but Senator for Education Claudia Bogedan encourages children to go to school.
"I am happy to take responsibility," she said at Radio Bremen.
She is firmly convinced that everything will be done to make schools, as far as possible, safe places.
Bogedan, Scheeres and their colleagues in other federal states refer to the decision of the heads of government, of all things. The new President of the Conference of Ministers of Education (KMK) Britta Ernst praised "the leeway the decision gives."
How can that be?
And who actually misunderstood something here?
If you look at the wording of the paragraph on schools and daycare centers agreed by the Chancellor and Prime Minister, you will see that it actually has two levels.
The outer one signals: closing.
There is a regret that closed schools and day-care centers are there, suspended attendance and distance teaching in schools "over a longer period of time" did not remain "without negative consequences for the educational biographies and social participation of children and adolescents".
Nevertheless, the text goes on, "the measures taken by the federal states must also be extended to the end of January in accordance with the decision of December 13, 2020 in this area."
more on the subject
Study on schools in shutdown: Young people learn less in digital lessonsBy Armin Himmelrath
Icon: Spiegel Plus New studies on coronavirus in children: "We're playing roulette" by Rafaela von Bredow
Corona policy: "We are debating school closings in an educated bourgeois bubble" By Lydia Rosenfelder
And right here, in this reference to December 13th, is the second, the inner level of the resolution.
Because in December the heads of government agreed: Also at schools and daycare centers, contacts should be "significantly restricted".
It also says: Therefore, the schools will be closed or the compulsory attendance will be suspended during this period.
And finally: "Special regulations can be provided for graduating classes."
The conclusion is clear: Scheeres, Ernst & Co are right in formal legal terms.
What the heads of government have decided is apparently deliberately formulated with holes in it that almost anything is possible: Open daycare centers and face-to-face teaching - as long as no one is forced to do so.
And even that with the voluntary nature only applies to the lower classes.
Because exceptions can be made for the final classes, see above.
Which also explains why Scheeres classified so many grades as relevant for graduation.
Everyone does what they think is right
Why do the heads of government blink in the direction of “nationwide school closings” and turn off in the direction: “Everyone does what he thinks is right”?
Quite simply: Because many of them are just not convinced that closed educational institutions, especially for younger children, are justified by the goal of containing the pandemic.
Because they wanted to demonstrate unity and energy on Tuesday.
Or have been condemned to do so by the Chancellor.
As a result, however, the prime ministers chose the worst of all variants.
Part of the public thinks school openings are too risky and feels betrayed.
The other would like daycare centers and schools to be open, but please not because of such a stupid, half-hearted decision.
And all together they shake their heads at a policy that puts federal and legal tricks before clarity in action and attitude.
The acceptance of the corona measures is crumbling on all sides.
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