Violence at schools in MV: Teachers demand effective prevention!

Violence at schools in MV: Teachers demand effective prevention!

In recent years, school violence has become a serious issue, particularly in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where incidents have increased sharply, according to the Ministry of Education. A look into the sports hall at the University of Rostock shows how teachers are actively fighting against this stressful situation. Numerous teachers train here in self-defense courses in order to better prepare for everyday school life. Among them is Sandra Pfeiffer, who reports from her own experience that violence is not uncommon in her teaching profession. “After my traineeship, I had to experience some situations that I would never have thought possible,” she explains, addressing an alarming problem. The number of reportable incidents has more than doubled since 2018, according to the report from ostsee-zeitung.de.

In the last school year, there were 717 cases of violence among students and 321 against teachers in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, which corresponds to an average of around six incidents per day. Björn Schultz, an anti-violence trainer who leads the self-defense training, notes ever-increasing pressure on teachers. Many of them feel helpless and marginalized because the relevant authorities do not treat the problem with the seriousness it deserves. This uncertainty and constant stress means that teachers like Pfeiffer and her colleagues have even had to apply for transfers in order to escape violent environments.

Growing concern and lack of support

The problem is not local. According to a survey by statista.com, almost 50% of teachers in Germany have observed violence among students. The increase in crime among young people, particularly assault and theft, is alarming. The education report shows that over 12% of 15-year-olds experience bullying several times a month, highlighting the urgency of preventive measures.

The Ministry of Education emphasizes that the protection of teachers and students is anchored in law, but they are responsible for implementing protection concepts themselves. Teachers criticize that they often lack the time and personal support for this. A look at violence prevention courses during college shows that many are not adequately prepared to deal with violent students.

The image of violence and the reactions

A look at current statistics reveals that other federal states are also fighting the same wave of violence in schools. In Saxony, for example, there were more acts of violence in the first quarter of 2023 than in the entire year of 2019. A survey by the Philologists' Association of North Rhine-Westphalia shows that 76% of teachers at comprehensive schools have been victims of violence in the last three years. The most common cases involve verbal and physical attacks, bullying and damage to property, which put a significant strain on the learning and teaching environment.

There are many discussions about the causes. Experts like forum-verlag.com point to overcrowding in classes, inadequate help for teachers and external factors such as world crises and family conflicts as potential triggers. In addition, reports show that cyberbullying is perceived as a growing problem as children and young people begin to network earlier and earlier.

The majority of respondents want more anti-violence training in schools, with over 80% of parents calling for this in 2022. It remains to be hoped that both schools and educational policy will change their thinking and take effective measures to prevent violence.