Children who hurt themselves or don’t have a school bag because their parents are poor and primary school students who have difficulty with motor skills such as climbing stairs because of the amount of time they spend on their mobile phone – two social workers talk about their work in Austrian schools.
Trouble rains on Stefan Hönlinger (53) and Anita Großschartner (45) all day long, and in exceptional cases even they can shed a tear at the end. For example, if a child tearfully says, “My father died in an accident this weekend.” Yet they enjoy their work. “Because we can make a difference,” says Hönlinger.
The two are school social workers in Steyr. Every day you are assigned to a primary or secondary school and you are the first point of contact for children, teachers and parents. “When I tell primary school children that I am a social worker, they naturally think: what is that?” The 45-year-old then explains to the six to ten year olds: “It’s about feelings. For example, are you ever sad or angry? Then you can contact us.”
“Cat scratched my school bag”
The two social workers are usually approached by teachers because they notice that a child constantly comes to class without a snack, with clothes that are too small or without a school bag at all. Hönlinger and Großschartner then try to find out why. That is not that easy because it is embarrassing for the children, says the 45-year-old. For example, out of shame they claimed that their cat scratched their school bag.
In reality, such cases are usually due to the parents’ money problems. “We try to help the children express what is bothering them,” Hönlinger explains. “We also approach parents.” For example, the 53-year-old recently helped a family apply for social benefits, easing their financial problems.
Children have problems climbing stairs
There are a total of 62 full-time jobs for school social workers in Upper Austria. This is not sufficient to provide comprehensive care; Social workers are present in approximately 250 of the 800 compulsory schools. The problems are diverse, but a trend is noticeable: “The pressure on families has increased,” says Hönlinger. In addition to inflation, this is partly due to the Covid pandemic and the ubiquitous smartphone.
“The motor skills suffer,” says Großschartner. “Primary school students sometimes have problems using scissors or even climbing stairs. You just notice that they are not on the playground that often anymore.” The children also find it increasingly difficult to resolve disputes. The virtual world on their mobile phone makes them practice less with real social contacts.
Why young people cut themselves
For older children, self-harm also occurs. “Cutting starts from the age of twelve, more often in girls than in boys – to attract attention, to fit in or because of psychological problems,” says Hönlinger.
School social work is a difficult job; the closer you look, the more problems the children encounter. Not all of them can be solved, but many can be solved: “I once had a man who played competitive sports,” says Großschartner. “His trainer told him he needed to lose weight for a certain weight class, so the kid starved himself. We called in the parents and a doctor and resolved the matter.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
