Hessian school authorities ban “Omas gegen Rechts” from classrooms

School authorities in the Hersfeld-Rotenburg district of Hesse, Germany, have ended cooperation with the group “Omas gegen Rechts” following complaints regarding political neutrality. The decision follows a project day at a secondary school in Niederaula focused on democracy and anti-racism, as well as reading sessions at two primary schools.

Acting head of the school office, Marion Van Cuylenburg, stated that schools must maintain distance from daily political action groups. While external organizations may supplement lessons, they do not have a right to school visits. The office emphasized that schools must not become unmediated stages for political mobilization and must ensure that different political positions are appropriately represented.

The authorities cited the neutrality requirement and the Beutelsbacher Consensus, which prohibits the indoctrination of students with a specific political position. The decision follows an anonymous complaint regarding the group’s activities and warnings issued during a school leadership conference.