Cologne replaces playground – celebrity Pocher expresses outrage!

Cologne replaces playground – celebrity Pocher expresses outrage!

There is currently a lot of discussion in Cologne about a controversial project. The city administration plans to replace the term “playground” with “play and activity area”. This should happen as part of efforts towards inclusion, such as Werra Rundschau reported. There are over 700 playgrounds in Cologne whose signage should be changed accordingly. But the plan has already sparked heated debate.

The well-known comedian Oliver Pocher was critical of the proposal in his Instagram story. With an ironic comment, he stated that with the abolition of the term “playground” “law and order” would finally prevail. It makes you dizzy when you look at the reactions to this project. Mayor Henriette Reker admitted that the significance of this change may not have been sufficiently recognized. She now plans to submit the proposal to the city council for a vote to clarify further steps.

Inclusion in focus

The term inclusion doesn't just mean what happens on the playgrounds. Rather, it is also of central importance in education. If they suspect special needs needs, parents should report this when registering their children at primary schools. As the City of Cologne explained, an application can be made to examine the need for special educational support via the primary school. If the decision is positive, the child will be enrolled at a primary school with “common learning” or can also be registered directly at a special school.

The discussion about inclusion is also reflected at the societal level. According to the Federal Agency for Civic Education It is now essential to offer everyone a high-quality school, regardless of their social or economic background. Exclusion, as dealt with by special schools, is considered a violation of basic human rights. Germany is involved in a debate that goes beyond the mere school system.

The challenges of inclusion

Inclusion not only requires changing signage in Cologne, but also extensive resources in many other places. Funding in the education system is sometimes considered to be too low, which makes inclusion difficult in practice. In countries with common school models, it is also shown that longer schooling times and greater investment in education can lead to better results. In Germany, where more than 6% of learners did not achieve a qualification in 2019, these questions are particularly explosive.

A political solution seems necessary to remedy these deficits and to anchor inclusive ideas in education and beyond. Social origin, migration status and many other factors play a role when it comes to equal opportunities. Inclusive education must also bring people with and without disabilities together to create shared learning and development spaces.

It remains to be seen how the discussion about the implementation of the play and activity areas in Cologne and inclusion in education will develop. One thing is certain: the topics are closely linked and affect not only the city, but society as a whole.