The corona virus had not yet reached Germany when the district set up the school advice centers West and East in Oberding and Dorfen (we reported). School psychologist Sylvia Fratton-Meusel has been heading the center in Oberding for a little over a year. The pandemic reached Europe in February 2020 and also turned everyday life upside down in its facility.
Oberding - The need for support will continue to increase in the future, she believes. The pandemic will not end without leaving its mark on souls. “At first it took a while for word of the offer to get around,” recalls Fratton-Meusel. “Due to the pandemic, we also had to reschedule a lot and received a lot of specifications from the Ministry of Culture. In the meantime, however, everything has worked well and the offer has been very well received, ”she explains.
The center in Oberding is responsible for 19 elementary and middle schools with around 3,600 students. The five school psychologists and the three counseling teachers at the facility - not counting the Dorfen staff - are available to the parents with advice and action in the event of difficult decisions, such as possible early enrollment, learning and performance difficulties, behavioral problems or acute crises, such as refusal to attend school or aggression, Students and teachers at the side. They are supported by counseling teachers who play an important role in terms of transition and school careers. Four other school psychologists and four counseling teachers work at the School Counseling Center East in Dorfen.
"We can actually make a diagnosis or at least a preliminary diagnosis in all areas," says Fratton-Meusel. These include, above all, dyslexia and dyscalculia, but also depression and ADHD. It would also happen that the students - after consultation with the parents - are referred to clinics with child or adolescent psychiatrists. Some of the problems, such as depression or ADHD, can be treated more effectively there in cooperation. “We often accompany the family even after the diagnosis, when the child is treated externally,” says the facility manager.
But it will be a long way until it actually comes to that. Often the problems can be solved by talking: “We have to see what kind of conversations we have to have. Sometimes something needs to be changed at home or at school, and everything works out again. We don't just have a single conversation with the student. It is a process with a lot of discussions. "
At the moment, however, these are complicated. There is a lot of contact by phone or video conference, but no diagnosis can be made remotely. In individual cases, the pupils would continue to be invited to an on-site discussion: “We have enough rooms that we disinfect and ventilate regularly, and we have also set up spit walls.” Fratton-Meusel praises the municipality of Oberding and the Erdinger Schulamt: “We find it there always listening when we need something - be it work materials or additional rooms. They support us wherever they can. "
The biggest challenge that the coronavirus brings with it is homeschooling.
Because family problems or depression have increased since the beginning of the pandemic: "There are nationwide studies on this, but I myself have noticed that such inquiries are increasing here," says the school psychologist.
In addition, the teachers on the monitor would also notice much less.
Some problem cases would simply fall through the cracks.
The center is also a help for the teachers: "We also often have inquiries from teachers, especially during distance lessons, who say: 'We cannot reach the child, what can we do?'"
Fratton-Meusel believes that their workload will increase in the future.
"When the schools are back to normal at some point, there will be more contacts on site again, and the teachers will notice more again."
The reluctance and inhibitions of parents to turn to the counseling teachers or school psychologists are low, says Fratton-Meusel.
“A lot has happened in the last ten to 15 years, and trust in us has increased.
We also have a duty of confidentiality and work in strict confidence. ”In some cases, older middle school students would even ask for advice on their own.
"Overall, the acceptance and willingness to take advice has increased."
Areas of responsibility of the school advice centers:
Erding West in Oberding:
Middle School (MS) Altenerding, Elementary School (GS) Bockhorn, Carl-Orff-GS Altenerding, GS Eitting, MS / GS Erding-Lodererplatz, GS Erding-Grüner Markt, GS Erding-Ludwig-Simmet-Anger, GS Klettham, GS Langengeisling, MS / GS Finsing, MS / GS Oberding, GS Ottenhofen, GS Walpertskirchen, GS Wörth, MS Wörth, GS Moosinning.
Erding Ost in Dorfen:
GS Langenpreising, GS Berglern, MS / GS Wartenberg, GS Schröding, GS Fraunberg, GS Inning, MS / GS Taufkichen, GS Moosen, MS Dorfen, GS Dorfen-Nord, GS Dorfen-Mühlanger, GS Eibach / Grüntegernbach , GS Schwindkirchen, GS Lengdorf, GS St. Wolfgang, GS Pastetten, MS / GS Forstern, MS / GS Isen.