Open instead of bound all-day school?
Middle school Schongau is considering structural changes
Created: 05/16/2022, 10:03 am
By: Elena Siegl
At the middle school in Schongau, they are considering switching from a fixed all-day school to an open concept.
© Hans-Helmut Herold
Fewer and fewer children are being registered for the all-day classes at the Schongau middle school.
That is why it is being considered to change it from a compulsory to an open all-day school.
Schongau – bound or open all-day school, what is the difference?
Frank Pfaffenberger, rector of the Schongau middle school, explained it succinctly at the school association meeting on Thursday: A tied all-day class has a timetable for the entire day, including the afternoon.
In the open system, on the other hand, there are only the usual half-day classes with the option for children to be looked after at school in the afternoons – usually by an external provider.
So far, both the elementary school and the middle school in Schongau have relied on the all-day school.
But that could change in the future.
Because while the all-day classes were still extremely popular three or four years ago, according to Pfaffenberger, there are now hardly enough registrations for the special classes.
For example, just eleven students have registered for the future all-day class of the 7th grade.
There are 14 registrations for the all-day class in the 5th grade.
Just enough to form the two classes.
All-day classes in Schongau: Low registration numbers could be related to Corona
Pfaffenberger suspects that the low number of registrations could have something to do with "different transfer behavior" or new conditions caused by Corona.
It has always been the case that interest in all-day classes decreases as students get older.
After all, they would have afternoon classes one day anyway, they might still be active in the football club and "the bigger they get, the more independent they naturally become," says Pfaffenberger.
However, the general dwindling interest in tied all-day classes is now causing the school to consider switching to an open system.
That would have several advantages, as Pfaffenberger explained.
Afternoon care could be offered for all year groups and only two afternoons could be booked as needed.
With the current all-day school, four afternoons are fixed.
However, you would need an open sponsor for this system, explained Pfaffenberger when asked by Altenstadt's mayor Andreas Kögl, who also sits on the committee.
The middle school teachers could not afford the afternoon care.
However, this would give the opportunity to offer the open all-day school to all schools.
Pfaffenberger is already in talks with Ute Meub, the head of the primary school.
Open instead of bound all-day school?
Decision pending
The so-called operating times could be extended in a cooperation.
This means that children could be cared for not only until 4 p.m., but until 6 p.m. - in line with the working hours of the parents, according to Pfaffenberger.
Parents don't pay anything for the all-day school, according to the school association.
According to the current state of knowledge, neither does the open one.
However, it is possible to book courses in the afternoon, which would be subject to a fee depending on who is offering them, explained Esther Laue from the Schongau city administration.
By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Schongau newsletter.
There hasn't been a decision yet, the meeting was about pure information on the current considerations: whether and how an open all-day school can be offered "must be discussed with the administration and schools," says Pfaffenberger.
At the Staufer elementary school, the all-day classes are still in demand, says headmistress Ute Meub when asked by the local newspaper.
You don't fight with login problems.
Meub confirms that she is still in close contact with Frank Pfaffenberger.
Because: The (cross-school) open all-day school would be a welcome addition for the elementary school students.