Ministry of Education provides information on how to deal with extremism in schools

A good six months before the state elections, the Ministry of Education gave schools instructions on how to deal with extremist and anti-constitutional statements in class. “I would like to encourage teachers to enter into discussions and take a stand for our constitution and the rule of law,” said Education Minister Dorit Stenke (CDU). The “Kieler Nachrichten” had previously reported.

«Democracy is learned and experienced. That’s why we’re strengthening political education in schools,” said Stenke. The ministry has summarized everything essential in a letter and an FAQ (questions and answers). “We also support our schools with difficult questions and don’t leave them alone.”

Obligation to invite

Schools should pay particular attention to balance in panel discussions and other political events in the hot election campaign phase in the six weeks before the state elections on April 18th. According to the decree on political education in schools, not only one representative of the parties sitting in the state or federal parliament should be invited to panel discussions. Representatives of parties “who are very likely to be newly elected to parliament (election candidates) should also be given the opportunity to participate.” The events should be prepared and followed up in class.

However, people can or must be excluded from such events if it is publicly known that they have made extremist or anti-constitutional statements in the past or knowingly took part in an extremist event. The same applies if such statements are made during the panel discussion.

Neutrality

According to the Ministry of Education, the requirement for schools to be neutral towards political parties does not mean that they are not allowed to engage critically with parties in class, as long as this is done objectively and in a balanced manner. The educational mission includes, in particular, the education of free self-determination with respect for those who think differently. The educational and upbringing mandate is “not value-neutral or arbitrary, but requires an active commitment to the constitutional basic order”.

Teachers can also analyze programs and statements in class if the same standards are applied to all parties. However, blanket devaluations of individual parties are not permitted. “In the critical analysis, reference should be made to concrete and proven statements, not to the teacher’s personal interpretations.”