Vienna (OTS) – During a press conference today, Education Minister Martin Polaschek rejected the demand of Vienna’s Vice Mayor and City Councilor for Education Christoph Wiederkehr, according to which parents who do not care about their children’s educational success and who refuse to attend parent-teacher meetings at schools should be subject to administrative penalties.
The Vienna City Councilor for Education expressed surprise in a reaction: “Putting our heads in the sand will not solve the problem we see. If students are prone to violence, bullying or homophobia and their parents are not interested in this, there must ultimately be the possibility of punishment. “I would have expected Education Minister Polaschek not to trivialize the problem, but rather for us to pull together across Austria to improve the situation in schools!” said Wiederkehr.
The Vienna City Council for Education refers to the violence protection package that Vienna as a federal state has already launched. For example, affected schools have the opportunity to access help from school social workers and external providers. In addition to additional time-out options, there are also mandatory discussions with parents in Vienna with the introduction of the violence protection package when students are suspended. However, without a change in federal law, it is not possible to impose administrative penalties for non-compliance with the obligation to talk; only child and youth welfare services can be called in. Wiederkehr once again points to the need for a national approach: “We are doing a lot in Vienna to put a stop sign up to violence. If parents refuse to talk to the schools when their children are suspended, it must ultimately also be possible to impose administrative penalties, especially if the parents also reject efforts through school social work,” says Wiederkehr in conclusion.
Questions & Contact:
Manfred Kling
Media spokesman for Vice Mayor Christoph Wiederkehr
Tel: 01/4000-83203
Mail: manfred.kling@wien.gv.at
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