“If headscarves are banned in Austria, I will go to Syria.”
A new headscarf ban for children under 14 is already causing tension at a Vienna school, with a teacher reporting that two girls wearing headscarves feel “very stressed” and uncertain about the new rules.
Caroline W., a 24-year-old teacher, is preparing to return to a fourth-grade Volksschule (primary school) class of 25 children. She told Heute that none of her students have German as their first language, although around half were born in Vienna. About two-thirds speak Arabic, sometimes even during lessons.
The Kopftuchverbot (headscarf ban) had already become a major issue before the summer holidays. According to Caroline, two girls in her class wear headscarves and have been particularly worried about what the new rules will mean for them. The ban is already in effect in Sommerschule (summer school).
The teacher also described a heated reaction from one father. She said he told her that he would move with his family to Syria if the headscarf ban were strictly enforced at school. Caroline explained that the law was introduced by politicians and that the school itself was not responsible for the legislation. She said the father remained extremely angry.
Caroline fears the new rules could create additional problems for the children. She believes the girls are frightened because something they have been required to do by their parents is now being restricted at school. At the same time, she says the wider issue of headscarves has already created tensions among pupils.
According to the teacher, some boys have pressured girls who do not wear headscarves, telling them they should cover their hair. She also claims that boys sometimes admire older girls wearing headscarves, while girls without them can face teasing and bullying. Caroline says she has not allowed such behavior inside her own classroom.
The teacher believes the challenge will extend beyond the school gates. She argues that even if the rules change what happens inside schools, family expectations outside school are unlikely to change quickly. The situation highlights the difficult tensions surrounding Austria’s new Kopftuchverbot and its impact on children, parents and teachers.