Protection for Germans

Principal introduces class for migrants only

In an elementary school, non-German-speaking children should be placed in a special class until they can speak enough German.

(Bild: stock.adobe.com)

A dispute has broken out in South Tyrol over the establishment of a special class for children with no knowledge of German at the Goethe School in Bolzano. The principal, who was acting on her own initiative, has now been stopped by politicians after an outcry of anger. But the problem with the differences in language level remains unsolved - even in Austria. Data shows how principals are avoiding German support classes.

The German-speaking Goethe School in Bolzano is located in the heart of the old town and has a good reputation. So good, in fact, that even Italian-speaking parents have been sending their children there for years to learn German faster and better. However, international refugee movements do not stop at the idyllic town. The proportion of pupils with a migrant background is increasing every year and, due to pressure and anger from parents, presents school administrators with difficult tasks.

At the beginning of this year's school year, principal Christina Holzer decided to act on her own initiative at the Goethe School: first-graders who do not speak German are to be placed in a separate class in order to teach the language and promote the basics. Children whose mother tongue is German would therefore not be restricted in their learning progress. That was enough to cause an outcry.