Berlin Pupils Experienced Racial Insults During School Excursion - Class trip marred by racial slurs toward Berlin student
In a regrettable turn of events, a group of sixth-grade students from Berlin's Kreuzberg neighbourhood endured racial abuse during a school trip to Greifswald, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The incidents, which occurred during the last week of June, have sparked investigations and expressions of concern from various authorities.
The Brandenburg Ministry of Education is currently investigating the matter, emphasising its seriousness. Sadly, the perpetrators could not be securely identified due to a lack of actual witnesses. The racist remarks included a Nazi salute, a disturbing act that marred the educational experience for the predominantly migrant students.
During their stay at a youth hostel, the students were subjected to racist insults and aggressive threats, primarily from peers from Brandenburg schools. Efforts by the Berlin teachers to address the issue with teachers from Brandenburg were met with mixed responses. While educators from one Brandenburg school engaged constructively, those from another dismissed the concerns.
The affected students endured these derogatory remarks throughout the five-day trip, with parents only being fully informed after its conclusion. Some parents had raised concerns in advance, but the school leadership did not disclose the incidents until after the trip.
The police were informed, but the public prosecutor's office in Cottbus later discontinued the investigation due to a lack of evidence. The accommodation in Greifswald, where the incident occurred, is a sizeable facility that can host up to 300 guests. However, it should be noted that the house primarily provides accommodation and catering, not permanent supervision. The house was quite full at the end of June.
The manager of the accommodation regretted not being informed earlier about the racist incidents. The operators of the accommodation in Greifswald were only informed about the incidents afterwards. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has also commented on the 2023 case.
Support offers have already been made to the affected students, and the school will contact the Senate Department's anti-discrimination commissioner. The teachers from one of the Brandenburg classes (Strausberg) were understanding and talked to their students, while the teachers from the other Brandenburg class "brushed them off".
It is worth noting that two years ago, a similar incident involving racial insults occurred during a school trip, this time in Brandenburg near Heidesee. The 2023 incident involved students planning to attend a math camp.
The Berlin Senate Department for Education is in close contact with the school leadership regarding the incident. The affected students in the 2023 incident were students from a tenth grade in Berlin, mostly with a migration background.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for continued efforts to combat racism and promote a culture of respect and understanding in our schools and communities.
- In response to the racial abuse incident, the Berlin Senate Department for Education is assessing the community policy to ensure a safer environment for all students, particularly those with a migration background.
- A calls for reform in employment policies across schools and youth hostels have emerged following the incidents, advocating for increased racial sensitivity training and zero-tolerance policies towards discrimination.
