Psychological violence in schools – Canton of Zurich spreads offers of help for victims of bullying – News
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Violence often preoccupies teachers in schools. A social service is now also being introduced at Zurich high schools.
Youth violence has increased in the canton of Zurich for the sixth year in a row. The five youth prosecutors opened almost 6,000 criminal proceedings in 2021, almost 15 percent more than in the previous year. The main crime scene is public space, but not only. As a new study commissioned by the Zurich Department of Education shows, there is also frequent violence in schools – especially bullying.
According to the study, incidents of violence occur at all school levels, but more often at elementary school than at secondary level II. The survey also concludes that elementary schools are confronted with physical violence and vandalism, while teachers at secondary level II often observe psychological violence and self-harm .
Or to put it another way: In elementary school, according to the study, there are more fights in the playground, in middle school the problems of the students revolve around bullying on the Internet, the consequences are anorexia or the so-called scratching.
desire for additional support
Due to these incidents, schools and employees are reaching their limits. The teaching staff lack resources because they are already very busy with everyday school life. They also want easier access to help. Although many internal and external support programs are known, i.e. the study, there is still a lack of flexible advisory services.
The study therefore advises taking measures in several places to improve support for teachers and young people at Zurich schools:
- Support offers should be accessible quickly and easily: Some of the offers for violence prevention are available, but they are often fully booked. Help often comes very late. It therefore needs more staff and better structures in school social services.
- Climate affects mood: Mental health is central to a positive school climate. These should be experienced by the students. Mission statements and concepts should define how this is done.
- Checking the measures: Proven and new prevention offers not only have to be checked, but also made better known in schools. should also support affected schools in the implementation of the offers.
The canton of Zurich has now decided on the first measures. In fact, he is the first Swiss-German canton to introduce school social services in grammar schools. From this summer, a corresponding offer will be available at seven high schools, says Niklaus Schatzmann, head of the Zurich middle school and vocational training office – in the city of Zurich, for example at the Realgymnasium Rämibühl or at the Kanti Zurich North.
The school social service helps the children and young people to solve their problems. On the other hand, it is also the contact point for teachers. According to Schatzmann, 500 percent of the jobs were approved for the first seven high schools. The experiment, which will last 2.5 years, will cost around 2 million francs.
The aim is for cantonal secondary schools to have comprehensive school social work by 2024 – as is already the case in elementary schools. However, it is also certain that the education department is examining further measures against psychological violence and bullying in schools. A project group was formed specifically for this purpose.