Malchin puts Bundeswehr visits to schools at risk: Mayor defends himself!

Malchin puts Bundeswehr visits to schools at risk: Mayor defends himself!

In Malchin, a town in the Mecklenburg Lake District, education policy is simmering. It was recently decided that the Bundeswehr will no longer be allowed to provide information about its work in city schools in the future. This decision, which was made by a majority from the BSW, the Left and the AfD, is causing a stir and dividing opinions. Mayor Axel Müller from the CDU has lodged an objection against this decision and raised concerns about responsibility, as the city is only responsible for two of the four schools in Malchin ndr.de reported.

Müller argues that the issue of education does not belong in the hands of the city council and he also sees legal problems. According to the state school law, house authority lies with the school principals and not with the city representatives. In return, the BSW/Left faction sees the promotion of the soldier's profession as a problematic mixture of career orientation and security policy influence. They have therefore submitted proposals to prevent military influence in schools.

Resistance and support

Mayor Müller is combative and reminds us that political education is important for students and that the tasks of the Bundeswehr are also included. The objection to the new resolution will be discussed at the next city council meeting in October. However, this decision also has an impact on schools that do not fall under the city's responsibility, such as high schools and special needs schools. Some city representatives see the city council's decision as an attempt to influence school education, which does not fall within their area of ​​responsibility.

The debate about the role of the Bundeswehr in schools has not only become more active in Malchin. Visits by military personnel to classrooms are a hotly debated topic throughout Germany. This is particularly reinforced by the changing security situation in Europe, for example due to the Russian attack on Ukraine. Organizations such as the Union for Education and Science (GEW) express concerns that such visits are perceived as advertising for military service and promote the militarization of society zdf.de.

Political education or military recruitment?

To ensure a balanced view of the issue, it is important to understand that Bundeswehr youth officers have been active in schools since 1958 to convey the need to join NATO and rearma. However, your participation is only possible at the invitation of the teachers. In 2022 they gave over 4,300 lectures to more than 100,000 students in Germany. The Bundeswehr has become one of the largest employers in the country, and many people see their professional future here.

The discussion about the role of the Bundeswehr in education is a complex and emotionally charged topic that has both supporters and critics. The Bechersbach Consensus of 1976 calls for students to be encouraged to form their own independent judgments and has the requirement that influence must be ruled out. In this context, the Malchin decision is just another step in a debate that deserves to be examined from all sides while the education of our youth is at stake.