" />
Post a Comment Print Share on Facebook

Children gärtler speak bad English, parents should pay

"We are Thurgau just unruly," says Urs Schrepfer and laughs. The sentence to the end of a long conversation, but in fact, the school principal and SVP in the

- 36 reads.

Children gärtler speak bad English, parents should pay

"We are Thurgau just unruly," says Urs Schrepfer and laughs. The sentence to the end of a long conversation, but in fact, the school principal and SVP in the Canton of parliamentarians finds the discussion not funny. On the contrary, As many of his Parliament colleagues, he feels misunderstood.

Schrepfer belonged to 2015 of the driving forces behind a Change in the Thurgau people's education act. At that time, the Parliament decided that parents do not have to co-Finance the teaching of German, if their Swiss-born children speak at kindergarten entry in the language of the country.

there is talk of a "collateral damage"

The decision caused a stir in the Eastern Swiss Canton: Four individuals filed suit and the Federal court gave them in 2017, with reference to article 19 of the Federal constitutional law. Therefore, primary education must be free of charge. The Leiturteil had far-reaching consequences: Until then, school municipalities in the whole of Switzerland had asked for contributions from parents for school camps or excursions. This practice was prohibited, effective immediately. A maximum of 16 Swiss francs per day – the amount the parents save because of the away meals for their children – are allowed costs of such programs since then.

In the Canton of Thurgau to speak across party lines as a "collateral damage". Suddenly the whole of Switzerland saw the school camps at risk of an unintended new Problem. Only the cost of linguistic Integration, the real concern is broad political circles in the Canton, were no longer an issue.

Many children affected

That should change now. And as of five years ago, as the Thurgauer revised with your – now – decision on the abolition of the early French triggered a language debate, it should be clarified, the question is now on the national level. The cantonal Parliament has adopted in January by a large majority a Motion that instructs the government with the initiative. The objective: The Federal Constitution should be put in perspective. Parents that care prior to school entry, too little Integration of their children should have to pay for the English lessons or for interpreters at parent-teacher interviews.

Figures from the Canton capital of Frauenfeld, show how widespread the language problems of children. There were in the year 2014 of the 480 kindergärt learning 166 (35 percent) for the teaching of German. Of these, 70 children (42 percent) had a Swiss passport, as school President, and SVP-member of the Parliament Andreas Wirth says. In Urs Schrepfers 7800 inhabitants of the municipality of Sirnach it were, by 2015, 75 percent of the German students, who were born in Switzerland or whose parents lived longer than ten years. "Of such families, one may expect that their children speak English," said Schrepfer.

school must be free of charge. to

The threat, for the teaching of German in the Kindergarten to pay, would show the effect, he is convinced. In Sirnach, twice as many children have the preschool language attended play group, as he threatened the parents with a cost-participation in Kindergarten. To him it is not the cost of a year of 180'000 francs for the teaching of German to a General Punishment of the foreigners, emphasizing Schrepfer. "Refugees and recently added the exception would be wandered." Rather, he wanted to fix avoidable language deficits of the children, which had often to the entire school career.

the two Motionäre Hanspeter Heeb (GLP) and Kilian Imhof (CVP) emphasize the "psychological effect". "The measure is a lever, in order to promote the Integration," says headmaster Imhof. And school President Heeb speaks of a "Disincentive that the school offers free language support, which would previously need to take place." The claim is also supported politically in width. Only in the ranks of SP, the Greens and the FDP, there was partial resistance.

Skeptical teachers Association President Beat W. Zemp. Lack of knowledge of the language were widely used, and it was a monumental failure, not learning the language of instruction before school entry. But: "The state initiative violates the equal two-fold against the Constitution: school must be free of charge. And no one shall be discriminated against because of his language." The right to education should remain the same for all children indivisible, regardless of the socioeconomic Status of the parents. In addition, Zemp holds such a clause in the Constitution is an arbitrary one. "We don't rules there also, with what are the motor skills of a child in the school."

Basel-city as a model

About German deficits school sue municipalities in other regions. At the cantonal level, however, there is no aggregated data on how often children are affected from a long time living in Switzerland for families, is the Director of education conference. In addition, the cantons have different rules for such cases.

As a pioneer in the Canton of Basel-city, the following applies: There is a selective Mandatory for "German before Kindergarten in 2013". The parents receive a one-year prior to kindergarten registration, a questionnaire, identified the need for funding. Visiting a preschool is a play group Language is required, are obliged to the parents by law to send your child to two half days per week there. The Canton assumes the cost. The parents are threatening fines of up to 1000 Swiss francs.

there is A legal obligation for the pre-school language teaching also knows of Lucerne for three years, Charles Vincent of the service people's education Agency says. Zurich, in contrast, no selective Mandatory. This was decided by the education Commission of the Kantonsrats the end of January Because a lot more children would be affected as in Basel-city, the cost would be too high. Also, for Bern, where the Canton is supporting the early language support financially, in accordance with the education Directorate is not an Option. In the Canton of Thurgau, however, the leading policy-makers now parallel to the desired amendment to the Constitution. "I'm going to pursue this effective measure is politically safe," says Andreas Wirth.

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 12.02.2019, 06:40 PM

Avatar
Your Name
Post a Comment
Characters Left:
Your comment has been forwarded to the administrator for approval.×
Warning! Will constitute a criminal offense, illegal, threatening, offensive, insulting and swearing, derogatory, defamatory, vulgar, pornographic, indecent, personality rights, damaging or similar nature in the nature of all kinds of financial content, legal, criminal and administrative responsibility for the content of the sender member / members are belong.