As of: April 4, 2024, 7:00 a.m
By: Sebastian Grauvogl
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Have had enough of the traffic chaos in the school parking lot: Principal Markus Rewitzer and the students (from left) Matthias, Lena and Dominik want to demonstrate against parent taxis next week with self-made posters. © TP
67 of 300 students are brought to Hausham by car - even though almost all of them live within walking distance. In an interview, principal Markus Rewitzer explains how the school wants to combat this.
Hausham
- The city of Augsburg is launching an educational campaign, and several municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia are even considering road closures: In order to slow down the so-called parent taxis and advocate for a car-free route to school, more and more municipalities and schools are going on the offensive. The Hausham elementary and middle school also wants to put a stop to the excessive traffic. Rector Markus Rewitzer explains why and how in an interview.
Mr. Rewitzer, what bothers you so much about parents bringing their children to class by car?
Markus Rewitzer:
Because we create avoidable traffic chaos in front of our school every morning. Sometimes adventurous scenes take place: cars park in the second and third row, drive into the parking lot contrary to the one-way street rule or are sometimes traveling significantly too fast. This can quickly become dangerous, especially for younger students, if they have to weave their way through. Not to mention the environmental impact of unnecessary CO2 emissions.
But isn't it the case that there are too few alternatives to cars, especially in rural areas?
Rewitzer:
I see it differently. Almost all of our students live in Hausham. So you could easily come on foot, by bike, scooter or school bus. As a traffic count by a group of students showed, on average 67 of the 380 children and young people at our school are driven by parents - almost all of them individually. You have to ask yourself whether this is necessary in all cases or whether it could also be described as misunderstood and excessive care or convenience. We already appealed to parents in a letter in December to reconsider their behavior.
Annual theme Sustainability: Stamp collection is intended to create incentives
Was the appeal fruitful?
Rewitzer:
Not really. We received a lot of positive feedback, but probably only from parents who send their children to school themselves anyway. Unfortunately, the number of parent taxis has not decreased. That's why we're now trying a project that fits well into our annual theme of sustainability and our participation in the Philipp Lahm school tour for exercise and health. Under the motto “Things are going well in Hausham – we come to school fit and environmentally friendly” we want to hold a protest campaign to encourage people not to use the parent taxi and at the same time create incentives to come to school themselves with a stamp collection and reward this accordingly.
How exactly is this supposed to work?
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Rewitzer:
After the Easter holidays, from April 9th to 12th, every morning between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m., several classes will take turns in the teachers' parking lot under supervision to draw attention to the problem with parent taxis. With posters and banners, as befits a peaceful demonstration. From April 15th to May 10th, all children who made their way to school on foot, by bike, scooter or bus can collect a stamp every day. We are giving away prizes from our sponsors for the class and individuals with the most entries. The community, the Raiffeisenbank and the Sportfundgrube Miesbach are currently taking part, but we would also be happy to receive further support.
“Don’t want to raise a front”
What do you expect from the campaign in the long term?
Rewitzer:
That as many parents as possible realize that it is very important for their children to get to school on their own. You learn to orientate yourself and find your way independently in traffic situations. On top of that, they gain social experiences. Of course, exercise and fresh air are also good for your health and a nice counterbalance to sitting in the classroom during lessons and doing homework at home.
And what do you say to parents who still bring their children by car?
Rewitzer:
We certainly don't want to put up a front or stigmatize people. There can always be a reason why a child is brought by car. There are also fears. But changes start with you. When it comes to general road safety, for example, more effort is needed from all sides. An example: We regularly appeal to parents to perhaps make themselves available as student guides. Resonance: almost zero. That's why student guides are also on site during the protests. Maybe there will be one or two people who are willing to help for half an hour every two weeks. sg
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