No Room for Intolerance in Hamburg's Schools: Education Authority and Religious Communities Unite for Respect
- Hey there!*
Authorities at the school and religious groups advocate for mutual respect - Religious Institutions and Educational Leadership Fostering Respectful Relationships
Hamburg's Education Authority and various religious communities have banded together in a crusade for respectful conduct within the city's schools and kindergartens. "No place for oversights or discrimination in Hamburg's kindergartens and schools," declared Senator for Education Ksenija Bekeris (SPD), along with representatives from Christian churches, Islamic associations, Alevi and Jewish communities.
Those in the institutions have vowed to stand strong when individuals face harassment or transgressions occur. "Schools and kindergartens show they won't tolerate such behavior when whole groups are unfairly targeted or individuals are ostracized or slandered based on their association," reads the statement.
This commitment is in line with the values of Hamburg and all religious communities and is practiced daily within the framework of "religious education for all" in schools. Bekeris emphasized that this joint statement is the culmination of years of collaborative efforts among all parties involved.
Bekeris acknowledges recent transgressions
Recent weeks have seen A LOT of ruckus in the Hamburg media about transgressions, primarily perpetrated by students and parents of Muslim background. Bekeris acknowledged that such incidents have taken place, although they do not occur on a large scale as reported.
These incidents are now being addressed case-by-case, with schools receiving support. "Enough is enough. We will not stand for such behavior," Bekeris said. Closer collaboration with schools, quick action in specific cases, and a show of solidarity as a signal in schools and society are essential, according to Bekeris.
Greens warn against generalizations
The reports of religiously motivated transgressions in schools are taken very seriously, said Michael Gwosdz, parliamentary group leader of the Greens in the Hamburg Parliament. "In these divisive times, it's crucial to avoid falling into the trap of stereotypes," Gwosdz said.
Extremism and polarization can affect any religious or non-religious group. "The joint declaration by the Senate and religious communities highlight how Hamburg bridges differences productively, based on state treaties and a steadfast commitment to coexist harmoniously," Gwosdz said.
CDU pushes for clear guidelines for teachers
Criticism came from the opposition. "It seems the Education Authority has only now taken a firm stance against transgressions, long after these issues came to light," said Birgit Stöver, education policy spokeswoman for the CDU parliamentary group.
Stöver argues that a strong declaration won't solve the problem. "What's needed are concrete guidelines for teachers, enabling them to respond appropriately when incidents occur," Stöver said. The schools should receive clear instructions to not only recognize but also actively prevent and consistently punish transgressions, according to Stöver.
"We require compulsory training for teachers, well-defined procedures for handling conflict situations, and in-depth sensitivity training for all students," Stöver said.
AfD insists on adherence to "our values and customs"
The AfD's Benjamin Mennerich stated that calling for tolerance means "disregarding" the rights and freedoms of German students. "We demand that our laws and customs are upheld unconditionally in our schools," Mennerich stressed.
- School Authority
- Religious Community
- Hamburg
- Transgressions
- SPD
- Greens
- CDU
- AfD
- The Education Authority in Hamburg, in collaboration with various religious communities, has reinforced its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy towards transgressions within the city's schools and kindergartens, emphasizing the importance of respectful conduct and adherence to the city's shared values.
- This recent joint declaration by the Hamburg Education Authority and religious communities is part of a long-term effort, positioned within broader policy-and-legislation discussions, to mitigate intolerance and promote vocational training for harmonious coexistence among various religious groups and the general population.
