Student's Command: Touch affirmatively, speak negatively

In a surprising turn of events, it has been revealed that the central voice of 7.5 million students in the country is not consulted or involved in decisions about school topics. This is according to Quentin Gärtner, secretary-general of the umbrella organization of student representatives, who has been vocal about the disregard of youth concerns by the federal government.

Gärtner's criticism extends to the expert commission discussing a ban on mobile phones on school grounds or age limits for social media use, where children and youth are not involved. He believes that students are structurally neglected by the state and society, a sentiment echoed by the Federal Student Conference.

The advocacy of children and youth for age-appropriate media education and the promotion of AI skills in schools is a new issue that has not been previously mentioned. However, the lack of teaching staff for further training in these areas is a challenge that has recently come to light. The financial argument that debt and high social spending are bad because future generations will pay for it is a common one, but it seems that addressing the lack of personnel is essential to ensuring a brighter future.

The practice of speaking about others in the third person, particularly when discussing children's issues, is prevalent in political debates. Yet, it is crucial to involve students in discussions about their education, as in some cases, they are teaching their teachers more about AI and media competencies than the other way around.

Modern didactic concepts are hardly implementable in teaching due to the outdated understanding of students' roles. Gärtner believes that lesson plans should be oriented towards students' needs, not just cramming. The Federal Student Conference has highlighted this need, pointing out that even though a special fund for infrastructure exists, well-known daily issues in schools remain unaddressed.

In the current political and educational landscape, it seems that the voices of students are often overlooked. However, the advocacy of children and youth for a more inclusive and progressive education system offers hope for a future where every student's voice is heard.