Teachers' organization voices opposition to pupils attending worldwide climate protest
In a recent development, the German Teachers' Association (DL) and the CDU Economic Council have expressed contrasting views on student participation in the global climate strikes.
DL President Heinz-Peter Meidinger has suggested that signs against climate change could be displayed in schools without weakening lessons. He also advocates for engaging children and young people in school working groups, actions in lessons, and school debates regarding climate change. However, Meidinger questions if school-free leave would be granted for all political actions, not just climate strikes.
On the other hand, Wolfgang Steiger, General Secretary of the CDU Economic Council, believes Germany needs market-based instruments for climate protection, not ideological slogans. Steiger argues that even if all demands of radicals were implemented, it would have no influence on the world climate. He also criticizes student participation in the Global Climate Strikes, viewing it as problematic and questioning the educational value of absences from school for political protests.
The CDU Economic Council, led by Steiger, demands a market-based CO2 price, emissions trading as the leading instrument for climate protection, and a reduction of the electricity tax in Germany to the European average level. They criticize the climate strike as a waste of time and hostile to innovation. The Council does not support granting school-free leave for all political actions, unlike Meidinger's stance.
Meidinger, however, suggests leniency in punishing climate strikers from schools, requiring them to make up missed lessons. He believes that political neutrality of the state is at risk due to the strike.
These differing opinions highlight a significant divide between the German Teachers' Association and the CDU Economic Council on how best to approach climate change education and activism in schools.
