As of: February 9, 2024, 9:30 a.m
By: Carina Ottillinger
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The third and fourth graders are not allowed to attend classes at the elementary school in Hochbrück in carnival costumes.
Some students and parents don't like that at all.
© Frank Johne
At Garching-Hochbrück elementary school, only the first and second grades are allowed to celebrate carnival in costume this year.
The older ones are left behind because there was trouble last year.
Hochbrück
– Pirates, Vikings and mermaids gather today in the playground of the Hochbrück elementary school.
The students stand in line for donuts donated by the support association.
But not everyone is dressed up.
The school management has decided that only the first and second grades are allowed to dress up and take part in a carnival celebration.
There is a ban on costumes for older people.
Why this hard separation?
The school management justifies the ban to the parents by saying that the large, joint carnival celebration in the gymnasium last year got completely out of hand.
Some boys even fought.
That's why this year there is a carnival celebration only for the younger ones.
Younger sister goes away empty-handed
The parents' council and the support association also understand this decision.
“But we can’t understand why costumes aren’t allowed,” says parents’ council chairwoman Simone Warntjes.
Her two daughters are in fourth and seventh grade.
The older one has already celebrated carnival at school this week.
The younger sister comes away empty-handed.
It is even worse for siblings who have to watch their younger brother leave the house as a pirate.
That is difficult to explain.
“I’m not looking for a riot,” says Warntjes.
“I’m concerned about the children who would love to celebrate carnival with their classmates.”
Asking the school management doesn't help
All attempts to dissuade school principal Edeltraud Feirer from banning costumes have come to nothing.
Parents kept writing emails and calling.
At some point there was no more reaction.
Radio silence.
The rector also does not want to comment to the Munich Merkur.
At the beginning of the week, the parents' council contacted the school authorities.
But even after talking to the authorities, the school management is still sticking to the ban.
She can do that too.
“Decisions about festivals and celebrations at the school are made by the school management, the staff and the parents’ council on their own responsibility,” says school district director Ulrich Barth.
There are no carnival celebrations in the curriculum.
The decision of the Hochbrück elementary school is therefore not objectionable from a school law perspective.
Parents care about freedom
Regarding the parents' lack of understanding: "What speaks against coming to school in disguise?" asks Warntjes.
Parents are concerned about freedom.
Wantje's daughter started school during the Corona period - a time full of bans.
She thinks it's wrong to forbid the children so much now.
In addition to the ban on costumes, the ban on partying is not a solution for Wantjes.
Teachers could work with parents to look for alternatives.
The chairwoman of the parents' council offered the headmistress that parents could support a celebration.
Smaller, class-internal celebrations are also conceivable.
“It’s sad that we haven’t found a solution,” says Wantjes.
Parents are frustrated in this otherwise happy fifth season.
Donuts for everyone?
Just a consolation.
Warntjes didn't forbid her daughter from putting on her fairy costume today.
She wants to keep them out of the conflict.
“If she wants to dress up, I say: Yes, okay, but you might get in trouble.” Her parents absolve her, even if the consequence is extra homework.