AfD Reporting Portals Targeting Teachers: Part of a Global Right-Wing Campaign Against Emancipatory Education » LabourNet Germany

The Brazilian fascist presidential candidate has it in his platform: schools without political parties (which means, of course, teaching in the old colonialist way—that the country was “discovered” by the Portuguese on April 22, 1500); Mr. Trump’s tea-drinkers have it as their goal: ideology-free schools (i.e., we civilized the “Wild West,” and the few dead Native Americans deserved it anyway) and several others. Indian saffron fascists don’t want to hear about the Muslim part of their own history; under Orbán, children are supposed to climb on tanks instead of studying social studies and so on—so a far-right ideologues’—like the AfD—couldn’t be left out: they call their denunciation program “Neutral School”; they’ve never exactly been inventive. This “neutrality” is presumably supposed to start with historical ethnicist nonsense—such as the claim that the King of the Franks (and slaughterer of the Saxons) was the first “German” emperor—and end with the removal from the curriculum of any coverage of the Nazi dictatorship and (of course, if only out of self-interest) criticism of racism of all kinds. Far more inventive than the AfD’s inflammatory rhetoric, however, is the FZS’s protest against this initiative. See the general response to the AfD’s denunciation campaign, the union’s statement, and further information:

• Over 250,000 people are standing up for democracy and supporting teachers: Alliance submits “Schule zeigt Haltung” petition to the Conference of Ministers of Education “More than 259,000 people have signed—in support of political education and democracy education, for taking a stand and human rights, and against intimidation. They are all calling for clear support for teachers who stand up against hate, hate speech, and anti-democratic tendencies in schools. A broad coalition of six organizations today submitted the petition “Schools Take a Stand—Supporting Teachers Against Hate and Hate Speech” to Udo Michallik, Secretary General of the Conference of Ministers of Education, in Berlin. Since November 2025, the coalition—comprising GEW, Greenpeace, Teachers for Future Germany, the Federal Student Conference, the German Association for Political Education (DVPB), and Parents Against the Far Right. The central demand: Teachers who advocate for democracy, human dignity, and protection against discrimination in the classroom need more support from the relevant authorities. Uncertainty prevails in many schools. An alleged “requirement of neutrality” is being deliberately exploited by authoritarian forces to discredit political education and democratic engagement. Yet the educational mandate explicitly obligates schools and teachers to take a stand and advocate for fundamental and human rights, democracy, and against discrimination and anti-democratic tendencies …” GEW press release dated September 1, 2026, featuring statements from alliance members and the key demands; see also: [Campaign] Schools Take a Stand “Incidents involving far-right extremists at schools are on the rise. Teachers who take a critical stance on these issues are being attacked with increasing frequency. The myth of neutrality is causing uncertainty. The GEW shows you how to strengthen democratic values in the classroom and defend yourself against attempts at intimidation …” GEW campaign page and the petition “Schools Take a Stand” – Empowering Teachers Against Hate and Incitement

• This is how the AfD plans to radically overhaul Saxony-Anhalt’s schools and bring its ethno-nationalist ideology right into the classrooms “Less than three weeks remain until the state election in Saxony-Anhalt. And it could be a fateful election. The AfD has been polling at over 40 percent for months and could, for the first time in a federal state, appoint the Minister-President—or, in an extreme case, even govern alone. This makes the question all the more important: What can the AfD actually change, and what does it intend to change, if it comes to power? It has particularly significant leverage when it comes to education. That’s because schools in Germany are a state matter. This is no coincidence. Following the experiences with the Nazi state and its totalitarian “Gleichschaltung,” the goal was to prevent a government in Berlin from dictating over the heads of all students and dictating their curricula. But it also means: If the AfD governs in Saxony-Anhalt, it can—and intends to—radically overhaul the education system there. Or rather: It wants to subordinate it to its ethnic-nationalist ideology and catapult it back into the past—as quickly as possible. (…) While not everything that costs a lot of money in the state budget can be implemented by decree, but through administrative regulations, education policy offers very direct access to what happens in individual schools. The AfD government thus has a very direct line to children and young people. And it will do everything in its power to force its ethno-nationalist ideology into classrooms. Specifically: state-wide standardized teaching materials dictated by the Ministry of Education. “Special classes for refugee children.” Private security guards in schoolyards. Russian language instruction and exchange programs. The German Empire portrayed as a model in history classes. The end of the “Schools Against Racism” program, because “true racism hardly exists anymore” and it therefore “takes action against legitimate right-wing and patriotic views” (that’s what the program says—no joke!). No integration, no inclusion, no school social work. Just: reading, writing, and arithmetic. And that means lecture-style teaching, systematic repetition, and strict performance monitoring. The AfD has no solution for the real problems in the school system—teacher shortages, canceled classes, and a backlog of building renovations. On the contrary: It simply claims that the teacher shortage is not a cause, but a consequence. “Education isn’t deteriorating because there are fewer and fewer teachers, but because education is deteriorating, nobody wants to become a teacher anymore.” And: “This crisis isn’t a crisis of money; it’s a crisis of the mind.” …” Article by Maurice Höfgen and Bob Blume from August 22, 2026, on Geld für die Welt – Blog by Maurice Höfgen (“Saxony-Anhalt: THIS is what the AfD wants to change in schools”), see also: 2026 State Elections; Legal Expert: What the AfD Could Implement from Its Education Plans “Abolition of compulsory education, an end to inclusion, or special classes for refugees: Two state elections are coming up in September that could have far-reaching consequences for schools. If the AfD receives the most votes in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, there is a possibility that the party could also take over the state education ministries there. Felix Wirth Hanschmann, professor of administrative and constitutional law at the Bucerius Law School in Hamburg, analyzes the party’s campaign platform demands from a legal perspective …” Article by Sandra Hermes from June 26, 2026, on deutsches-schulportal.de Case Studies on the Neutrality Debate: Tips for Handling Common Conflicts in Schools “The debate over the supposed requirement of neutrality is causing uncertainty in many schools regarding how to deal with far-right or right-wing populist positions. The book “Political Education in Reactionary Times: A Plea for a Steadfast School” by Rico Behrens, Anja Besand, and Stefan Breuer presents typical examples of conflicts from everyday school life and outlines possible courses of action for teachers. The school portal presents three cases from the book …” Article by Sandra Hermes from June 26, 2026, on deutsches-schulportal.de—this and many other cases are also available in a PDF provided free of charge by Wochenschau Verlag Frankfurt/M. A broad coalition of academics, unions, and student representatives warns against attacks on democratic universities Joint statement against the AfD’s higher education policies – Statement dated July 1, 2026, from GEW Saxony-Anhalt Diversity in Schools – Saxony-Anhalt Needs Inclusion! Petition from “Parents Against the Right” to Jan Riedel, Minister of Education of Saxony-Anhalt See also https://teachersforfuture.org/schule-zeigt-haltung/

• Head-on attack on schools: The AfD’s push for homeschooling is far more than just education policy—the Bundesrat calls for the preservation of compulsory education Head-on attack on schools: The AfD’s push for homeschooling is far more than just education policy. The issue at stake is who shapes the next generation. “Who would have thought that the Bundesrat would one day have to actively advocate for the preservation of compulsory education? For generations, it has been taken for granted that children attend school. Certainly, conditions in many schools could be better: Classes are often canceled due to teacher shortages. In international comparative studies, children from Germany are performing increasingly poorly; school facilities are dilapidated in some places; and the educational opportunities offered by digitalization often remain untapped. The shortcomings are multifaceted. But the fact that the Bundesrat is now appealing to the federal government to advocate for the preservation of compulsory education is significant—and is not related to the education crisis, but to the AfD. The party is attempting to impose its ideas about education and knowledge transfer in several federal states —and since education is primarily a state responsibility, it could potentially push through its own agenda very soon if it wins elections in Saxony-Anhalt or Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. At first glance, this sounds relatively harmless, but there is a fundamental issue at play: The party wants to allow homeschooling as a supplement to school and, in Saxony-Anhalt, refers to this as “compulsory education.” In reality, however, this would be a direct attack on the school system aimed at weakening democratic education. Homeschooling creates opportunities to undermine the curriculum. Racist and anti-democratic ideas could thus be taught much more easily. It’s also conceivable that the establishment of homeschooling could give rise to initiatives which could ultimately give rise to ethno-nationalist schools …” Article by Stefan Otto dated July 11, 2026, in ND online: States Call for Preservation of Compulsory Education “At the initiative of several states, the Bundesrat spoke out on July 10, 2026, in favor of preserving compulsory education as a guarantee of equal opportunity and social cohesion. In a resolution, the states call on the federal government to oppose any plans that could weaken universal compulsory education as a cornerstone of the German education system. They urge the federal government to take into account the importance of universal compulsory education for an effective, equitable, and inclusive education system when drafting future legislation. (…) The resolution will be forwarded to the federal government. Whether it acts on the states’ proposals is at its discretion.” Federal Council press release documented on July 10, 2026, on Bildungsklick

• How Democracy in Schools Is Under Pressure from the AfD “In state parliaments, the AfD is targeting schools. The number of minor interpellations regarding alleged violations of the duty of neutrality has doubled. Teachers are feeling unsettled. CORRECTIV examines what it takes to make schools democratically resilient. The principal of a comprehensive school in Gelsenkirchen hangs a rainbow flag on the school building as a symbol of diversity, following a decision by the school conference. The result: a barrage of abusive emails, a special session, and a summons from the AfD to appear before the city’s Education Committee, where the principal is to explain himself regarding an alleged violation of the duty of neutrality. The principal of a comprehensive school in Cologne is faced with a disciplinary complaint filed by the AfD. During a discussion with political parties, he had not invited the AfD onto the podium in order to protect his predominantly migrant student body. In Brandenburg, a principal prevents a minor student from completing an internship with the AfD. When the AfD publicizes the case on its social media channels, the principal receives death threats. (…) This list could go on: Schools in Germany are facing the challenge of maintaining their democratic resilience. The fact that the AfD is systematically putting pressure on schools is also evident from the rising number of parliamentary “minor interpellations” through which the party is targeting school administrations across all federal states. According to research by CORRECTIV, there were 45 such interpellations in state parliaments nationwide in 2025 alone. In this way, the AfD attempts to prove that school administrators are in alleged conflict with their duty of neutrality as public officials and thereby bring about disciplinary measures. Issues include, for example, rainbow flags at schools, “Antifa” stickers on teachers’ tablets, or school classes participating in demonstrations against the far right. This represents a doubling compared to the previous year; in 2024, there were only 21 such parliamentary questions. In addition, there are AfD reporting portals that call on the public to denounce teachers. Furthermore, there are campaigns in which the AfD issues press releases urging the public to inform the party of alleged violations of neutrality in schools. (…) “The AfD has been very successful with this strategy,” says law professor Felix Wirth Hanschmann. (…) To counter the current uncertainty in schools, policymakers must take a more proactive approach to dispelling the myth of neutrality, says Hanschmann, who holds the Chair of Critique of Law—Foundations and Practice of the Democratic Rule of Law—at Bucerius Law School in Hamburg. “Schools are politically neutral, but they are not normatively neutral—and teaching must be guided by the spirit of the Constitution.” The foundation is always the Basic Law, upon which school laws and their mandates are based: “There we find a reiteration of the Basic Law, which outlines the school’s mission to educate democratic citizens, to foster tolerance and openness toward other cultures, and to instill a sense of responsibility toward nature and the environment, as well as sensitivity toward sexual diversity and variety.” (…) Yet the AfD is not only attacking schools and teachers with a strategy of sowing uncertainty and slander. In its election platforms for the upcoming state elections, the party also lays bare how it intends to fundamentally transform schools: Ending inclusion, special classes for refugee children, limiting gymnasium enrollment to just 25 percent of each grade, compulsory education rather than mandatory schooling, the German flag instead of the rainbow flag, and centrally determined teaching materials. This is what is stated, for example, in the draft of the AfD’s platform for Saxony-Anhalt that was leaked in advance—a state where the party currently stands at 40 percent in the polls. (…) So what can be done to make schools democratically resilient in this situation? At the political level, according to Hanschmann, the Conference of Ministers of Education is a key arena. That is where issues of school policy—such as the establishment and monitoring of nationwide educational standards—are coordinated. (…) In addition, legislators in the federal states could consider which rules they should now enshrine in school law: “Similar to the resilience of the judiciary, where provisions were moved from ordinary laws into the Constitution, one could convert ordinances or administrative regulations into ordinary laws,” Hanschmann recommends—for example, by firmly anchoring sex education as a school subject in the school law. “Then we would at least have the guarantee that any change to this provision must be decided publicly in parliament.” Currently, he notes, there is still a lack of political awareness regarding such measures to build resilience in the educationsystem. (…) A public cry for help is also coming from the schools themselves: With the petition “Schule zeigt Haltung” (“Schools Take a Stand”), the GEW, Teachers for Future, and Greenpeace—together with the Federal Student Conference and the German Association for Political Education—are appealing to policymakers to support teachers in combating hate and incitement. So far, more than 250,000 people have signed it. (…) “Teachers who clearly advocate for fundamental democratic values and protection against discrimination all too often experience a lack of support,” criticizes GEW President Finnern. (…) As a result, it is often not courage that prevails in schools, but a preemptive fear of making mistakes, says [Andreas Niessen, principal of the Heliosschule in Cologne]. He himself announces demonstrations for diversity in emails to the school community: “I don’t think any principal has ever been reprimanded for promoting a demonstration for democracy and human rights.” Article by Alexandra Ringendahl from February 26, 2026, on CORRECTIV

• In its election platform for the state parliamentary election, the AfD in Baden-Württemberg advocates for an elitist education system and threatens a “fundamental overhaul” of the curricula. It wants to abolish compulsory education, introduce a numerus clausus for fifth grade, and views diversity as a thorn in its side—even in schools. In its election platform for the state parliamentary election, the AfD in Baden-Württemberg advocates for an elitist education system and jingoistic patriotism. “First Aid for Our State,” the AfD promises in its state election platform, threatening to “commission a fundamental overhaul of the curricula within the first hundred days.” A state government has direct control over education policy, and the AfD intends to make use of this opportunity. At the state party convention in Hechingen in November, its lead candidate, Markus Frohnmaier, advocated for a shift in education policy under the slogans of achievement, discipline, and identity, with “black, red, and gold in front of every school in the state.” A “German dominant culture” based on a positive national image is to become a central goal. The AfD’s platform reveals that this means “breaking away from a culture of remembrance critical of the Nazi era in favor of a view of history that also encompasses the positive, identity-forming aspects of German history.” Nazi crimes are not denied, but they are to be pushed into the background. Accordingly, the AfD has already—unsuccessfully—proposed in the state parliament that subsidies for field trips to memorial sites commemorating Nazi crimes be eliminated and redirected toward funding trips to “significant sites of German history.” Since children and young people are shaped in schools, the AfD aims to anchor its ideology there through the curriculum. Critical teachers stand in the way of this. In the wake of a wave of AfD reporting portals, Stefan Räpple, then a member of the Baden-Württemberg state parliament, launched his platform “Mein Lehrer hetzt” (“My Teacher Is Inciting”) in 2018, calling on people to spy on and report “politically active teachers and professors”—for example, by recording them on video. Shortly thereafter, the parliamentary caucus also set up a denunciation portal called “Faire Schule” (“Fair School”). Teachers were to be reported if they made derogatory remarks about U.S. President Trump or asked “influential questions in the field of history.” The idea that someone could sit in class, take notes, and then launch campaigns sparked significant resistance, which ultimately brought the platforms down. In 2022, Stefan Räpple was sentenced to ten months’ probation after calling for the overthrow of the government in Mainz and attempting, in 2020 in Berlin, to storm the Reichstag with several hundred demonstrators, following the example of Trump supporters …” Article by Erhard Korn dated February 18, 2026, in the *KontextWochenzeitung*, Issue 777 (“Homeschooling Instead of Compulsory Education”)

• The AfD wants to abolish compulsory education (rejected in Brandenburg) but also, optionally, to introduce stricter discipline (AfD school code in Baden-Württemberg) and school uniforms (in Rhineland-Palatinate). The AfD wants to amend the Basic Law—to effectively abolish compulsory education (motion rejected) “Compulsory education applies in Germany. The AfD proposes changing this to a “duty to receive an education”—so that parents can also teach their children at home. This is meeting with resistance in the Brandenburg state parliament. The Brandenburg state parliament voted by a majority against changing compulsory schooling to allow for more home-based learning. The SPD, CDU, and BSW voted against the AfD’s proposal that the state government advocate in the Bundesrat for an amendment to the Basic Law to allow general compulsory schooling to be fulfilled through equivalent home-based learning as well …” Report from January 29, 2026, on News4teachers with material from dpa Brandenburg: AfD Calls for Home-Based Learning Due to Immigrant Children “Compulsory schooling is in effect in Germany. The AfD proposes relaxing this requirement so that parents can also teach their children at home. Their reasoning: there are too many immigrant children in schools. This is meeting with resistance in the Brandenburg state parliament. The AfD’s idea is not new. The Brandenburg state parliament voted by a majority against changing compulsory education to allow for more home schooling. The SPD, CDU, and BSW voted against the AfD’s proposal that the state government advocate in the Bundesrat for an amendment to the Basic Law to allow general compulsory education to be fulfilled through equivalent home schooling. “Schools in Germany have not only an educational mission but also a moral one,” said Education Minister Steffen Freiberg (SPD). Compulsory education, he said, is a precious asset. “And I cannot imagine taking a step backward,” the minister said. Students can learn there to deal with differences and understand what tolerance means. Schools also play an integrative role and counteract the formation of parallel societies. Families do not need the privatization of education, said SPD state representative Annemarie Wolff. “They need reliable schools, full-day programs, support, and professional teachers.” (…) Similar to the AfD, Saxony’s Minister-President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) had already declared in 2023 that the quality of education could no longer be guaranteed because of immigrant students. Critics accused him of “distorting the facts.” This policy was “absolutely shameful” and grist for the mill of agitators.” Report from February 1, 2026, in Migazin AfD School Code: Standing up to greet the teacher when he or she enters the classroom “Good morning, Mr. Müller!” —that’s not enough for AfD lead candidate Frohnmaier as a way to greet teachers in class. He wants more decorum in schools (at least, what the AfD understands as decorum). AfD politician Markus Frohnmaier believes that schoolchildren should stand up at the beginning of class when the teacher enters the classroom. “We want to bring more discipline to schools,” Frohnmaier said at an event hosted by the *Stuttgarter Zeitung* and *Stuttgarter Nachrichten* ahead of the state election in southwestern Germany. Frohnmaier wants to become Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg. The AfD’s top candidate plans to implement this through a statewide school code …” Report from January 29, 2026, on News4teachers with material from dpa AfD Wants to Introduce School Uniforms (based on the British model)—including for teachers “Does a uniform look help combat bullying—and improve academic performance? Controversial debates in the Rhineland-Palatinate state legislature over an AfD motion are likely inevitable …” Report from January 26, 2026, on News4teachers with material from dpa

• “Authoritarian Intervention in Schools”: The Brandenburg AfD’s “Resolution on Education Policy,” which has been made public, is drawing massive criticism “No foreign language instruction, requirements for teacher training, migration quotas: The Brandenburg AfD’s education resolution, which has been made public, is drawing massive criticism in Potsdam. It concerned lowering the age of criminal responsibility and the temporary suspension of English instruction. It also addressed promoting handwriting and supplementing compulsory schooling with a compulsory education requirement. Over the weekend, the district chairpersons’ conference of the AfD—which the Office for the Protection of the Constitution has classified as definitively far-right—presented a ten-point “Resolution on Education Policy.” There is widespread outrage among political opponents: The AfD is banking on isolation, blanket suspicions, and punishments, explained SPD education policy spokesperson Katja Poschmann. Anyone who calls for “German before regular schooling,” brings up immigration quotas, or indiscriminately excludes entire groups is not working toward better schools—but toward a “society of second chances for the few and closed doors for the many.” “This AfD ‘resolution’ is certainly not a serious education program,” Poschmann continued. “The paper is an attack on our free society in almost every respect.” The AfD, she said, wants to exclude students from access to educational institutions by means of immigration quotas, “even though origin alone says absolutely nothing about language skills.” Anyone who speaks of indoctrination at universities is launching an attack on the freedom of research and teaching. “Seeking to abolish compulsory education sends a disastrous signal, because it means that children can be isolated and taught within their own worldview,” said Poschmann. “The AfD wants to build its own parallel world—and it wants to start with our children.”…“ Article by Benjamin Lassiwe from January 12, 2026, in Tagesspiegel online (“‘Authoritarian Interference in Schools’: SPD and CDU Appalled by AfD Education Paper”)

• How AfD Politicians Are Putting Pressure on Teachers “The institution of public schools is coming under increasing pressure. Across the country, AfD politicians are targeting teachers who they claim are indoctrinating students. Among other things, they cite the state’s requirement for neutrality as justification. Yet their actions suggest that much more may be at stake. Some of them appear to want to exert influence—over the education systems in the states. “Change the history curricula—more Bismarck and less National Socialism,” says an AfD politician from Saxony-Anhalt in an interview with *Kontraste*. This is a development that Education Minister Karin Prien views with great concern. The AfD has no interest in to educate children and young people to become responsible citizens, Prien says in an interview with Kontraste …” Text and video of the report by Silvio Duwe, Chris Humbs, and Markus Pohl on the Kontraste program aired on November 6, 2025, on rbb

• [FAQ] The AfD is attempting to establish reporting portals targeting teachers. The GEW encourages its members not to be intimidated. “What You Should Know About the Whistleblowing Platforms. They already existed a few years ago: so-called AfD reporting portals through which students and parents were supposed to anonymously report teachers critical of the party. In 2024, according to consistent media reports, the Lower Saxony state parliamentary group of the far-right party launched a new attempt. This time, they used a dedicated email address instead of an online form. Recently, there was an initiative to create a reporting portal in Saxony, and the AfD in Thuringia is also attempting to draw attention to itself with a reporting portal on ‘violence in schools.’ The AfD is using this to intimidate teachers and cites the principle of neutrality, which it claims derives from the so-called “Beutelsbach Consensus.” However, the Beutelsbach Consensus must not be confused with the state’s requirement for political neutrality. The consensus articulates three central didactic principles of political education: the prohibition against coercion or indoctrination, the requirement for controversy, and the goal of empowering students to participate in politics. Teachers may express their own political opinions but must not present them as universally valid. Controversial topics must be addressed from multiple perspectives. Democracy education is a central component of the state’s educational mandate for schools. State school laws outline these objectives. Teachers should convey democratic values such as the dignity and equality of all people, freedom, justice, and solidarity. When it comes to political education in schools, teachers are not required to remain neutral. It is important to shed light on different perspectives. Based on the Basic Law, teachers should take a clear stand against, for example, right-wing extremism, anti-Semitism, the glorification of violence, and statements that dehumanize others. (…) The GEW examines the legal foundations for political education in schools, the meaning and purpose of the Beutelsbach Consensus, and provides guidance for teachers …” GEW Feature Article “The AfD’s Teacher Reporting Portals” last updated on September 3, 2025 See also our dossier: Teachers’ urgent letter on right-wing extremism in schools: Often downplayed and not an isolated case, not only in Brandenburg

• In May, the AfD’s teacher reporting portal in Bremen caused a stir. A storm in a teacup, as it now turns out. But one that could prove costly for the AfD “The Bremen AfD has removed the ‘teacher reporting portal’ from its website. ‘For data protection reasons, but not only for that,’ says the party’s state chairman, Peter Beck. “But also because we don’t want this kind of denunciation. We have complete trust in teachers.” A year ago, that had sounded quite different. Ultimately, however, with its unanimous decision against the portal this week, the new AfD state executive committee merely put an end to a project that, in practice, had never really gotten off the ground in Bremen anyway. (…) When the AfD actually launched its portal on May 20, 2019, this outrage gained new momentum. With that, the party had achieved its actual goal one week before the state parliamentary election. “Back then, we said that we were only using it to make headlines in the media,” Beck candidly admits. (…) And they had also communicated this to the AfD, Sommer explained on Wednesday in response to an inquiry from the WESER-KURIER. Although the portal had not yet gone live at that point. “According to the General Data Protection Regulation, I can issue a warning in advance: If you implement what you’re currently planning, it would be illegal.” The AfD nevertheless launched its portal for a short time in May. “We then sent the party an order to shut it down immediately. And that’s exactly what happened.” The party must nevertheless expect a fine for violating the General Data Protection Regulation. Sommer declined to comment on the amount. According to the law, the penalty should “be quite severe and deterrent, but also proportionate.” Article by Ralf Michel from November 28, 2019, in the Weser Kurier online

• [Baden-Württemberg] Data Protection Commissioner Does Not Consider Himself Responsible for Controversial AfD Portal—State Parliament Has Jurisdiction “The Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs of Baden-Württemberg has asked the State Data Protection Commissioner for an assessment of the AfD reporting portal. He believes the state parliament has jurisdiction. Susanne Eisenmann (CDU), Minister of Culture for Baden-Württemberg, has data protection concerns regarding the controversial AfD reporting platform for incidents at schools. In a letter, she asked State Data Protection Commissioner Stefan Brink for an assessment, as reported by the Schwäbische Zeitung on Monday. Brink stated: “That does not fall within my area of responsibility.” (…) Eisenmann wrote that the platform encourages people to report teachers by name on suspicion of politically influencing students. Personal data that reveals a political opinion may only be collected under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) if there is a substantial public interest. She does not see such an interest here. Should the platform, as she suspects, violate the GDPR, she would like Brink to advise her on what options are available to take action against the portal. Brink said that the information collected by the AfD constitutes particularly sensitive data, especially since children and adolescents are affected. However, since the AfD parliamentary group operates the platform, the assessment falls under the jurisdiction of the state parliament. (…) In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the state data protection commissioner there had banned a similar portal in September. Against this backdrop as well, she asked him for his assessment under data protection law, Eisenmann wrote to Brink. In that state, however, the AfD portal had been operated by the party itself, not by the parliamentary group as in Baden-Württemberg. Data Protection Commissioner Brink said, “That is the crucial difference as far as my jurisdiction is concerned.” Instead, he said, the parliament must address the matter within the framework of its own data protection regulations. However, those regulations are still based on the 2012 version—that is, from a time when the GDPR, which has been in effect since 2018, did not even exist yet …” Report from November 19, 2019, on Heise News

• Despite sharp criticism: AfD Baden-Württemberg launches “snitch platform” for teachers “The Baden-Württemberg AfD has launched a controversial reporting platform for students, parents, and teachers. It is intended for reporting teachers in cases of ‘political influence.’ Anton Baron, the parliamentary secretary of the Baden-Württemberg AfD, said the site was established following a resolution by the parliamentary group. According to the site, “incidents” at schools can be reported there. Users can choose from various categories, including “political influence” and “neutrality,” as well as “violence at school” and “bullying.” The teacher in question or the school administration must be named. (…) Susanne Eisenmann (CDU), the Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs for Baden-Württemberg, called on everyone to oppose such a platform, where people can vent their frustrations under the protection of anonymity. Direct, face-to-face communication between students, parents, and teachers is always the better approach, she said. It amounts to an “insinuation that teachers are not acting in a politically correct manner.” Furthermore, the political neutrality of teachers does not mean that inhumane statements made in the classroom must be treated as neutral and legitimate political positions, Eisenmann said. (…) The teachers’ union GEW spoke of informant tactics such as those last used in schools 75 years ago, during the Nazi era. The Association for Education and Upbringing (VBE) stated that it would take legal action if necessary to protect teachers from “informing.” Doro Moritz, state chair of the GEW, said: “The AfD’s goal is to intimidate teachers.” Report from November 14, 2019, on SWR Aktuell

• [October 21–25, 2019] Antifa Altona Ost launches a campaign: Stop right-wing hate speech! Flood the snitch portal! See the instructions and the link to the #petzportalfluten campaign on Antifa Altona Ost’s Twitter and Instagram accounts

• Hamburg schools: Standing up to the AfD without fear. The Hamburg AfD is calling on students and parents to report left-wing teachers on a website. The party misunderstands the role of political science teachers. “The Hamburg AfD caucus is calling on students and their parents to report instances of left-wing ideologies in the classroom via a website. Social scientist Tim Engartner teaches future political science teachers. In this guest column, he explains that they need not be afraid to express their opinions in class. He takes the view that schools cannot and must not be neutral. (…) The establishment of such a complaint center must be rejected simply because it turns children into informants and destroys the relationship of trust between students and teachers. Anyone who—like the Hamburg AfD parliamentary group—calls for anonymous reports has no genuine interest in clarification but rather wants to silence them. But when the AfD takes issue with violations of the “obligation to political neutrality” and the Beutelsbach Consensus, it also reveals that it misunderstands the role of political science teachers. The Beutelsbach Consensus, drafted in 1976 and ultimately shared by all political educators, provides for a three-part framework from which two central axioms for the current debate can be derived. First: Students must not be prevented from forming their own judgments (prohibition against indoctrination). Second: Topics that are controversial in academia and politics must also be presented as controversial in the classroom (the principle of controversy). (…) While teachers must make their own viewpoints transparent as such, as long as they point out that their perspective represents only one of several legitimate positions, this is undoubtedly permissible. Students must also be allowed to take positions that do not correspond to those of the teacher without having to fear that this will work to their disadvantage—for example, in grading. There is therefore no reason for teachers to allow themselves to be intimidated. (…) At the same time, school districts and state departments of education must be on high alert. Democracy has always been under a latent threat from apathy, extremism, and populism. Now, however, with the AfD’s rise in parliament and the growing acceptance of group-based hostility, this threat is becoming virulent even in schools. Since democratic awareness is not an anthropological constant but must be learned on a daily basis, political education in schools, colleges, and adult education institutions must not be further marginalized. It must no longer be called upon only when it is needed to act as a fire brigade to combat social hotspots such as xenophobia or youth violence. In order to counter the flood of incomplete and factually incorrect information with facts, schools, for example, must be allocated more class time for political education …” A guest column by Tim Engartner published on September 23, 2018, on Zeit online

• Ban on AfD Teacher Reporting Portal – Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Data Protection Commissioner Threatens State Chapter with a Penalty Payment “The State Data Protection Commissioner of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Heinz Müller (SPD), has banned the ‘Neutrale Schule’ (Neutral School) internet portal operated by the AfD. The affected AfD state chapter must remove from the site, within one week, any calls for students to report their teachers if they are suspected of violating the requirement for political neutrality. Müller announced this on Friday. Otherwise, the AfD faces a penalty payment. (…) “It is unacceptable for teachers to be intimidated in their teaching activities by such a portal,” the data protection commissioner explained. It is the teachers’ duty “to stand up for democracy, the Basic Law, and the human dignity guaranteed therein”. In doing so, they should not be afraid of “being harassed by self-appointed AfD watchdogs.” Contrary to the AfD’s claims, the party does not merely collect the personal data of students who submit a report, Müller explained. It “also specifically collects the political opinions of the reported teachers”… “ Article in *junge Welt* from September 14, 2019

• The Principle of Neutrality in Education. Neutrality Toward Racist and Far-Right Positions of Political Parties? “The publication specifically examines the question of whether and to what extent it is legally required—and thus also permissible—for teachers in the classroom or actors in extracurricular education to address racist and far-right positions of political parties. The focus is on how the state’s requirement of party-political neutrality and the right of political parties to equal opportunity in political competition (Art. 21 of the German Basic Law) should be understood. These legal questions have received little attention to date, and there is no established case law in this field. However, they have become particularly relevant since the AfD party launched the “Neutral School” campaign against teachers in some federal states. Furthermore, the party questions programs to promote democracy established by the federal and state governments, thereby putting pressure on actors in the field of extracurricular education who critically engage with the racist and far-right positions of political parties …” The study by Hendrik Cremer from August 2019 can also be ordered free of charge as a print copy from the German Institute for Human Rights

• Hamburg’s Senator for Education sides (yet again) with the AfD—which is celebrating “Because it considers the AfD to be xenophobic, a staffing agency refuses to place party members in Hamburg schools. The AfD once again sees its fundamental rights violated and appeals to the school authorities—with success. For the umpteenth time. At the request of the school authorities, a staffing agency working for Hamburg schools and daycare centers has removed an anti-AfD clause from its fee agreements. He complied with the request, even though he considers it legally questionable, said Wolfhard Westphal, managing director of Lernzeit Schulpersonal-Service GmbH, to the German Press Agency on Thursday. At the same time, he expressed bewilderment at the school authority’s stance. The AfD parliamentary group, which had previously threatened the authority with legal action, on the other hand, paid tribute to School Senator Ties Rabe, expressing “respect for his consistent and legally sound approach.” The point of contention was a clause in the agency’s contracts with its freelance staff, which, under the heading “Illnesses, Criminal Records, Memberships,” stated: “The KL (course instructor, editor’s note) declares that he or she does not belong to any anti-democratic organization (NPD, AfD, AKP, etc.) or any cult (Scientology, etc.).” The specialists placed by the agency are primarily employed in full-day care programs. The AfD viewed this as a violation of the principle of equal treatment. Fraction leader Alexander Wolf has now praised the senator’s intervention “to stop further discrimination against AfD members in Hamburg schools.” Once again, it has become clear “that our information portal ‘Neutrale Schulen Hamburg’ helps uncover serious abuses and eliminate them—without singling out teachers or other individuals.” The parliamentary group had received the tip about the clause via its controversial reporting portal …” dpa report from June 20, June 2019 on News4teachers

• AfD denunciation portals are a flop! AfD snitch site report: Over 99% of all entries are spam & prank posts “The world of the AfD is quite schizophrenic. On the one hand, ‘leftists’ are those who pillory and denounce AfD members for their ‘opinions,’ on the other hand, it sets up reporting portals for teachers whom the AfD deems unacceptable. The AfD believes that teachers treat them unfairly in the classroom. Children are turned into informants and exploited by the AfD for its own purposes. The biggest problem with this is the following: The AfD thus obtains a public database containing a list of all teachers who have expressed criticism of the party. (…) Even if the AfD doesn’t see it that way: its Stasi-style portal backfired (more on this). The Saxony-Anhalt state chapter admitted that of 5,600 reports, 99% were prank reports and only a fraction were presumably serious. We also know of cases in which trolls deliberately sent complaints that sounded realistic in order to lead the AfD down the wrong track. And even in cases where the complaints were serious, it’s safe to assume that criticism of the AfD—which is protected by freedom of speech and the Beutelsbach Consensus—is being confused with the AfD’s totalitarian claim to immunity from criticism …” Article by Thomas Laschyk from February 7, 2019, on Der Volksverpetzer—which also features the 8 funniest submissions to the AfD snitch portal

• Conflict over complaint portal: AfD-critical school principal in Berlin attacked “The conflict over the Berlin AfD parliamentary group’s complaint portal is escalating: The Berlin police are now investigating graffiti and derogatory letters at the Steglitz FichtenbergHigh School, as a police spokeswoman confirmed on Wednesday. Principal Andreas Steiner and the faculty had previously filed a criminal complaint regarding property damage with a political motive. The faculty also announced on Wednesday that the school had been targeted and slandered since the beginning of the month with three posters and anonymous letters. (…) On Thursday night, unknown individuals placed more than 20 letters in the vicinity of the school—on trees, on scaffolding, and even in the courtyard—addressed directly to Steiner and the teaching staff: “Should you repeatedly attempt to hide behind your virtuous posturing … it must become clear to every student what kind of left-wing populist think tank your school actually is,” the letters state. The school is described as an “ideological multiplier of left-wing dogmas.” Students there are allegedly unable to engage in a controversial process of forming their own opinions. The letter ends with “Hail A. Steiner, the anti-racist school leader!”. The police are investigating all leads and do not rule out the possibility that the authors may also be found among the students. (…) Some other school principals had forbidden colleagues from posting this self-incrimination, along with the petition, in the teachers’ lounge—arguing that collecting signatures violates the obligation of neutrality for state employees. Nevertheless, nearly 2,000 teachers there have now signed it, as Bildet Berlin! recently reported. “We are under no obligation to remain politically neutral,” stated the teachers at Fichtenberg High School. Teachers must be allowed to call out racist, discriminatory, anti-democratic, and revisionist views….” Article by Martin Klesmann from December 19, 2018, in Berliner Zeitung online

• Students Demonstrate Against AfD Reporting Portal in Hamburg “Several hundred people demonstrated Monday evening in Hamburg against the AfD’s online portal, which allegedly allows for the reporting of teachers deemed not to be politically neutral. The demonstration was organized by, among others, the Education and Science Union (GEW), the Student Council, and the Teachers’ Council. Police estimated the turnout at 500 participants. “With its portal, the AfD is not concerned with protecting political neutrality in schools, but rather with preventing critical engagement with the AfD and its positions,” the teachers’ union stated in a pre-demonstration declaration. Politicians and school authorities were called upon to “strengthen dedicated teachers and political education.” Following an informational event at the Curiohaus on Rothenbaum, the demonstration march proceeded through the city center to the AfD’s state headquarters in Hamburg’s Old Town …” Report and video from December 3, 2018, on NDR

• Legal Opinion: AfD Portal Violates EU Law “… An AfD teacher reporting portal is intended to allow parents and students to report political statements made by teachers. However, a legal opinion by experts from the Magdeburg State Parliament confirms that the portal violates EU rules. The opinion, which is available to the “Mitteldeutsche Zeitung,” primarily criticizes the disclosure of sensitive data. This includes data that allows inferences to be drawn about teachers’ political views. This is problematic in light of European data protection law. The EU classifies precisely this type of personal data as requiring special protection. It should be collected only in exceptional cases. (…) In the opinion commissioned by the Green Party, the legal experts further emphasize that direct interference by the state parliament and its political factions in school operations is impermissible. School oversight lies exclusively in the hands of the authorities. (…) Now, an investigation is to determine whether the expert opinion warrants shutting down the portal. Saxony-Anhalt’s Minister of Education, Tullner, has therefore announced that he will have the chief data protection officer investigate the case.” Report by Alexandra Prinz-Klause on MDR Aktuell, November 29, 2018

• [Petition] #MeinLehrerFetzt – Thanks Instead of Denunciation! “We are appalled that in 2018, people can once again be intimidated and silenced, academic freedom restricted, and young people incited to denounce others. In Hamburg, Berlin, and Lower Saxony, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) has introduced reporting portals for teachers critical of the AfD, intended to be used to denounce teachers whose views differ from the party’s and who are critical of the AfD, and to suppress critical engagement with political content in German schools. I do not want to live in a country where people are spied on and denounced by their fellow citizens. There is no need for ideologically biased reporting centers whose goal is to silence those who think differently. Because—and it seems unbelievable that this even needs to be mentioned—we still live in a democratic state governed by the rule of law! By signing this petition, I stand in solidarity with teachers throughout Germany and thank them for their dedication and contributions to teaching democratic values and social diversity. At the same time, I call on the members of the Conference of Ministers of Education to examine and exhaust all legal avenues to prevent such partisan denunciation …” Petition on change.org and further information and actions at Stay Behind Foundation

• AfD “shaming” websites targeting teachers are illegal “In recent weeks, the AfD has launched several ‘shaming’ websites where students are encouraged to report statements made by their teachers that are critical of the AfD. Such denunciation websites not only evoke the darkest times in German history but are also illegal. It’s time to take action against them. (…) It is clear that teachers must maintain political neutrality in the classroom. This requirement stems both from civil service law (Section 33, Sentence 2 of the Civil Service Status Act, BeamtStG) and from the school laws of the federal states. This is intended to protect instruction from an overly one-sided political slant and to educate students to become responsible citizens. However, this does not mean that a teacher is prohibited from expressing political views in class or must refrain from all political statements; rather, it means that they must maintain objectivity and avoid one-sided portrayals. (…) In particular, it cannot be assumed that the processing under Art. 9(2)(g) of the GDPR serves a substantial (!) public interest. The AfD makes the flimsy claim that its “Neutral Schools Hamburg” campaign strengthens democratic and free discourse in German schools. Yet, as shown, not every critical statement about the AfD violates the duty of neutrality. Furthermore, avenues for complaint already exist for all parties involved. Thus, the sole remaining purpose is to publicly shame and intimidate teachers critical of the AfD. Conversely, the substantial public interest of teachers in not being denounced thus outweighs this. Consequently, the AfD’s portals for reporting teachers do not meet the requirements of Article 9 of the GDPR and violate data protection laws. (…) Furthermore, due to their public shaming effect, these reporting portals facilitate the violation of the reported teachers’ personal rights, provided the reports are published…” Article by attorney Christian Solmecke dated October 25, 2018, at the law firm Wilde Beuger Solmecke

• [GEW Statement] AfD Reporting Portals: Take a Stand! “…The GEW, along with many ministers and media outlets, views the AfD’s reporting platforms as an attempt to intimidate teachers. The GEW does not want denunciation to play a role in society again, as it did under National Socialism and in the GDR. It does not want fear to be stoked. We do not want to give the AfD the power to unsettle people. “Take a stand instead of exercising restraint”—this is how the GEW Hamburg responded to the AfD’s first online reporting platform. I wholeheartedly endorse this statement: Take a stand and show commitment to democracy, defend fundamental rights, and ensure that human rights are upheld. (…) Teachers are frequently confronted in their classrooms with violations of the dignity of individuals or entire groups. When students are called “gay,” when they are identifiable as Jews or Muslims because of their religious attire and are therefore attacked or defamed, then teachers must take a stand. The same applies to statements made by AfD politicians: when “School Without Racism—School With Courage” is accused of discrimination, when remembrance efforts are labeled a “cult of guilt,” the Nazi era is described as a “bird dropping in history,” or when the former Federal Government Commissioner for Integration, Aydan Özoğuz (SPD), is to be “dumped in Anatolia” because of her Turkish heritage—these are statements that can be addressed in the classroom…” Statement by GEW Chair Marlis Tepe on October 25, 2018

• Whistleblowing portal catches on: In more and more federal states, the AfD is setting up platforms to report unwelcome teachers “... The list threatened to grow longer and longer: Following Hamburg, Saxony, and Baden-Württemberg, an internet platform initiated by the AfD for reporting unpopular teachers was scheduled to go live in Brandenburg last Friday. According to Steffen Königer, education policy spokesperson for the AfD state parliamentary group, the aim was to collect examples of “one-sided indoctrination” there. However, the launch of the Brandenburg online pillory fell through on Friday and was postponed to this week. Offshoots are also scheduled to go live this Monday in Berlin, with similar initiatives planned shortly for Saxony-Anhalt, Bavaria, Bremen, Lower Saxony, and Rhineland-Palatinate. Critics warn against “snooping on political views” and the promotion of informant culture, and see these developments as a threat to harmony in schools. (…) While students in Hamburg had been feeding the AfD with nonsense reports, there is now also successful resistance in Baden-Württemberg. There, the online pillory initiated by state parliament representative Stefan Räpple had to be shut down after just one day—allegedly due to a hacker attack. It is more likely, however, that the system was brought to its knees by a virtual flash mob of outraged AfD opponents. Behind the attack is the Pirate Party with its website mein-abgeordneter-hetzt.de. Through this site, users can flood the AfD’s inbox with references to relevant quotes from their own party officials. Under the strain of tens of thousands of hits, the server is said to have eventually crashed. This could happen again. Recently, the Pirates have been forwarding the “complaints” to the site Lehrer-SOS.de, which the Saxon AfD state parliamentary group launched ten days ago under the slogan “Democracy Project”…“ Article by Ralf Wurzbacher in *junge Welt* on October 22, 2018—why hasn’t anyone yet thought to take criminal action against this AfD campaign? Parents and teachers, in particular, should insist on measures to prevent such interference in school operations. The law provides ample grounds for this (violation of data protection, infringement of personal rights, and coercion of teachers, etc.)

• “”“A Tool of Dictatorships” on October 11, 2018, in *tagesschau* summarizes the middle-class reactions to this reactionary move: “The AfD’s plans to set up reporting portals against teachers are facing growing criticism. Federal Minister of Justice Katarina Barley spoke of organized denunciation. This is “a tool of dictatorships,” the SPD politician told the *Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung*. “Any party that uses something like this to expose unpopular teachers and pillory them reveals a great deal about its own understanding of democracy.” In September, the AfD parliamentary group in the Hamburg City Parliament launched the website “Neutrale Schule” (Neutral School). There, users can report teachers who have expressed political views and who, according to the AfD, have thereby violated the principle of neutrality. In other federal states as well, the respective AfD parliamentary groups are considering similar initiatives, including in Brandenburg, Lower Saxony, Baden-Württemberg, and Saxony. (…) The German Teachers’ Association, the German Civil Servants’ Federation, and the Conference of Ministers of Education (KMK) also expressed outrage. KMK Chairman Helmut Holter (The Left) called it a “no-go”. “What the AfD is calling for here—that children become informants and snitch on teachers—is completely unacceptable,” said the Thuringian Minister of Education on SWR. He said this approach reminded him of the darkest period in German history, from 1933 to 1945. He called for a clear stance to be taken. The Conference of Ministers of Education will address the issue. Holter considers a ban on online reporting portals to be legally difficult to enforce. However, the federal states would examine legal options. He advised affected teachers to contact the relevant ministry to determine whether their personal rights had been violated. “Then legal action must be taken.”… ”

• “Marlis Tepe, Federal Chair of the Education and Science Union (GEW), on the AfD’s opinion portal” on October 11, 2018, also on *tagesschau*, features a short video with the GEW’s statement on this attack, which is at least clearer than the one cited in the previous article.

• “My Prof Rocks: National Student Association Against the Denunciation of Faculty” by Marcus Lamprecht on October 11, 2018, on the fzs website, regarding student counteractions: “Following the example of the Hamburg AfD parliamentary group, other AfD state chapters are currently creating reporting forms to denounce unwelcome faculty members. Since reports on teachers have already led to criticism and satirical posts, the AfD is now also targeting university faculty. For the National Student Association (fzs), this is an untenable situation that constitutes a massive infringement on personal rights and academic freedom. “Schools and universities are important venues for political education and personal development. For this, the exchange of opinions is indispensable. Educators, in particular, have a responsibility to take a clear stand against right-wing and authoritarian tendencies. With its calls for denunciation, the AfD is once again demonstrating its authoritarian mindset. Our solidarity goes out to all educators affected by repression,” explains Ronja Hesse of the executive board of the Free Association of Student Bodies. In Hamburg, the AfD parliamentary group has already received more pizza orders than actual reports. The student association welcomes this approach but now proposes to reinterpret the AfD slogan “Mein Prof hetzt” (“My professor incites”) under the motto “Mein Prof fetzt” (“My professor rocks”). “At universities, there are numerous examples of excellent teaching and of faculty members taking a stand on important social issues. We believe their commitment to an open society, solidarity, and individual freedom is crucial. That is why we are calling on people to fill out the AfD’s forms with arguments—under the slogan ‘My Prof Rocks’—explaining why it’s great when educators take a stand against racism,” said Kevin Kunze of the fzs executive board. The fzs hopes this campaign will send a clear signal in support of diverse universities, academic freedom, and the personal rights of educators…”

Initiatives:

• AfD: Immediately stop denouncing teachers. Petition on change.org

• [Campaign] Schools Take a Stand “Incidents involving far-right extremists at schools are on the rise. Teachers who take a critical stance on this issue are being attacked with increasing frequency. The myth of neutrality is causing uncertainty. The GEW shows you how to strengthen democratic values in the classroom and defend yourself against attempts at intimidation…” GEW action page and the “Schools Take a Stand” petition—empowering teachers against hate and incitement. See also https://teachersforfuture.org/schule-zeigt-haltung/

• Case Studies on the Neutrality Debate: Tips for Common Conflicts in Schools “The debate over the supposed requirement for neutrality is causing uncertainty in many schools regarding how to deal with far-right or right-wing populist positions. The book *Political Education in Reactionary Times: A Plea for a Steadfast School*” by Rico Behrens, Anja Besand, and Stefan Breuer presents typical examples of conflicts from everyday school life and outlines possible courses of action for teachers. The school portal highlights three cases from the book …” Article by Sandra Hermes from June 26, 2026, on deutsches-schulportal.de—this and many other cases are also available in a PDF provided free of charge by Wochenschau Verlag Frankfurt/M.

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