Transfer certificates in Tölzer Land: Extreme tension

Created: 05/03/2022, 06:30

By: Melina Staar

There were transition certificates on Monday for fourth graders at Bavaria's elementary schools.

"Deficits are obvious" Sometimes tears flow © DPA

For Bavaria's fourth graders, the time had come on Monday: they received their transition certificates.

How did this cohort fare, who experienced most of their elementary school years under pandemic conditions?

Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen

– With the transfer certificate, after the fourth grade in Bavaria, it is decided for the first time in which direction the school path will lead.

Although the system is described as very permeable, the fourth grade still represents a turning point. This year, those children who have been taught under pandemic conditions since the middle of the second grade received their transition certificates: there were long school absences, homeschooling and - in the case own corona disease - finally quarantine for children and families.

How did parents experience this situation?

"Despite the school failures, the teachers of the second and third grades did their best to convey the learning content sufficiently," reports Caecilia Oponczewski.

According to the mother of four from Geretsried, personal contact with the children was sought almost every day.

Nevertheless, homeschooling was a burden for the whole family.

"The parents had to act as teachers and examiners, which had serious consequences for the parent-child relationship." In homeschooling, the approach to tasks in particular could not be conveyed due to the lack of contact with teachers and classmates.

At that time, the parents were solely responsible for this.

"Ultimately, thanks to our commitment in the 3rd grade, our son was well prepared for the 4th grade.

“Other parents would not have had this opportunity.

Therefore, in the 4th class, there was a clear drop in performance in the class.

Content and performance records have been adapted to the low level.

"It was easier for the fourth graders this year to provide good enough evidence than in previous years." Oponczewski wonders whether the children are doing a favor by doing so.

It is questionable that fewer rehearsals would have taken place because of Corona.

"Because this means that the individual samples are weighted more heavily."

than in previous years.” Oponczewski wonders if this is doing the children a favor.

It is questionable that fewer rehearsals would have taken place because of Corona.

"Because this means that the individual samples are weighted more heavily."

than in previous years.” Oponczewski wonders if this is doing the children a favour.

It is questionable that fewer rehearsals would have taken place because of Corona.

"Because this means that the individual samples are weighted more heavily."

"Social cohesion in the class has suffered"

Social cohesion within the class association also suffered.

The fear of being positive in a test or being bullied by classmates if you allegedly didn't put on the mask correctly was "an extreme burden," reports Oponczewski.

“Absolutely not” Bernhard Sandner from Geretsried sees his child well prepared for secondary school.

"The deficits caused by homeschooling in almost two years are obvious." For example, in fourth grade, exercises and tasks from third grade were repeated to at least catch up a little.

The past few weeks and months have been extremely exhausting for parents and children.

“This applies even more to parents from non-German-speaking countries.

There are undoubtedly significant disadvantages for these.”

The child of a Tölzerin got through the turbulent times quite well.

"But of course homeschooling has left its mark," reports the mother, who does not want her name to be in the newspaper.

The learning discipline was not always there.

"If you, as a mother or father, have to teach your child, bad situations arise." The teachers have always been very committed to the students.

“But you won’t notice until fifth grade whether there are learning deficits.” A number of children were affected by quarantine measures this school year in particular and had to write down numerous samples in a very short time.

"Of course, that's incredibly stressful, especially when you know that it might be that next note that counts.

"So again and again in class, tears flowed among classmates when the desired grade was not achieved.

"It really hurts me when I hear something like that."

"Conversion comes much too early in Bavaria"

Monday, on the other hand, was relaxed at the Montessori school in Tölz.

Because there is "rarely" a transfer after the fourth grade, as Birgit Kobinger from the school reports.

Normally, the children attend school from the first to the tenth grade and then switch to an FOS or a grammar school.

As a rule, there are therefore no transfer certificates.

"Most parents don't even have this date on their screens."

A system similar to that of the Montessori school would also find Bernhard Sandner fairer.

"The transfer comes much too early in Bavaria." In contrast to other federal states, parents and children have to make an important decision at a time when it is actually still completely unclear how the further school career could proceed.

"A transfer after the 6th grade would make much more sense." In his opinion, the regulations for trial lessons should also be revised.

"At the moment, the impression cannot be denied that the requirements of this class are only seen as an instrument for rejecting students who are subjectively annoying and less suitable for secondary schools."

The Bavarian Teachers' Association (BLLV) advocates that parents be given more decision-making responsibility when it comes to transfers.

Sandner thinks this is a good thing: "We definitely need to support that." After all, grades often depend on how well you are on the day or the subjective assessment of the teachers.

"They don't always reflect the child's actual level of performance."

Oponczewski sees the BLLV advance as a double-edged sword.

"Most parents will probably want to take their child to grammar school." Even if an average grade cannot reflect all facets of a personality, "I think that the classification into a general performance level, that's as much as possible tries to depict, the only fair way is to classify the further educational path of the children".

You can find even more current news from the region around at Merkur.de/Bad Tölz.