Student hits teacher – principal says: “It’s getting worse”

The new school year started six weeks ago. But the problems and challenges remain the same. The situation remains tense, especially in compulsory schools. This is also evident from a recent survey by the teachers’ union among some of the 100 compulsory schools in Vienna, we reported.

The headmistress of a secondary school talks to the “Krone” about the tough daily life in her job. She would like to remain anonymous. The fear of consequences and reprisals is too great. More than 800 children and young people receive lessons at their location, in a neighborhood with a particularly large number of migrants. Between 80 and 85 percent of all students here do not have German as their mother tongue.

“Arab communities pose a challenge”
The director reports that there are always difficulties, especially with Syrian families. Usually they don’t speak German at all. “The Arab communities are a real challenge for us at the moment,” said the director. Immigration has always existed, but this is something completely different. A video interpreter is also required for every conversation with parents. But who bears the costs for this? The Education Directorate refers to the Ministry of Education. At the request of “Krone”, no exact figures can be given.

Then the woman, who previously worked as a teacher for 27 years, describes a particularly egregious case. There is a 13-year-old boy at her school who is only in the first grade. Everyone suffers from it: classmates, parents, teachers and therefore also the climate in the classroom. He was already showing his ten-year-old classmates mobile videos with pornographic content.

First division (13) suspended for the third time
This exact man is currently suspended for the third time, for four weeks. A few days ago he insulted a teacher, followed by a physical attack. “If it had only been insulting, it wouldn’t have been enough for a suspension. The school is getting worse and worse,” says the director.

Tomorrow you will read more about the staff shortage, the role of parents and suggestions for improvement.

Reality has caught up with the Viennese schools
Children reenact executions in the classroom. A teacher forbids reading from the Bible out of respect for people of a different faith. And then a mother gives her child’s primary school teacher a burqa. In still other classes, it is no longer possible to think about organized lessons when a story features domestic pigs – or a rainbow. Entire pages could be filled.

These are reports from classes in Vienna – from teachers who are actually committed to teaching and transmitting knowledge to our children. But they increasingly face such grievances. If you report about it, you often receive heavy criticism. Teachers are called ‘liars’. Many are silent. The fear of reprisals from parents and from within their own ranks is too great. It is the Crown’s job to listen and protect these courageous teachers.

Some teachers still dare to step in front of the curtain, such as school director Christian Klar from Floridsdorf or ‘Krone’ columnist Susanne Wiesinger. Both no longer want to remain silent about the grievances at schools. An interview about the publication of his book makes it clear: “We need rules and must have the courage to separate those who disrupt the system from regular schools. And it’s not just a matter of violence. A large proportion of children do not meet the school readiness criteria. Many cannot tie shoes or hold a pen.”