For me, federalism means above all work.
If, in view of the shortage of teachers, I research nationwide how often lessons are covered or young people are sent home, I not only have to deal with 16 ministries, but also with different calculation methods - if they all collect the hoped-for data at all.
How, I ask myself at such moments, is federalism supposed to encourage competition for the best school system when comparisons are so difficult to draw?
It's different when it comes to childcare costs and times, because it's easy to make comparisons - and choose the best offers.
The German Economic Institute (IW) has examined how many hours children can go to all-day primary school and what parents pay for it.
You can read who scores how in the “That's what's going on” section.
It is debatable whether having a teacher teach two or more classes at the same time is a good remedy for the shortage.
More on this in the »Debate of the week«.
This newsletter also deals with the abolition of homework, the introduction of new school subjects ("That's the matter") and the magic of "guided autonomy, into which one is gently pushed" ("Good to know").
If you want to get rid of anything magical or unpleasant, we look forward to hearing from you at bildung@spiegel.de.
And since this newsletter is being sent out on a Friday as an exception and not on Tuesday as usual: The week is almost over - I wish you a wonderful weekend!
Best regards
Swantje Unterberg
for the SPIEGEL education team
That's going on
1. Health in the timetable
Good performance can only be achieved if a child feels comfortable in his body and is mentally at peace with himself, says education researcher Klaus Hurrelmann.
And calls for the subject "health" to be introduced in schools at last.
Of course, Hurrelmann is not alone in his desire to establish a new school subject.
Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) recently spoke out in favor of more economics in school lessons, the German Depression Aid Foundation is calling for more education about depression, several researchers are calling for the topic of the climate crisis to be more firmly anchored in the school curricula, the Standing Scientific Commission (SWK) , a kind of scientific advisory board of the Conference of Ministers of Education (KMK), has recommended to the education ministers of the federal states that computer science be introduced as compulsory from the middle school level.
But what can go instead?
There should be a debate about this.
After all, the timetable cannot be expanded at will.
2. One teacher, two classes
Because there are not enough students in East Saxony for an advanced course, three high schools are now broadcasting the lessons online.
Thuringia is considering using the model as well.
Not because of a lack of students, but because of a lack of teachers.
3. Buffalo time instead of homework
Checking homework was too time-consuming, and the frustration at not having done homework was too great: a primary school in Grevenbroich, North Rhine-Westphalia, has done away with homework and introduced a buffalo time at the school.
In three compulsory lessons, the children deepen the material, reports the WDR, they are supported by teachers, trainee teachers or social workers.
4. Anything else?
What do parents pay for all-day care at primary schools – and how many hours a day and how many days a week is it even offered?
It's different in every state.
The German Economic Institute (IW) took a closer look at the situation - and came to the conclusion that Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has the best price-performance ratio: no fees and quite long offers.
NRW, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, on the other hand, stand out due to particularly high costs or inconsistent rules, according to the IW.
In Bavaria, for example, the all-day schools are basically free of charge, but fees are charged for the very similar care in the after-school care centers – which is unequal treatment.
Good to know
() Reading is cinema in the head.
I'm not telling you anything new with that.
What is new, however, is the interview with my colleague Silke Fokken, who spoke to the actress Anna Thalbach about how these images are created in the mind.
The words of "guided autonomy, into which one is gently urged" were used.
Thalbach emphasizes that there is room for imagination when listening.
And she gives tips on what to look out for when reading aloud and how to have fun doing it yourself.
number of the week
326,100
Behind every single number there is a specialist who is missing.
In the so-called MINT professions of math, computer science, natural sciences and technology.
This was calculated by the German Economic Institute (IW) for the MINT autumn report.
This has two things to do with the subject of school.
Firstly, there is also a lack of teachers in this area.
And secondly, the IW recommends counteracting this problem, especially at school: through better educational opportunities, digitization and - see above - computer science as a compulsory subject.
debate of the week
The question of whether hybrid teaching makes sense not only concerns governments and opposition groups in Thuringia and Saxony, but also our readers, teachers and associations.
»What else is supposed to help with the misery?
Too few teachers, too few students.
Where will the children come from and where will the teachers come from?
So it's a good solution for everyone involved," writes one reader about the model.
But most voice criticism.
"The hybrid lessons planned by Minister Holter to remedy the shortage of teachers will not work like this," writes Heike Schimke, chairwoman of the Thuringian Philologists' Association.
Teachers would not suddenly be able to correct twice as much work, let alone look after the children individually, both technically and pedagogically - not only in person, but also digitally.
And a reader writes in the SPIEGEL forum that the model is »another step towards the abyss.
The next one isn't a three-grade teacher."
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Silke Fokken
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"It may work in the upper grades in the country and in MINT advanced courses, but not more," writes another - and thus reflects the direction in which most of the comments are going.
Because with a view to advanced courses, the model is assessed more positively.
Nevertheless, readers are wondering how this is supposed to work in practice.
»Especially in class 11 you spend many hours doing experiments and using the microscope.
How is the hybrid supposed to work?
Are they only allowed to watch the others?”
Saxony has announced: »The teacher teaches the practical parts of the lesson on site at the individual schools«.
However, this also raises questions about feasibility.
The implementation, as repeatedly noted in the forum, is also a question of technology: "Sensible IT is also part of this concept." the execution.«
What is your opinion or experience on the subject?
We would be pleased if you write to us: bildung@spiegel.de
On my own account
Whether to teach media skills or for up-to-date and practical lessons: If you, as a primary school or secondary school teacher, want to tackle the topic with real paper again, why not order a free class set of our news magazine »Dein SPIEGEL« for Children from 8 years.
That's it for this time. The next newsletter will appear on December 13th. The "Little Break" team thanks you for your interest!