Racism
Racism
Racism is an ideology that assumes that people can be divided into biological races based on their origin or external characteristics, with some races considered superior and others inferior. This ideology leads to prejudice, discrimination, oppression and violence against people perceived as "different" or "foreign" and creates a hierarchy between different groups based on race, ethnicity, skin colour or other characteristics. Racism can manifest itself at individual, structural and institutional levels and often has a severe impact on the lives and opportunities of people who are affected by it.
Racism is a problem that exists in many societies and institutions, including the education system. In Germany, racism in schools continues to be a topical issue that needs to be studied and tackled. Here are some statistics that show how widespread the problem is and how it affects the lives of learners.
According to a study conducted by the University of Bielefeld in 2020, 40 per cent of the learners with a migration background surveyed said they had already experienced racist discrimination. The study also shows that racist incidents often go unreported and that awareness of the issue of racism still needs to be improved among many teachers. A more recent study by the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency in 2021 found that 15 per cent of the learners surveyed said they had experienced racist discrimination in the last twelve months.
The impact of racism on learners can be far-reaching, affecting their psychological well-being, academic performance and future opportunities. According to a study by the Bertelsmann Foundation in 2021, almost half of the learners surveyed said that racial slurs and discrimination were commonplace in their school. The study also found that learners with racial discrimination at school often perform worse at school and identify less with school.
It is important that schools take action to combat racial discrimination and create a climate of respect and tolerance. This includes, for example, raising awareness of racism among teachers and learners, setting up grievance mechanisms and working with the local community to break down prejudices and stereotypes. In addition, integrating intercultural content and perspectives into the curriculum can also help young people develop an understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity.
The impact of racism on learners can be far-reaching, affecting their psychological well-being, academic performance and future opportunities. According to a study by the Bertelsmann Foundation in 2021, almost half of the learners surveyed said that racial slurs and discrimination were commonplace in their school. The study also found that learners with racial discrimination at school often perform worse at school and identify less with school.
We help schools to take action to combat racist discrimination and create a climate of respect and tolerance. Our project on racism aims to raise awareness among learners and help children and young people to have more understanding of living together with people from all cultural backgrounds. Through targeted integration of intercultural perspectives in our project offers, we can contribute to learners developing an appreciation for cultural diversity.
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If you would like to learn more about our offer, please contact us. We will help you to effectively counter racism in your school.
