Rathenow – The Brandenburg Ministry of Education has suspended a school principal from duty who had opposed the mask requirement in his Rathenow elementary school. The man said in a letter to his parents last Wednesday that he did not feel bound by this legal requirement, the ministry said on Monday. “He was clearly acting unlawfully.”
Since Monday, the regulation on the obligation to wear a mask indoors has also been implemented at the elementary school in Rathenow (Havelland), except in class.
In addition, the school principal had explained to employees of the education authority that he was not bound by the instructions of his superior and no longer felt obliged to take his oath as a civil servant, the ministry said. Therefore, disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against him. The deputy headmistress took over the official business until further notice.
Several dozen people demonstrated in front of the elementary school on Monday against the headmaster’s suspension. Because the rally had not been registered, the police took reports on Monday for violating the assembly law, said a spokeswoman for the West Police Department.
The Association of Towns and Municipalities spoke of an isolated case. The association appealed to parents in the country to equip their children with masks for school attendance.
Parents also refuse to wear a mask
There are a larger number of parents who refused to wear a mask for their children, said Vice President Thomas Zenker on Monday. “According to the regulation, we would have to send the children home without masks,” he warned. “Because we don’t want that, the school authorities have already bought masks for these students.”
Managing director Jens Graf appealed to everyone involved to be aware of their responsibility. The community federation thinks it is right that the schools have returned to normal lessons. “Everyone has to work to ensure that the rules are adhered to,” he emphasized. “The start of school went well even with some jerking.”
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