Unknown people smear the party office in Schöneberg: leave a communist message!

Unknown people smear the party office in Schöneberg: leave a communist message!

The conflict between Israel and the terrorist militia Hamas has recently not only had an impact in the crisis region, but is also reflected in the social climate in this country. An incident in Berlin-Schöneberg shows how deeply rooted the emotions are: Unknown people daubed a party's constituency office with communist symbols and lettering that referred to the Middle East conflict. The vandalism occurred between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning when an office employee informed the police. The investigation was taken over by the State Police because the crime suggests a political background reports Tixio.

But what is behind this act? The Hamas attack on Israel has presented schools in Germany with major challenges. The Anne Frank Community School in Stuttgart-Möhringen in particular addresses the topic in class. Students, many with family ties to the region, are deeply affected by images of war and violence. Here, too, ethics lessons discuss how to deal with information, interpret freedom of expression and recognize the limits of suffering reports SWR.

Schools as places for discussion

In recent weeks, young people at the Anne Frank Community School in particular have expressed their thoughts about the conflict. “Vicious circle” and the injustice of death for no reason are just some of the ideas discussed in ethics lessons. Headmaster Gerhard Menrad emphasizes that despite all the different attitudes and sensitivities, coexistence at the school remains relatively harmonious. The students show empathy for the victims on both sides of the dispute and are aware of Germany's sensitive attitude towards Israel. The disputes over the Middle East conflict have not yet led to any real conflicts at school - the mood remains cautious.

Teachers use a variety of materials to enable students to engage with these topics in an age-appropriate manner. The Federal Agency for Civic Education offers a wide range of teaching materials that deal with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and topics such as anti-Semitism. This includes, among other things, video content, handouts and projects that aim to promote differentiated discussion says the Federal Agency for Civic Education.

Materials and support for teachers

At a time when issues such as war and social tensions are omnipresent, the role of schools is essential. Dealing with the Middle East conflict not only supports democracy education, but also promotes understanding of other perspectives. The Center for School Quality in Baden-Württemberg has developed the following materials:

• „Solidarisch gegen Terror“: Unterrichtsvorschläge zur Situation in Israel und Palästina.
• Bildungsvideos und Materialien aus verschiedenen Organisationen zur kritischen Auseinandersetzung mit Antisemitismus.
• Handreichungen zur Diskussion über den Nahostkonflikt von verschiedenen Bildungsinstitutionen.
• Medienangebote wie die ZDF-Dokureihe „Tatort Israel“ und weitere Dokumentationen.

In these tense times, schools are not only places of learning, but also spaces in which important social issues can be discussed. The incident in Berlin may be an example of the heated emotions, but schools continue to try to approach these issues with understanding and empathy. Where else could discussions be better if not directly in the places that prepare students for the challenges of life?