Teachers against right-wing extremism: GEW boss warns of AfD influence!

Teachers against right-wing extremism: GEW boss warns of AfD influence!

The discussion about the civil service of teachers who are members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) is gaining momentum. Maike Finnern, chairwoman of the Education and Science Union (GEW), calls on teachers to take a clear stand against right-wing extremism. She emphasizes that the question of whether parents should accept that a teacher is active in the AfD is complex. Ambiguities arise particularly when teachers are privately involved in the AfD without their parents knowing about it.

In this context, Finnern states that involvement in local politics, such as a bypass, is unproblematic. However, the situation is different when it comes to anti-constitutional statements made by teachers, which the school supervisory authorities should take into account. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has reassessed the AfD at the federal level and classified it as a 'proven right-wing extremist effort', which, from Finnern's point of view, could have political and civil service consequences. This is done by daily news supported, which refers to the extensive documentation from the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which comprises over 1,000 pages and classifies the AfD as violating human dignity, the principle of the rule of law and democracy.

Consequences for teachers

Finnern is calling for a ban on the AfD if the legal classification as right-wing extremist is maintained. Although she is against a 'mood police', she argues that members of a right-wing extremist party should not be made civil servants. Civil servants are obliged to defend the constitution and membership in the AfD is contrary to the oath. In Thuringia, where the AfD became the strongest party in the last state election, a serious problem is emerging. Finnern does not consider the argument that the state cannot exclude members of a popular party from civil service to be valid.

Teachers are asked to take a clear stand against right-wing extremism in classrooms and teacher conferences. Teachers' political neutrality is seen as a false expectation; Rather, they must actively defend the values ​​of democracy. The Bechersbach Consensus, which encourages teachers to examine all facets of a topic, is viewed as the basis for teacher training.

Advanced training and support

Dealing with extremism and populism should play a larger role in teacher training. Schools rely on support from outside experts to strengthen democracy against radical views. These demands are particularly relevant after the rampage in Graz, in which eleven people lost their lives. Finnern calls for better psychological care for teachers in order to better address these challenges. Her term as chairwoman of the GEW ends not only with her re-election in May 2025, where she received 93.8% of the vote, but also with the responsibility of taking clear positions on current social issues.