The teaching swimming pool at the Pestalozzi School in Hartha must close!

The teaching swimming pool at the Pestalozzi School in Hartha must close!

What's going on in Hartha? The city administration has decided to close the teaching pool at the Pestalozzi School, and that is anything but a reason to celebrate. The pool, which has existed since the 1960s and is located in the school's basement, has long been an important place for students to learn the basics of swimming. But now it is time for a thorough inspection, which has been made necessary by technical and structural defects, as the responsible city councilors say. Mayor Ronald Kunze has announced that he will examine the economic viability of continued operation and is considering possible investments in order to be able to comply with legal regulations. These could then be planned for in the budget for 2026/27, according to [Sächsische.de](https://www.saechsische.de/lokales/mittelsachsen/hartha/lehrschwimmabad-in-der-pestalozzischule-in-hartha-muss-gesperrt- Werden-BOLG5GGFERG2HKFQQRJXF2JGH4.html).

The swimming lessons held in the pool took place once a week to teach the children the basic movements of swimming. There was even baby swimming, which was offered four times a week. The pool was also used for rehabilitation sports. The only bright spot: The courses that have already started can still be carried out until they are completed, while the Harthaer and Gersdorf elementary school students have to learn to swim in the outdoor pool in Geringswalde or Leisnig during the closure.

Safety in the water – a perennial issue

Teaching swimming pools like the one in Hartha are often the first port of call for children learning to swim in school sports. Such pools offer the advantage that they are safer than non-swimmer pools with a transition to swimmer pools. The maximum water depth in teaching and non-swimmer pools is 1.35 m, which ensures a certain level of safety for lessons with non-swimmers, as [sichere-schule.de](https://www.sichere-schule.de/schwimmhalle/ Becken/lehr-nichtschwimmer Becken) explains. However, it is essential to mark these pools well so that parents and children know where the deep areas are.

Proper training in swimming skills is now more relevant than ever. After moving on to secondary school, many children often cannot swim safely, which increases the risk of swimming accidents. Swimming lessons should therefore teach basic skills such as breathing, diving and gliding in a safe environment. It is important that students also develop an understanding of bathing and behavior rules to protect themselves and others in the water, as emphasized on Dguv-lug.de.

The future of the teaching pool

Whether and when the teaching swimming pool at the Pestalozzi School can be reopened is still up in the air. The Hartha main office manager, Antje Winkler, is holding discussions with those responsible to plan the next steps. In the meantime, children who really want to learn to swim have the option of using the outdoor pools in the area. It remains to be hoped that in the future both safety standards will be increased and the swimming ability of children in the region will be promoted.