In a representative population survey in 2021, 28% of respondents in Monaco said they had experienced discrimination in the past two years. The education area (kindergarten, school, university) was mentioned in 32 percent as the place where discrimination occurred. These numbers make it clear that school is a reflection of society and therefore is not exempt from racism, anti-Semitism, other forms of group enmity and right-wing hatred.
Due to the increase in reports of incidents with misanthropic and racist backgrounds in Munich schools, the Munich City Council has decided to establish a new point of contact at the Department for Democracy, which, in addition to monitoring these incidents, also acts as a private contact point for students and their legal guardians and as a counseling center for municipal employees of Munich schools it should serve to support them in dealing with these incidents. In this context, the obligation to report misanthropic and racist incidents for city school employees was anchored in a decree of the Department of Education and Sport. This reporting obligation is intended to enable a structured recording of such incidents and thus to clarify the dark field. Florian Kraus, member of the municipal school council: “Our schools make a very important contribution to democratic education. To do this task justice, schools themselves must be democratic places. This includes dealing sensitively and consistently with racist, anti-Semitic or other undemocratic incidents. Creating a non-discriminatory space for all members of the school family is part of our overall goal of educational equity. The subject has long been a priority in the Department of Education and Sport, including in the continuing education and training of our educational staff. I am very pleased that schools are now receiving further support in their efforts from the new contact point and streamlined digital reporting channels. Our motto must be: look, don’t look away! “Ozan Aykaç, member of the council of the district youth council in Munich-City:” As shelters for teenagers, Munich’s schools are not exempt from social influences, the reflect. It is our responsibility as a city society not to give affected people the feeling that they have to deal with it alone just because they are presumably isolated cases, because they are not. Monitoring can make a significant contribution to shedding light on the field of unreported cases: racist and discriminatory incidents occur week after week in Munich schools. But the work doesn’t stop at the relationship, it really starts there ”.
In order to increase the reporting behavior of schoolchildren, a new website is also starting today: www.melden-gegen-diskriminierung.de. This provides information on what can be reported, why it should be reported, what happens after a report and which counseling centers affected people or witnesses can turn to. Along with the website, below muenchen.de/melden-gegen-diskriminierung a new municipal online form that allows incidents to be reported also anonymously, in writing or via voice mail. Philip Fickel, teacher at Anita-Augspurg Municipal Vocational School in Munich: “The new registration office allows me, as a teacher, to receive full help and support in the event of racist and discriminatory incidents – it also shows students that we are not alone. left alone! ” A campaign to raise awareness of the contact point and new reporting channels is linked to the launch of the site. Starting this week, 230,000 flyers, 6,000 posters and 15,000 stickers will be sent to all 440 public and private schools in Munich, including the others, aimed at school management, student co-responsibility (SMV) and school social service.
Dr Miriam Heigl, head of the Democracy Unit: “With the new point of contact and channels for reporting racist, anti-Semitic or hate speech in schools, we want to encourage those affected and witnesses to report them or get support. the aim is to support the affected people in solidarity and to advise and accompany schools in the follow-up of accidents. Our counseling service is expressly addressed to all members of the school family: school management, teachers, social workers, students and parents. and interested parents also have the possibility of anonymous reports and advice “.
Attention editors: If you have any questions, you can contact the Democracy Department by email at [email protected] or by phone at 233-92642.
