2024-03-21 12:00:51
Politicians argue about gender in schools. But how do those who are affected by it in their everyday working lives speak? Four teachers reveal their opinions on sensitive language.
Gendering in schools is already banned in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein. The Thuringian CDU wanted to achieve the same thing, but their bill narrowly failed in the state parliament in February. Markus Söder’s dream of gender-free schools in Bavaria will come true after a decision by his cabinet on Tuesday. Such a decision could also be made soon in Hesse.
While politicians argue heatedly about gender-sensitive language in schools, the public discussion often lacks the perspective of those who teach students every day and have to decide which form of communication to use: namely, teachers. At t-online, four of them have their say with their very different opinions.
Jürgen Steinke: I can’t imagine a ban on gender
“As I teach in the educational state of North Rhine-Westphalia (‘Talents grow here.’), gender-sensitive education is close to my heart. In addition, gender-sensitive education is required in all curricula in North Rhine-Westphalia. The use of gender-appropriate language is only one area. At our school , a vocational college, as far as I know, all colleagues are gendered. Gender is also anchored in the school’s correspondence, in the school program and in everyday life.
To person
Jürgen Steinke has been an employed teacher in North Rhine-Westphalia since 2002. He taught at a secondary school, a comprehensive school and a high school. He has been retired since August 2023, but continues to work as a teacher at a vocational college.
A vocational college combines the classic vocational school and various full-time school types. The qualifications range from secondary school leaving certificate to Abitur.
In all my areas of activity, I have been committed to gender-sensitive education and have also implemented it as a role model. The consistently positive feedback from students, parents and school management has encouraged me to do so. Since I am also active in the Education and Science Union (GEW), we will continue to fight for the implementation of gender-sensitive education. I can’t imagine a ban on gender in North Rhine-Westphalia.”
Karl Robert Theis: I support banning gender
“The new Hessian state government has a very clear CDU position on gender German in education and, according to the coalition agreement, will finally put this into the form of a binding regulation that will prohibit gender in schools – which I expressly support. Our school management has been using it for many years the double mention (e.g. students), myself the generic masculine (e.g. students) – if necessary with ‘(m/f/d)’.
In my language and writing lessons, my students use the generic masculine 100 percent of the time, including women. In the schoolyard you only hear the generic masculine. There are a few colleagues who give out work materials with an asterisk and a colon, but they are also familiar with the derisive names given by some students to this orthographically incorrect spelling as ‘idiot-inside-colon’ and ‘idiot-inside-star’.
To person
Karl Robert Theis is a CDU member and teacher at a Hessian vocational school. He teaches German, political science and religion. Because the t-online reader wants to remain anonymous, we have changed his name. His real name is known to the editors.
Otherwise, the special language, which is politically one-sidedly described as gender ‘sensitive’, plays no role at our school. The majority do not perceive it as gender-sensitive, but rather as politically one-sided. Every school year I distribute the recommendation of the German Spelling Council as clarification for my lessons. I would also mark it as a mistake in class work, but I’ve never had to do that because I’ve never been given a paper in gender German instead of standard German.”
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Susanne Thome: Does Germany have no other problems?
“In class, I try to address boys, girls and everything in between equally. Why not? It’s not much of a hassle for me and my people are all addressed equally – hopefully. If that’s not the case, then it’s probably not the case on gendering or non-gendering. Does Germany have no other problems than internal I or * or simply avoiding them? Does it hurt so much to speak in such a way that everyone feels included?
To person
Susanne Thome is a teacher at a secondary school plus. A secondary school plus is a combination of secondary and secondary schools.
On the other hand, we are not changing our still very patriarchal society by fighting over gender or non-gender. We should exempt gender and otherwise fight the roots of the evil: the contempt for women that is still present in many minds.”
Werner Wenzel: Our classes don’t care at all
“Gender is a big issue in North Rhine-Westphalia. Teachers – it used to be called teachers, then teachers, then teachers – are required to gender in all classes. We are encouraged to attend training courses on the topic of ‘gender-appropriate language’. Des The district governments also provide us with translation assistance.