Military instruction in schools: Redefining peace education in Germany
Headline: Greens' Deputy Minister-President Advocates for Military Presence in Schools Amid Criticism
In a bold move, Mona Neubaur, the North Rhine-Westphalia's Deputy Minister-President and Minister of Economics, has put forth her viewpoint, advocating a strengthened presence of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) in schools. This decision, however, does not reflect a shift in the Greens' broader stance on the matter.
Neubaur, in an interview with WAZ, emphasized that schools should not serve as recruiting grounds, avoiding potential issues of recruitment that are barred by law. Instead, she supports discussions between soldiers and students to help young minds understand the world they inhabit and the role of the Bundeswehr within it.
Neubaur believes that the concept of pacifism now encompasses the need for a strong defensive capacity to safeguard democracy and values-based peace, particularly in response to aggressive invasions like Russia's war against Ukraine. In this new context, she argues, a defensive military force is necessary to uphold that peace.
However, Michael Schulze von Glaßer, political manager of the German Peace Society - United War Resisters, offers a differing perspective. He contends that while soldiers may discuss military security policies, their motivations should not revolve around promoting military conflict solutions. Schulze argues that this approach is inconsistent with Section 2 of the NRW School Act, which encourages peaceful education. Soldiers, he claims, have limited understanding of civilian and non-violent conflict resolution methods, questioning the pedagogical value of Bundeswehr visits to schools.
It is worth noting that the Ministry of Education allows soldiers to engage in classroom discussions, with the primary focus on global conflict prevention and crisis management. The practice permits soldiers to inform students, but advertisement for the armed forces is strictly prohibited. Ultimately, each school maintains the right to determine whether to invite the military or engage peace activists in discussions about global conflicts.
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Join the conversation! Is Neubaur's proposal an opportunity to educate young minds about the role of military forces, or does it dangerously blur the line between military recruitment and peaceful education?
In the debate surrounding Neubaur's proposal for military presence in schools, Michael Schulze von Glaßer, political manager of the German Peace Society - United War Resisters, raises concerns about the potential blurring of lines between military recruitment and peaceful education, suggesting that discussions between soldiers and students may not align with Section 2 of the NRW School Act, which encourages peaceful education. Meanwhile, politics and policy-and-legislation continue to grapple with the broader implications of war-and-conflicts and their role in general-news, including the need for a strong defensive military force to safeguard democracy and values-based peace.
