Alarming violence at schools in North Rhine-Westphalia: students and teachers in danger!

Alarming violence at schools in North Rhine-Westphalia: students and teachers in danger!

The increasing violence in German schools, especially in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), has reached alarming proportions. According to recent reports, 12% of fourth graders in elementary schools report being spanked at least once a week. These acts of violence are not only directed against students, but also affect teachers and parents. Our Central Europe emphasizes that schools act as a mirror of society and thus reflect the increasing experiences of violence.

The Ministry of Schools and Education of North Rhine-Westphalia (MSB NRW) has responded to this problem and published a guide on the topic of “experiences of violence in schools”. The document consists of 15 pages and addresses, among other things, cyberbullying. According to reports from teachers, incidents of insults, schoolyard fights and targeted violence were documented. The guide is intended to help ensure the confidence in action for school administrators, teachers and other school employees who are often under pressure to deal with such situations.

Recommendations for teachers

The guide provides various recommendations for affected teachers, including mental health first aid and introspection. It emphasizes that teachers should seek shelter or flee in violent situations. Acute danger should be averted, for example, through so-called “stop, stop” calls and energetic body language. Focused attention on your surroundings can also be helpful in order to remove yourself from the danger zone and not provoke people. Violence has no place in schools and the safety of everyone involved must be the top priority.

The ministry also emphasizes that schools must create safe spaces for everyone involved. Therefore, prevention programs are crucial. Last year, a major digital event to prevent violence in schools took place to draw attention to the importance of these topics. The guide also refers to existing materials, such as the “Look and Act” emergency folder, which is intended to support schools in reviewing their security concepts.

Prevention is key

Educational researchers such as Tillmann and Holtappels emphasize the need for a comprehensive strategy for school prevention work. This includes establishing rules and setting boundaries in order to maintain the school as a place of physical integrity. A unified consensus among teachers about how to respond to rule violations is crucial. The learning culture also plays a role, as student-oriented lessons with a connection to everyday life are necessary in order to reduce violent behavior. A lack of support efforts is often identified as a factor in student violence.

In addition, the social climate in schools is closely linked to acts of violence. Positive relationships between students and teachers are essential to enable safe learning. School facilities should also be expanded into district centers to promote social activities among young people. Collaboration with family and youth welfare services is necessary to enable a holistic view of the problem.

In conclusion, the rise in violence in schools requires an urgent response from educational institutions. It is important to implement both practical recommendations for dealing with immediate experiences of violence and basic prevention measures to ensure that schools are safe spaces for all students and teachers. Information that shows both the challenges and the possible solutions can be found at School Ministry of North Rhine-Westphalia and Schulische Violence Prevention.