After the killing spree in Graz: Lower Austria's schools start security offensive

After the killing spree in Graz: Lower Austria's schools start security offensive

After the tragic killing spree at a high school in Graz, in which ten people lost their lives, Lower Austria's State Councilor Christiane Teschl-Hofmeister has announced a comprehensive information campaign. This information offensive is part of a number of measures that aim to better prepare schools in the region for potential crisis situations. As vienna.at , all schools in Lower Austria are provided with an overview of aid and support offers.

protective measures and security

The planned measures are based on intensive coordination talks between politics, the education department, the state police directorate, school psychology and the youth red cross. It is emphasized that despite all the prevention measures, no 100 % security can be guaranteed; Nevertheless, the feeling of security in schools should be strengthened. A respectful handling and a positive school culture are crucial to avoid escalations.

In the current school period, 61 bomb threats have already been processed in schools. These incidents were dealt with professionally in close cooperation between the police and the educational authorities. In Germany, too, the killing runs in schools are reminiscent of how important preventive action is. According to WDR there have been a total of 15 gear since 2000, with North Rhine-Westphalia recorded most of them.

crisis management in schools

In order to be able to handle crises such as amotlets adequately, schools need a functioning crisis team. This recommend not only educational experts, but also the criminal psychologist Karoline Roshdi. The use of such teams was developed after the killing spree of Erfurt 2002 and now exists as the standard in various federal states. In some regions such as Bavaria and Hamburg, crisis teams are even mandatory, while they are only recommended in North Rhine-Westphalia.

A new "Guide to deal with violence incidents" was sent to the schools in North Rhine-Westphalia in order to provide school management instructions. In prevention, it is particularly the school psychologists who play a key role. They offer support not only in acute crisis situations, but also in aftercare to provide long-term help affected, as is listed in the concept of school crisis management in Rhineland-Palatinate. The approach includes three phases: crisis prevention, crisis intervention and crisis care ( Education.rlp.de ).

The appeals to strengthen crisis management structures and to sensitize warning signals are unmistakable. Schools must remain on security that are well prepared in an emergency and in which students can feel safe to express their fears and worries.