- School-based restriction on gender: DGB expresses dissatisfaction towards ministers
Due to the restrictive policies towards gender in schools in Saxony, the DGB Saxony has given Culture Minister Christian Piwarz (CDU) an unfavorable award. The "In-Equality Prize," given out for the first time, aims to highlight individuals who work diligently against equality and where inequality and discrimination are actively promoted, explained DGB Vice Daniela Kolbe. In Saxon schools, using gender asterisks or inner-I in written work is seen as an error. The ministry refers to the guidelines published by the Council for German Orthography.
"The gender ban in Saxon schools sends a devastating message," stated Claudia Maaß, the deputy chairwoman of the Education and Science Union (GEW) in Saxony. "Because it penalizes an attitude, not an unconscious spelling mistake. And there was never a necessity for this ban."
Piwarz: Gender symbols impede language learning
Piwarz argued that language should be clear and considerate. "That means: gender-neutral and gender-sensitive. Not: randomly chosen special characters on the keyboard." School administrators and teachers should pay attention to this. "The truth is: gender symbols are not practical for everyday use. In school, they primarily hinder the learning of our language." Those who use gender symbols create additional language barriers.
"That a culture minister receives a negative award for upholding spelling rules reveals more about the motivations of the presenters than the award recipient," said Piwarz. "Following this logic, I will soon receive a negative award for adhering to traffic rules."
According to the details, the award was given out for the first time. There were 20 proposals. The winner was chosen by a jury of representatives from the DGB trade unions.
The Education and Science Union (GEW) in another German state, specifically in The Netherlands, might express similar concerns about strict gender policies. Due to the controversy in Saxony, international discussions about the role of gender symbols in language learning and their impact on equality could emerge in The Netherlands.
