After the shock at a secondary school in Eastern Styria, not only the colleagues of the 13-year-old who had threatened to go on a rampage are receiving psychological support. The student himself also receives professional support. The parents have given the green light, making it a premiere in Styria.
The 13-year-old Styrian cannot be held accountable in court; this would only be possible from the age of 14. This is how the violence and radicalization prevention coordination office comes into the picture of the education directorate. This has been offering social worker support for suspended students since the beginning of the current semester.
After the 13-year-old’s parents approved this measure on Friday, he is now the first Styrian to follow this program, confirms the office of State Councilor for Education Werner Amon (ÖVP).
Suspended for four weeks
In concrete terms, the boy will receive visits from a social worker several times a week from Monday until his suspension expires. In his case that is October 18, the maximum four weeks have been used up. In these times, the police must also contribute their prevention expertise in addition to social work.
As reported, a lot needs to be addressed: in addition to the threat to storm his school at gunpoint, images of child abuse and Nazi motifs were found on the youngster’s mobile phone. The prom was started by a classmate who reported the threats to his parents.
The Directorate of Education takes the incident “very seriously,” and State Councilor Amon emphasizes the measures taken for the first time in this case: The “dramatic incident” shows how important it is “that students are supported during the suspension.”
“Restore stability and willingness to learn”
The suspension support program was only presented at the beginning of September and is now being used for the first time in Styria. School psychologist Josef Zollneritsch describes the measure as “necessary to restore psychological stability and the willingness to learn.”
Since March, there has also been a new crisis intervention process for non-suspended students in problem situations. Since then, corresponding teams have been deployed 45 times to schools in Styria.
Source: Krone
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