Violent confrontation at school in Wahlstedt – parents worried!

Violent confrontation at school in Wahlstedt – parents worried!

One evening on June 24th, an incident occurred at the Poul Due Jensen School in Wahlstedt that reignited the discussion about violence in schools. There was a physical altercation around 7:15 p.m. when a 14-year-old pushed a security guard into a bush after an argument. A 33-year-old helper tried to intervene but was attacked by a 13-year-old who pulled him back and choked him. An ambulance had to come to assist the security officer on site. Borken newspaper reports on the police immediately filing a criminal complaint against the 14-year-old for bodily harm. The 13-year-old and another 12-year-old who was also involved in the incident are considered to be of criminal responsibility due to their age.

The city of Wahlstedt reacted immediately to the situation and banned the 12 and 13 year olds from entering the school grounds outside of school hours. Even if trespassing is suspected, it should be noted that the children cannot be prosecuted due to their lack of criminal capacity. What is worrying is that the two have previously been reported several times for trespassing on school grounds.

School reactions and social challenges

The state chairwoman of the Education and Science Union (GEW), Franziska Hense, expressed concern about the increasing violence in schools. She doesn't just see this as a school problem, but points to deeper social roots, such as division and social injustice. To counteract this, the GEW is calling for more staff in the education and youth welfare sector as well as better networking and protection mechanisms for children who become victims of violence.

Annette Grosse, the headmistress of the Poul Due Jensen School, confirmed that there had been threats against teachers in the past. However, she emphasized that the current incident did not take place within school grounds, which severely limits the school's scope for intervention. What can be done to prevent such incidents in the future?

Prevention of violence in schools

Preventing violence in schools should be at the top of the agenda. Safer City emphasizes that violence does not only occur in physical form, but is also characterized by verbal arguments and bullying. A comprehensive concept for violence prevention is essential. The school community – students, teachers, parents – must be actively involved in order to promote children’s social and communicative skills.

The North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Education already has recommendations for action on how to deal with harassment and threats. This includes reporting and blocking problematic accounts on social media or appointing trusted people to offer support to the affected child. These measures are particularly important in the context of cyberbullying, which is increasingly becoming an issue.

In conclusion, school violence is a complex problem that requires multifaceted responses. The developments in Wahlstedt are a further wake-up call that schools are not only educational institutions, but also protective spaces in which social skills and respectful interaction with one another must be promoted.