School for sick children

Kathrin Rothfischer studied microbiology and genetics in Regensburg after an excursion into German studies. Presenting complex issues in an easily understandable way was her passion even then. That is why she turned this passion into a profession after graduating: After various positions in the medical specialist publishing house and in the public press, she finally found her journalistic home at

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Most children are happy when they don't have to go to school because of the flu or a cold. With chronic illnesses, however, it quickly becomes boring, especially if you only have to lie in bed all the time. In addition, the mountain of missed teaching material grows with every day absent. Many clinics therefore offer a teaching model for sick children who have to stay in hospital longer.

School at the bedside

There are "schools for the sick" in several federal states. All children and young people who cannot attend their home school for a long time due to illness or hospitalization can visit these. Regardless of whether it is a grammar school, elementary school, secondary school, or special school - pupils from all types of schools and grades are taken into account. Lessons take place individually or, if possible, in groups in the clinic's own classrooms. Depending on the state of health, there are three to five hours a day in the core subjects of German, English, French, Latin, math, physics and chemistry. If necessary, the teachers even come to the bedside of the young patients or to their home.

The digital classroom

In cases that require a particularly flexible lesson structure, the pupils can also use video conferencing and receive the lessons from their home school digitally. Cameras and the Internet bring the classroom directly to the bedside. With the help of special software, the pupils can switch on at any time to ask or answer questions. This enables them to take an active part in the classroom and, at least for a short time, to escape the isolation caused by illness.

Create a piece of normality

Children and adolescents who suffer from a chronic illness, are traumatized by accidents or major operations, or regularly miss school due to psychological problems, need a bit of normalcy. Not only are the health problems a burden, there is also the fear of missing the connection and no longer being able to keep up with classmates. The aim of the school for the sick is to continue the previous education of the students so that they can later be integrated into the old class without great difficulty.

More than just imparting knowledge

In addition to imparting knowledge, the teachers who come from the normal state school service also have other tasks. You work closely with the doctors and help the children to understand the disease better and to reduce fears. They are also available to advise schoolchildren and parents, work with them to develop solutions for school problems or future prospects for the time after the hospital stay. The individual needs of the students are always in the foreground. Pedagogical skills alone are not enough. In addition to empathy, educators at the school for the sick must also have psychological skills. Because every child deals with their illness differently.

Improve educational opportunities

There are "schools for the sick" at many clinics in Germany. Information about the respective offer can be obtained directly from the local hospitals. The project is also gaining more and more supporters across Europe.The Hospital Organization of Pedagogues in Europe (HOPE) is an association in which teachers from "schools for sick people" from many European countries have come together. The aim of HOPE is to further improve the educational opportunities of chronically or seriously ill children and adolescents.

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