Hesse is expanding the teaching of values, democracy education and violence prevention in its schools. It is important for all pupils to learn about respectful interaction with one another, democratic values and the importance of freedom of expression, explained Education Minister Armin Schwarz (CDU) in Wiesbaden.
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“We must consistently stand up for our inalienable values, live them in our daily interactions, in both big and small ways. That begins with ‘thank you’ and ‘please’ and does not end with a debate about rights and freedom,” said Schwarz.
The new school year begins in Hesse next Monday. The minister announced that ongoing projects on the topics will be intensified. There will also be new teaching materials and training for teachers.
The more than 36,500 refugee and immigrant children and young people currently in the intensive classes will now receive, in addition to German language support, two hours per week in which the focus will be on imparting the values that apply here and on democratic education.
In view of increasing polarization, misinformation and dangerous trends in social media, the transmission of values, learning about democracy and preventing violence are particularly important, the minister stressed. Right-wing agitation, anti-Semitism and extremism, for example from the Islamist sphere, must also be countered in schools.
Hesse is expanding the teaching of values, democracy education and violence prevention in its schools. It is important for all pupils to learn about respectful interaction with one another, democratic values and the importance of freedom of expression, explained Education Minister Armin Schwarz (CDU) in Wiesbaden.
“We must consistently stand up for our inalienable values, live them in our daily interactions, in both big and small ways. That begins with ‘thank you’ and ‘please’ and does not end with a debate about rights and freedom,” said Schwarz.
