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Disturbing children should again be taught in separate classes. This requires an initiative in Basel.
Basel-Stadt was a pioneer canton in integrative schooling. But now many teachers have had enough and want to go back to the old system with remedial classes – at least in part. Children with behavioral problems should be able to be taught in separate classes again in the future. This is required by the professional association of Basel teachers, the Basel-City Volunteer School Synod (FSS). The FSS wants to achieve the goal with a popular initiative that was launched a few days ago.
Remarkable: The reintroduction of support classes would also be supported by teachers who have so far clearly supported the system of integrative schools, says Marianne Schwegler, Vice President of the FSS.
Too exhausting
The reason for the teachers’ change of heart is the permanently high level of stress that comes from the students with behavioral problems. This affects the whole class, especially the affected teacher: “More and more teachers are reaching their limits. This worries us and we are convinced that if you don’t act now, it will have a negative impact on the health of the teachers.”
We are convinced that if you don’t act now, it will have a negative impact on the health of teachers.
In a survey by the FSS, 70 percent of the teachers spoke out in favor of expanding separate classes, meaning that students who repeatedly disrupted classes should be taught in special classes.
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According to the professional association FSS, three to four children in a class show severe behavioral problems or learning difficulties. They should be able to be separated faster.
key stone
The situation has gotten worse in recent years, says Schwegler. There are now sometimes three or four children in a class with severe behavioral problems or with learning difficulties. If a class group no longer works properly because individual children demanded too much attention, the high-performing ones might be able to cope, says Schwegler. However, she worries about those students in the middle, between these two groups. “Because the teacher has to concentrate on just a few, others go under and miss the boat.”
Authorities want to stick to the current model
Basel-Stadt has promoted the integrative school model in recent years like no other canton. 15 years ago, around eight percent of Basel’s children attended a remedial class or special school. Today it is only two percent, i.e. four times less.
Basically, we want to stick to the previous model. The goal remains integration.
Urs Bucher, head of the elementary school in the canton of Basel-Stadt, also notes that more children are now being diagnosed with behavioral problems than just a few years ago. At the same time, Bucher emphasizes that there are still separate offers in Basel. Despite the challenges, they want to stick to the current system.
Overall, the integrative school works well, Bucher notes. Does the Basel Education Department take the concerns of the teachers too little seriously? “Today’s model is certainly a challenge,” says Bucher; a challenge that must be accepted. “It is crucial which attitude we present from the authority, which the school management shows and how this attitude is worked on in a college.” Integration can only succeed if the attitude is appropriately developed.
Bucher does not want to go into detail at the moment as to how the education department actually stands on the remedial class initiative. The democratic process has only just started.