New regulation

Points deducted for gendering in Saxon schools

(Bild: stock.adobe.com/regine schöttl)

The use of gender-neutral language in written form is not recommended by the German Spelling Council, as counter-gendered writing can impair the comprehensibility of texts. Acceptance of the topic is also steadily declining. In several German federal states, there is even a gender ban in schools, universities and public authorities. In Saxony, points will be deducted from the coming school year.

In 2021, the German Spelling Council reaffirmed its view that "all people should be met with gender-equitable language and addressed sensitively. However, this is a social and socio-political task that cannot be solved with orthographic rules and spelling changes alone". In four out of 15 German federal states, the use of gender asterisks, underlining etc. is prohibited - with reference to the assessment of the Spelling Council.

In Saxony in eastern Germany, the regulation is now being tightened further. From the coming school year, gendered text passages in schoolwork, tests and homework will no longer be counted as errors. Points will also be deducted for this.

Greens: "Ban policy on the backs of young people"
The Greens in Chemnitz consider the new regulations in schools to be wrong and regressive. "The further tightening of the gender ban in Saxon schools is an ideological ban policy on the backs of young people," said Chairwoman Coretta Storz indignantly in an interview with the radio station mdr.

(Bild: Frank Lambert/stock.adobe.com)

The German Teachers' Association takes a somewhat more differentiated view. In a statement issued last year, it said, among other things, that teachers should "adhere to the official regulations" in official letters. However, they should be "tolerant and cautious" with pupils.