Shortage of teachers in schools: “Even more work for those who are still standing”

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"Overwork, burnout, depression": teacher at work (symbolic image)

Photo: Patrick Pleul / dpa

Weekend is correction time, also this time.

And during the breaks at school?

Do I take care of other tasks that have been left undone: I talk to a colleague about the development of the school and to another about a student's problems.

Finally a conversation with a friend.

At some point, each of these conversations is about the current everyday life of a teacher, which is shaped by the Corona years - a constant balancing on the stress limit.

Many have long since passed it: no school without long-term absences due to overwork, burnout, depression.

Against this background, what action could be taken to remedy the teacher shortage?

Right: even more work for those who are still standing.

This is no joke, but part of the measures that the Standing Scientific Commission (SWK) has proposed as a package of measures against the shortage of teachers.

It reads like a brainstorming session that ended too soon.

Of course, it makes sense to relieve teachers of administrative tasks so that they can focus on their core activities.

But how to find specialists for this in a short time remains the Commission's secret.

This measure is not a gift either: the other points in the recommendation read like a major redistribution of responsibility.

Not only should the school classes be larger, the teachers should also do more work.

Also and especially those working part-time.

What sounds plausible as a political arithmetic game is in fact a short-sighted fight against symptoms based on a misinterpretation: the fact that many teachers work part-time is because they would otherwise be unable to guarantee either good teaching or the urgently needed intensive supervision of the students .

In addition, more than 70 percent of the teachers are women, who still do most of the care work in their own families.

The proposed increase in the obligation to teach also affects families.

90 percent of the teachers are already under a lot of strain.

A third of beginning teachers leave the schools after less than five years.

The official terminology of the Conference of Ministers of Education reads “optimize use” almost like the cherry on top of this half-baked cake of measures – but only almost.

The real highlight is of course the suggestions to offer yoga for teachers to compensate for the extra work.

more on the subject

• School policy in Saxony-Anhalt: teachers should work longer

• More action against the shortage of teachers?: »To be honest, that is an impertinence« An interview by Armin Himmelrath

Seriously: It is cheeky to burden teachers who have long been at the limit with additional work and then offer them resilience training.

Because these training sessions convey subliminally that the individual can somehow manage to counter systemic failure with the lotus position.

This idea speaks of pure helplessness and even negligence.

The message is that the politically responsible misery must be remedied individually at the front.

Collateral damage is inevitable.

The mood among the teachers was often already at zero.

With expectations on the one hand and additional work without adequate resources on the other hand, one thought is now becoming more and more attractive: leaving the system.

Or defend yourself - with more part-time, work-to-rule, less commitment.

For self protection.

In a conversation with a person responsible at school management level, the assessment was even more drastic: These measures will make teachers unfit for work.

One could say cynically: There are also positive things.

The measures do not cost a cent.

And those who tackle the problems in this way in the short term can also hope that the long-term effect of this sham solution will only take hold once the legislative period has also redistributed this responsibility.

Because that's what it's all about: more work for teachers is an imitation of a solution, nothing more.

Because it only shows that there is no solution to the problem other than postponing its consequences for a few more years.

Save yourself who can.