If schoolchildren become violent, teachers are permitted to use physical force to protect themselves and others. This has now been clarified by the Administrative Court Düsseldorf (Case No. 18 L 2932/22 of 16 October 2026). In this specific case, a teacher had restrained an aggressive primary school pupil and led them out of the classroom. The court regarded this as a permissible defensive measure.

Since the abolition of corporal punishment, physical punishment has been prohibited. However, as the Administrative Court explains, this does not preclude the right to self-defence and the duty to render assistance. A teacher, too, is permitted to defend themselves against an attack by a pupil. However, they must always use the least severe means appropriate to repel the attack. In doing so, the teacher must take into account, amongst other things, the child’s age and capacity to understand, any possible limitations, and the specific danger involved.