Parents' representatives call for support for schools
Conflicts in schools against the backdrop of the war between Israel and Hamas must be resolved by educational means, according to the Berlin parents' committee. "We should first use the possibilities of education and then resort to bans," said Norman Heise, chairman of the state parents' committee, to the German Press Agency.
Teachers need a sure instinct
It is important for teachers to be able to talk to pupils, but not to force them to do so: "Teachers should have a certain sensitivity for this topic and put out feelers to see if there is a need to talk," said Heise. "It's always a good idea to discuss this with the pupils beforehand and then prepare."
According to the parents' representatives, visible conflicts against the backdrop of the war between the Islamist Hamas and Israel have so far been limited to individual schools. "We don't have a nationwide problem in Berlin, but rather selective challenges. We have to react to them," said Heise. "There are regions in some districts that are more affected." This does not apply to others.
Schools should signal a need for support
"The schools are sensitized, they know what to expect," said the parent representative. "Where more support is needed, schools should come forward and express their needs," said Heise. "We have positively noted that there have already been offers of support for teachers and hope that they will be continued."
However, he remains critical of a letter sent out by the education administration before the fall vacations. In it, Education Senator Katharina Günther-Wünsch (CDU) pointed out, among other things, that schools are allowed to ban statements and actions if they could be interpreted as advocating or approving of attacks on Israel or as supporting Hamas. Heise was particularly critical of the order in which the measures were listed: bans and sanctions first, followed by advice on how to deal with conflicts in education.
In response to the ongoing conflicts between Israel and Hamas affecting some schools, the Berlin parents' committee advocates for utilizing education as a tool for resolution, emphasizing the importance of education before resorting to bans. However, they acknowledge that certain districts have been more affected, requiring targeted support.
Anti-Semitic sentiments have not been a widespread issue in Berlin schools, but the parents' committee is careful to address any instances of anti-Semitism in an educational context, emphasizing the need for sensitivity and open communication between teachers and students.
Source: www.dpa.com
