After emergencies at fresch: Many children need swimming lessons, but there is a lack of capacity

Two emergencies in the Freising open-air pool within a few days show that many children need swimming lessons.

But there is a lack of capacity.

Freising

- Two emergencies in the Freising open-air swimming pool within a few days make it clear: There are too many children who cannot swim or who cannot swim safely enough.

One of the lifesavers had therefore also made the elementary schools responsible.

They are already involved in swimming lessons, but struggle with major obstacles. 

It was a fiery appeal that Andreas Schmitz really wanted to get rid of: "More swimming lessons should definitely be offered again at primary schools," he emphasized when he was honored for a heroic deed in the Freising adventure pool fresch.

He had successfully helped resuscitate an 11-year-old girl who nearly drowned in the diving tower pool.

Head of the school office sees two serious problems

In fact, swimming lessons are planned in all classes of the elementary school, explains Irmintraud Wienerl, head of the school administration.

Even more: The learning area “Moving safely in the water / swimming” is included in the lesson plans of every grade.

“Due to Corona, however, the physical education classes have been canceled for months, and with it the swimming lessons.

This has exacerbated the fundamental problem that many children cannot swim. "

The second problem that Wienerl mentions: Not every teacher can give swimming lessons so easily.

Appropriate further training is necessary for this - also for sports teachers.

Wienerl is currently promoting this - also because several school principals have pointed out the misery of swimming among schoolchildren.

State government wants to distribute vouchers for swimming lessons to children

This necessary additional training ensures that the personnel resources in the area of ​​swimming lessons are tight, reports Sabine Jackermaier, director of the Neustift primary school in Freising.

"In the past - before Corona - we also offered swimming lessons for primary school students." But only to a very limited extent for personnel reasons.

"If every class can swim two or three times, it is not possible to make the children safe swimmers."

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The seahorse is only the first step on the way to becoming a safe swimmer.

© FT archive

In this respect, the advance of the Bavarian state government certainly hits a nerve: First graders and preschoolers are to receive a 50 euro voucher after the holidays to acquire the early swimmer badge “Seahorse”.

The idea is to compensate for the swimming courses that were canceled due to the pandemic and to support the children's swimming ability.

School principal suggests swimming lessons by professionals

Wienerl likes the idea.

"This could help children in socially disadvantaged families in particular, because for them registering for a swimming course is always a financial question." Jackermaier also considers the government's initiative to be a good idea.

But: "It's just a question of whether the parents send the children over there too."

Her alternative suggestion: “From my point of view it would be profitable for everyone if the swimming lessons were held by external staff - lifeguards, members of the water rescue service or other experts.

The swimming lessons can be organizationally integrated into the timetable, and teachers would of course be there for supervision. "

Operations manager of the outdoor pool thinks ideas are good, but ...

The discrepancy between desire and reality does not only exist in schools, but also in swimming pools. In principle, fresch operations manager Alexander Frederking thinks the government's voucher campaign is good. “On the one hand, because actions like that about 'Bayern Schwimm' can help to shake up society. On the other hand, because perhaps socially disadvantaged families are also thinking about registering their child for a course. "

After more than a year of pandemic, the waiting lists for participants are long, and specialist staff and capacities are scarce.

The fresch offers crash courses during the holidays and also provides the Freising water rescue service and swimming clubs with the teaching pool more often than in normal times so that these organizations can also offer more swimming training.

Nevertheless, it will be a challenge to be able to offer a place to everyone who wants to register for a course with a voucher in September.

Schools are already doing a lot: empty swimming pools are almost completely booked out

The same problems apply to the Jackermaier proposal.

"We have already discussed the fact that we offer swimming lessons to school classes," emphasizes Frederking.

“But here too we are limited in terms of personnel.” Incidentally, the primary schools would take their obligation seriously.

"For the coming year, our teaching pool is almost completely booked for the morning hours."

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