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The deployment of members of the Bundeswehr in schools is considered controversial (archive)
Photo: Filmbildfabrik / Shotshop / IMAGO
When the omicron wave rolled across the country in the spring, school classes were paralyzed in many places: teachers had to stay at home because they had contracted the virus, were considered contact persons or were looking after children who were in quarantine.
To ensure that not too many lessons had to be missed, the headmistress of the Lise-Meitner-Gymnasium in Unterhaching resorted to an unusual method: she hired prospective officers from the nearby Bundeswehr University in Fürstenfeldbruck.
This is reported, among others, by the "taz" and the "Süddeutsche Zeitung".
Between March and June, seven students at the Bundeswehr University gave a total of 92 lessons.
The officer candidates were mainly used as substitute teachers in grades five to nine, writes the trade union Education and Education (GEW) Bavaria.
»They introduced themselves in class as members of the military and gave information about their profession.«
Approval from the Ministry of Education
Before approving the deployment, the responsible Ministry of Education checked the request from the headmistress extensively, writes the "taz".
The prerequisite was that the servicewomen and men had worked voluntarily, on an honorary basis and unpaid.
more on the subject
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The fact that members of the military perform in schools has long been controversial.
Critics fear that the servicewomen and men could inspire minors to serve with weapons.
In the past, the discussion sparked off primarily at information events in schoolyards and when members of the Bundeswehr attended classes in the presence of a teacher.
It is extremely unusual for prospective officers to hold cover hours themselves.
Task pool for substitution hours
It is not yet known exactly what the Bundeswehr students talked to the schoolchildren about.
According to the "taz", the school explained that there was a specified pool of tasks with standardized teaching materials for substitute hours.
These were also used by the soldiers.
Schools in Germany use what is known as the Beutelsbach consensus, which was first formulated in the 1970s.
According to this, children and young people must not be overwhelmed by political opinions and attitudes and prevented from forming their own opinions.
olb
