The recent severe winter weather gripping Germany has prompted stark warnings from emergency services regarding public safety, while simultaneously sparking debate about the potential for widespread school closures. Hermann Schreck, Vice President of the German Firefighters’ Association, cautioned citizens against venturing into forested areas due to the significant risk posed by unstable trees and falling branches weighed down by heavy snowfall. In an interview with the “Rheinische Post”, Schreck emphasized the dangers of seemingly harmless woodland walks, advising avoidance of forests and avenues altogether during periods of intense snowfall.
Beyond the immediate risk of falling debris, Schreck also stressed the ongoing hazards associated with frozen bodies of water. He urged extreme caution when approaching frozen lakes and ponds, highlighting indicators of unsafe ice – including cracking, noticeable water seepage and unusual noises – as definitive reasons to remain off the surface, particularly when a layer of snow obscures the ice’s condition. Individuals should only access ice surfaces officially deemed safe by local authorities.
The debate surrounding safety measures extends to the realm of education. Stefan Düll, President of the German Teachers’ Association, has publicly voiced his opposition to a nationwide suspension of in-person schooling. While acknowledging the challenging conditions, Düll argues that remote learning should be reserved for exceptional emergency situations, as outlined in “Rheinische Post”. He emphasized the disruption that a widespread shift to online learning would cause and questioned the effectiveness of a blanket decision.
Düll further highlighted the decentralized nature of educational governance in Germany. He explained that the responsibility for determining school closures rests with local municipalities and the education ministries of individual states, allowing for nuanced responses tailored to regional conditions. School principals retain the authority to independently implement closures and parents are empowered to keep their children home and notify schools of their decision if they perceive the commute to be unduly hazardous. This diffusion of responsibility, while intended to allow for localized decisions, has also drawn criticism, with some questioning the consistency of safety protocols across the country.