Teachers Sound the Alarm in Germany: Children Can’t Hold a Pencil
Nearly 1,100 teachers in Germany have revealed the country’s growing education crisis through a striking open letter highlighting serious developmental and learning delays among primary school children. According to the teachers, many children cannot hold a pencil correctly, tie their shoes, or even use the toilet independently.
The Education and Science Workers’ Union (GEW), to which the teachers belong, emphasized in its resolution that children are increasingly unable to meet the basic requirements of schooling. The report noted significant deficiencies in many students’ language development, concentration, willingness to make an effort, adherence to rules, and basic motor skills such as cutting and gluing. The five-page letter details the situation teachers face: many children do not know how to use toilet paper, change their clothes, sit upright for extended periods, listen attentively, or ask questions. According to teachers, families are not spending enough time with their children; many parents reportedly spend more time on their phones.
The union called for the appointment of more social workers and psychologists in primary schools, limiting class sizes to 20 students, and creating new professional support mechanisms to reduce the burden on teachers.