The rumors piled up on Wednesday. A nationwide school lockdown could already occur on Monday. Closing the classrooms again would have a dramatic impact on our youth.
Proponents of a school lockdown argue with the high seven-day incidence among six- to 14-year-olds, which was most recently around 2,500 per 100,000 inhabitants across Austria. Although a corona infection in children is usually very easy, there are fears that open schools could put the brakes on pandemic containment in lockdown. Both Education Minister Heinz Faßmann (ÖVP) and Vienna’s City Councilor for Education Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) have been speaking out in favor of keeping schools open for weeks. “It is very important that we do not exclude children from their social life again and do everything for open schools with face-to-face teaching,” says Wiederkehr. “With ‘everything gurgles’ we ensure that tests are carried out across the board at least twice a week at the schools in Vienna – this is how we control the infection rate and discover positive cases at an early stage.” to send in class, for example the clinical psychologist Caroline Culen, managing director of the Austrian League for Child and Adolescent Health: “Children and adolescents have already missed a number of developmental steps due to the pandemic,” she reports. But also about social factors. Such as young people’s striving for autonomy or the all-important circle of friends. ”Many families have come to the brink of resilience. Culen: “School used to be the greatest stress factor for young people. Now she is the greatest place she longs for! ”“ Krone ”comment from Anja Richter: Dispute about school closings on the back of the children“ The schools remain open! ”Health Minister Mückstein announced on Friday. And we parents breathed a sigh of relief. Only three school days later there was talk of locking up the children again. The group that has supported the measures in solidarity from the start. Who had to forego so many things in the last 20 months, what makes childhood and growing up. Close the apartment door, problem solved? The boys should pay for what caused the total political failure. The price for that? Children who are deprived of educational opportunities – especially those from socially disadvantaged families, fall behind significantly in homeschooling. Families who have reached their limits because they don’t know how to balance jobs and childcare; young people who lose hope and confidence. Psychologists report anxiety disorders, depression and self-harm. Yes, many children are corona positive. Most of them got infected in the unvaccinated family environment. Not in the classes where it is mandatory to wear a mask and where testing is carried out closely. And should a new school lockdown be the last word in wisdom? Hard to understand for parents!
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