The Rights of the Child: The Actual Situation in German Schools

Rott, David; Bertels, Daniel

Abstract

There is consensus on the importance of respecting children’s rights, particularly within the school environment. Children’s rights are implemented differently across countries. This article examines the current status of children’s rights in the German school system. However, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is often only partially implemented in everyday schooling and educational work in Germany. This overview describes the integration of children’s rights into the German school system and their consideration in the domains of protection, promotion, and participation. Studies in the respective areas and school-based implementation options are presented. The article offers recommendations for teachers and stakeholders, as well as for education policy and administration. The overarching objective of these recommendations is to support a balance between schools’ legal obligation to implement children’s rights and teachers’ role as duty bearers in that implementation.