Anti-Jewish sayings in the classroom or clichés in textbooks: anti-Semitism is also evident in schools. Anti-Semitism Commissioner Klein warns against hatred of Jews and calls for such incidents to be reported.
The Federal Government Commissioner for Anti-Semitism, Felix Klein, and Federal Minister of Education Bettina Stark-Watzinger have warned against hatred of Jews in German schools. “Unfortunately, just like in our society, anti-Semitism is also increasingly found in our schools,” said the FDP politician to the newspapers of the Funke media group. “We can’t accept that.”
teacher on duty
Stark-Watzinger sees the teachers as particularly responsible. They play “a central role in decisively opposing every form of anti-Semitism and in educating schoolchildren well”.
Klein pointed out that anti-Semitism is also spread in schools. “It does not only come from the students, but also from the teachers. There are sometimes terrible comments – everywhere in the classroom,” he also told the newspapers of the Funke media group. You have to act urgently.
Obligation to report anti-Semitic incidents
Therefore, Klein called for a nationwide obligation to report anti-Semitic incidents in schools and improvements in teacher training. Dealing with anti-Semitism and racism must become a mandatory, exam-relevant part of teacher training throughout Germany. And thirdly, you have to take a close look at how schoolbooks explain Judaism.
In some school books, Jewish life is described “as it was 2,000 years ago: boys read the Torah and girls grind grain,” Klein criticized. “There are also devastating pictorial representations, for example in religious books: Jews listening to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount are portrayed somberly.” This often happens unconsciously, but it shouldn’t get stuck in the children. “Textbooks must make it clear that Jews belong to Germany.”
Further steps against Roger Waters
After criticizing Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, Klein also called for further legal action against Waters. “I appeal to the vigilance of the police and judiciary and encourage further complaints,” said the anti-Semitism officer. He called on concert organizers to think carefully about whether they wanted to “offer conspiracy tellers a stage”.