Schools should make the Gaza war a topic in lessons
The war between Israel and the Islamist Hamas has long since arrived in the schoolyards and classrooms of Berlin. There was a two-week fall break. From Monday, teachers will have to ask themselves again how they should deal with the topic, as will pupils and, in case of doubt, parents.
Gaza war to be covered in lessons
According to the education administration, the Gaza war should definitely be a topic in schools. "Dealing with the events in class, including the exchange of controversial positions, is permissible and expressly desired," a spokesperson for the Senate Department for Education told the German Press Agency. "We have already provided schools with teaching suggestions, online training courses and collections of materials."
It is important to offer discussions for pupils in order to address and work through the different perspectives together and, if necessary, with external cooperation partners.
Günther-Wünsch writes to the schools
On Friday, Senator for Education Katharina Günther-Wünsch (CDU) wrote to Berlin schools in a letter published by the "Tagesspiegel". Among other things, the education administration has compiled a comprehensive overview of further training events and advice options as well as teaching suggestions and references to literature or explanatory videos, for example.
"It remains of crucial importance to consistently counter anti-Semitism in every form," said the Senator for Education. "It is essential to note that this is not a "liberation strike" or "defensive attack" by Hamas, but terror: indiscriminate and mass killing of civilians, including many children and young people. No matter what the history is, there is absolutely no justification for it."
The topic is certainly a source of conflict at Berlin schools: just a few days after the Hamas terror attack on October 7, there was even a violent confrontation between a pupil and a teacher at a high school in Neukölln against this backdrop. "The atmosphere in school playgrounds across Germany is tense and charged," said the spokesperson for the education administration.
Education administration refers to police prevention officers
If necessary, the school inspectorate is always available. "Schools can also seek external support in the areas of democracy education, anti-Semitism prevention and explaining the Middle East conflict," explained the spokesperson. "If school peace is at risk, the police prevention officer can also be contacted in special cases."
According to the education administration, it is in close contact with the districts and the Senate Finance Administration on the subject of increased security. It supports the request if individual schools see a need for this.
Education senator expects anti-Semitic remarks again
In the last week of the vacations, Senator for Education Katharina Günther-Wünsch stated on ZDF's "Morgenmagazin" that she expected the situation at schools to remain tense. "There will be pupils who have questions," said the CDU politician. "We assume that we will also have hate speech and anti-Semitic comments again."
According to the Berlin parents' association, conflicts in schools against the backdrop of the war between Israel and Hamas must be resolved by educational means. "We should first use the possibilities of pedagogy 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.
"The schools are sensitized, they know what to expect," said the parents' representative. "Where more support is needed, schools should come forward and formulate their needs," said Heise.
- The discussions around the Gaza war in schools may lead to conflicts among the children and youth, especially those with strong views on extremism related to the conflict.
- To ensure that education addresses extremism and promotes understanding, it's crucial for teachers to include diverse perspectives on the war in their lessons, including the impact on children and youth in regions like Gaza.
- While handling the sensitive topic of the Gaza war, educators need to pay close attention to the potential conflicts and extremist views among students, and seek guidance from resources such as police prevention officers or anti-Semitism prevention programs available through the schools.
Source: www.dpa.com
