Schools in focus: Prof. Hanschmann calls for a clear position against the AfD!

Schools in focus: Prof. Hanschmann calls for a clear position against the AfD!

On May 23, 2025, Prof. Dr. Felix Hanschmann from the Lilienthal-Gymnasium in Berlin on political neutrality in schools. In his actions he underlines the constitutionally enshrined educational and educational mandate of schools. The Lilienthal-Gymnasium has paid particular attention to the democratic educational mission and the critical examination of current political trends. Schools are legally obliged to educate students democratically and to actively promote engagement with the AfD.

However, the AfD is trying to intimidate school management and teachers with a distorted concept of neutrality. According to Hanschmann, this shows a worrying trend that is limiting the culture of discussion in schools. Teachers are denounced for alleged violations of neutrality, which makes it difficult to have an open and critical discussion about fundamentally political issues.

The educational mission and the role of schools

According to Article 7 Paragraph 1 of the Basic Law, schools have a clearly defined educational and upbringing mission. This includes teaching central values ​​such as human dignity, legal equality and the principles of democracy. In this context, a critical examination of problematic positions, such as a ethnic understanding of democracy or historical revisionist views, is necessary. These can be rejected as unconstitutional.

Hanschmann emphasizes that teachers should take an active stance against racist and discriminatory statements. This is in line with the educational mission, which promotes the development of intercultural competence and respectful interaction with people of different origins and world views. The increasing influence of anti-democratic positions makes this aspect even more important.

Demonstration for democratic values

The Lilienthal-Gymnasium is also planning a demonstration on the 76th birthday of the Basic Law. This event, which has the motto “Peace, Freedom and Humanity”, is organized by the students. They take place during school hours at the town hall in Steglitz and are a practical example of how schools can function as places of living democracy.

The legal framework for political education in schools is laid down in the Berlin School Act. This law calls for the development of personalities who stand up against National Socialism and violent ideologies. Schools are obliged to protect students from discrimination and to organize political events in such a way that they are discussed in a balanced and controversial manner.

In summary, it can be said that schools in Berlin, such as the Lilienthal-Gymnasium, play a crucial role in the political education of young people. Your area of ​​responsibility includes not only communicating facts, but also ensuring that students experience the benefits of democracy and recognize that basic democratic values ​​should not be compromised. This is supported by the school community and the active participation of everyone involved.

In this context, it is important that teachers both express their own opinions and take other relevant views into account in the classroom. The Bechersbach Consensus also calls for moderation and restraint on the part of teachers in order to fulfill their tasks impartially, while at the same time they are obliged to adhere to the constitution.

How law-school.de reports, the situation in schools with regard to political neutrality and the responsibility of teachers is of great importance in the context of democratic values. In this sense, Hanschmann appeals to teachers to actively support the values ​​of the constitution and its principles. Additional information can be found at gew-berlin.de, to clarify the comprehensive framework of school education in today's world.