As of: March 2, 2024, 7:00 a.m
By: Stefan Weinzierl
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More German and math instead of creative subjects - the new concept of the Bavarian cabinet is met with criticism.
© Armin Weigel/dpa
More German and math in primary school at the expense of art, music, works or English?
The concept adopted by the Bavarian cabinet to counteract the poor performance results of students in the Free State in the most recent Pisa study has met with mixed response from primary school principals.
District
- Anton Höck, principal of the primary school in Pullach, finds it positive that the state government is not only lending a hand to the primary school timetable, but is also intervening in the preschool sector, for example through mandatory language proficiency surveys.
Not only he, but also his colleague Torsten Bergmühl from the Erich Kästner elementary and middle school in Höhenkirchen-Siegertsbrunn welcomes the fact that there will be more hours in the subjects of German and mathematics in the future.
“The results of the PISA study have called for this reinforcement somewhere,” emphasizes Bergmühl.
However, the educator doubts whether the one hour more German in grades 1 to 4 and the one additional hour of math in grades 1 and 3 will really lead to a significant improvement in the PISA study results.
Creative learning islands for the children
And he regrets that the German and math plus is being introduced at the expense of the subjects of art, music and crafts and design.
“Both my colleagues and I see this critically,” says Bergmühl.
Because these subjects are creative learning islands for the children, in which they are taught elements of holistic learning.
Muzzle from the school authorities?
There is no assessment of the state government's PISA initiative from the chairwoman of the Bavarian Teachers' Association in the Munich district, Brigitte Gruber.
The principal of the Sigoho Marchwart School in Höhenkirchen-Siegertsbrunn says that she
does not currently wish to make a statement on this topic
.
Another school principal in the Munich district emphasized to our newspaper that he would not comment on the Bavarian state government's decision because
the school authority had previously asked not to comment on such explosive topics to the press
.
So is there a muzzle for school principals from above?
School board director Ulrich Barth emphasizes that the school board does
not have a general ban on school principals
from commenting on certain topics.
However, he believes that a certain degree of restraint in expressing opinions is definitely appropriate.
“After all, civil servants have a
duty of loyalty to their employer
,” reminds Barth.
But that is something completely normal.
If a headmaster speaks out as a private person, that is of course not a problem.
Antje Radetzky, member of the state board of the Bavarian Teachers' Association, sees it the same way.
The principal of the elementary school on Camerloherstrasse in Ismaning emphasizes that the foundation for all of the students' skills is laid in elementary schools.
Of course, German and math are extremely important.
“But we want to train the children to be people who can do more than read, write and do math,” she says.
Children should be taught to learn, important work techniques, but also social skills.
Creative subjects are also needed for this.
“The deletions are completely contrary to a holistic concept of education,” says Radetzky.
Time for sustainable learning beyond mathematics, German and HSU
Especially in the 4th grade with the pressure to transfer, the students also need time for sustainable learning beyond mathematics, German and HSU.
“The children write one proof of achievement after another in their main subjects, and in the end they burn out,” says Radetzky.
Bergmühl can live with the fact that English lessons can be saved in the 3rd and 4th grade in order to compensate for the increase in German and math - in contrast to Radetzky.
“I don’t think it’s 100% scientifically proven that English lessons in primary school help children make a significant difference,” says Bergmühl.
But the children would get a first feel for language, counters his colleague from Ismaning.
In addition, children who would have difficulty in other subjects could also make a name for themselves in English: “For example, children with a migration background who have difficulties with the German language.
If they are good at English, it really motivates them.”
curtail religious education
But Bergmühl and Radetzky agree on one thing: in order to balance the timetable, religious instruction could have been cut - especially since in practice it is quite difficult to find enough teaching staff for this.
Rector Höck, himself a qualified theologian, is committed to protecting the continued existence of religion and ethics lessons and uses similar arguments to those of his colleagues before: “Our educational mission is to develop a student’s entire personality.
That's why in primary school we have always worked with head, heart and hand." Religious education makes a significant contribution to this.