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WORLD:
Mr. Jung, you are 19 years old and high school graduate - are you worried about your future?
David Jung:
Not about my own.
But that's because I'm lucky with my class.
We are only 16 people and have passed the material in the exam-relevant subjects.
But classes are twice as big elsewhere.
Many are lagging behind.
If distance learning continues there, the Abitur will be close.
David Jung is chairman of the Baden-Württemberg State Student Council
Source: David Jung
WORLD:
Because distance learning doesn't work well enough even after almost a year of experience?
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Jung:
Absolutely.
There is a certain routine, but it cannot be said of a smooth process.
What annoys me: We have been talking about the pent-up demand in terms of digitization for months, but instead of taking big steps, people tend to stumble in front of them.
WORLD:
The schools should remain closed until February 14th.
That’s eight weeks since mid-December.
How do the students see that?
Jung:
In fact, we hardly received any negative feedback.
The students understand that the infection does not allow it - especially when the situation becomes more explosive due to the mutation.
But: Just because we understand doesn't make the situation any better.
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WORLD:
Before the meeting of the federal and state governments on Tuesday, the possibility of a much tougher home office requirement for companies was discussed - but it remains with a vague regulation.
Do you think that's fair?
Jung:
I hear from my parents that there are exemplary companies that send their employees to the home office by themselves.
But as far as the regulations by politics are concerned, in my opinion there is a great imbalance between school and the world of work.
WORLD:
Experts warn that the school closings will have long-term consequences for educational biographies.
How big is the fear that your generation will be at a disadvantage in the long run?
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Jung:
It already exists.
I recently spoke to a former student who graduated from high school in the summer.
In order to study, she first has to do a recognition internship.
Because of Corona, she cannot find a place - so she cannot study.
And for the current age groups, too, there are no opportunities that have nothing to do with the lesson itself but serve as orientation, such as career fairs.
Or exchange and training programs that you could normally have attended.
However, my impression is that most students remain optimistic.
WORLD:
What about those who are not doing that well in school or students who have a learning disability?
Jung:
With the latter, it is of course fatal if the individual support is no longer available.
That is why they have had face-to-face classes in Baden-Württemberg over the past few weeks.
I don't know if that will change now.
Of course, it is also difficult for the other groups you address.
In some cases, they have less initiative.
At the same time, the pace has sometimes increased through distance learning.
These students run the risk of being left behind.
Because they may not come with you, don't want to say it, and the teacher won't notice.
WORLD:
Do you know any plans how learning content should be caught up?
Jung:
There is no plan for this in Baden-Württemberg - and, to the best of my knowledge, not anywhere else.
My impression right now is: Many ministries of culture indulge in the wishful thinking that in current distance learning the school material can be worked on just as well as in face-to-face teaching.
But one does not want to admit that this is not the case.
There is a certain degree of denial of reality.
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WORLD:
Is the student's voice heard enough?
Jung:
I heard from the federal student conference that it differs from country to country.
Things are not going so well here in Baden-Württemberg.
Normally, we are seen as an advisory body and, as the state student council, asked for a position on draft legislation.
Not once was it about Corona this year.
So we're just left out.
WORLD:
What does that mean in concrete terms?
Jung:
An example: the board of the regional student council meets personally with the minister of education once a year.
This meeting with Susanne Eisenmann (CDU) also took place this August, i.e. during the summer holidays.
At the time, we wanted to know what plans there were for hybrid lessons.
She made it clear to us that this was not an issue and that we should ask something else.
WORLD:
The hybrid lessons took place anyway.
Jung:
Yes, of course.
This is a pattern that annoys us student councils nationwide: Politicians stick to old structures and fail to prepare because they shy away from changing directions.
We could be much better off.
But the time was not used.
Our ideas are too quickly labeled as naive and too far removed from the status quo.
This is frustrating because creative ideas would be necessary.
WORLD:
The Prime Minister in your state, Winfried Kretschmann (Greens), announced during the press conference of Angela Merkel (CDU) that they do not want to fully adhere to the agreed closure.
Instead, the plan is to open primary schools from February 1st, if possible.
How do you see this announcement?
Baden-Württemberg is thinking about opening schools from the beginning of February
The decision by the federal and state governments to keep schools closed due to the corona pandemic has met with divided reactions.
Teachers' associations welcome the decision, but pediatricians are appalled.
Source: WELT / Sandra Saatmann
Jung:
I am not a virologist and cannot judge whether this is right or wrong with regard to the infection rate.
From an educational perspective, it would of course be good.
Primary school pupils cannot learn as independently as adolescents in secondary schools.
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WELT: In an
October interview with WELT, you spoke out against the use of masks in class.
What would be better: masks in class or distance learning?
Jung:
Definitely the masks.
Back then the infection process was different.
We also wanted to find other solutions than the mask, for example installing air filter systems.
By the way, nothing worth mentioning happened there.
WORLD: In
your opinion, should there be an additional voluntary year?
Jung:
Yes, there has to be a free shot year.
Usually repeating a school year is noted on the certificate.
That can't be the case this year.