Teacher discussion in Ichenhausen: Better conditions demanded!

Teacher discussion in Ichenhausen: Better conditions demanded!

Stable conditions are needed in everyday school life so that teachers can work optimally. The futurologist Max Thinius emphasized this at a meeting that recently took place in the Ichenhausen school district. Representatives of the BLLV Günzburg district association met with school councilors to discuss working conditions for teachers. Among the participants were six members of the district association and three school councilors, who spoke in particular about topics such as part-time work for teachers, increasing the number of hours and mobile reserves. The goal of the discussions was clear: to create a transparent and best possible working environment. [Augsburger Allgemeine](https://www.augsburger- Allgemeine.de/guenzburg/ichenhausen-bllv-guenzburg-im-dialog-mit-dem-schulamt-110594941) reports that the discussion initiative emerged from a retreat at the BLLV Günzburg, triggered by burning questions that teachers are currently dealing with.

The school councils were open to suggestions, although a balancing act is often necessary within the existing guidelines. Roland Grimm, the district chairman, and Thomas Schulze attached importance to finding viable solutions. “We have to include the BLLV’s suggestions in future decisions,” said Schulze. An agreement was also reached to continue the dialogue in order to continue improving working conditions.

Coffee culture at school

But it's not just the formal working conditions that are at issue; the informal aspects of everyday working life with colleagues also play a role. The coffee culture in schools is often an unwritten rule. What one person sees as a full-bodied coffee enjoyment, for another, is a daily stress factor. Many colleges have different systems - in some schools everyone brings their own coffee, while in others the tasks are distributed unevenly. A suggestion from a blog by Betzold shows that fairer distribution and open communication about coffee preparation in schools could be very helpful. Discussing problems, introducing a coffee fund or a plan to regulate responsibilities could help make the coffee culture more relaxed. Betzold also recommends maintaining the coffee machine regularly so that the coffee tastes right. Simply an important matter!

The demands on the quality of coffee are high in many teachers' rooms, because good coffee puts you in a good mood and gives you energy. Many people value the right coffee accessories such as sugar, sweetener or the right type of milk. These many small details help to promote cooperation in the teachers' room.

Challenges for the education system

However, the challenges in the education system go far beyond coffee. Professor Dr. Kai Maaz from DIPF makes it clear that the system is under considerable pressure, especially due to ongoing expansion and conversion measures as well as the acute shortage of skilled workers. The ongoing integration of refugees is seen as a permanent challenge. Considering that the national education report is produced every two years, it shows that educational offerings in Germany have increased by 46% in the last ten years, but education spending in relation to GDP has only increased by 0.2 percentage points, so one has to wonder where we are headed. DIPF also reports on the stagnating school performance: around 6.9% of young people leave school without a qualification. This casts a shadow over the future, especially for children from disadvantaged families who are disadvantaged in educational participation.

The tension in the education system is noticeable, and further dialogue is needed to find solutions that not only relieve the burden on teachers, but also provide the best possible support for classmates. The question arises as to how the rough diamond of education can be further polished so that a masterpiece ultimately emerges.