On-the-job obligations met
In a significant step towards fostering a more inclusive and discrimination-free school environment, the Max-Weber-Berufskolleg in Düsseldorf has officially joined the "School Without Racism - School With Courage" network. This student-driven initiative, active in around 4,300 schools across Germany and attended by over two million students as of November 2023, aims to combat all forms of discrimination within schools.
The Max-Weber-Berufskolleg's participation in the network was formally recognised with a certificate presentation. The ceremony was graced by Niklas Berg, a student of class I926, and the school principal Sabine von Zedlitz-Neukirch. Niklas, who led the student-led campaign to join the network, expressed pride in the achievement, stating they had been working towards it for over two years.
The "School Without Racism - School With Courage" project encourages schools to independently choose which issues and activities to prioritise, allowing responses tailored to local needs and interests. At the Max-Weber-Berufskolleg, students have committed to intervening in conflicts and conducting theme-based project days as part of their network membership.
The Communal Integration Center (KI) Düsseldorf will support the engagement of students and teachers at vocational schools in the project in the coming year. Vocational schools, which serve a diverse range of students, including many from immigrant backgrounds, are particularly important settings for such initiatives, as they can help counteract racism and promote social cohesion among a varied student population.
The "School Without Racism - School With Courage" project faces challenges at vocational schools due to block scheduling and an average stay of three years. However, the Max-Weber-Berufskolleg's students had to secure agreement from at least 70% of their peers for the network's membership to be approved, demonstrating a strong commitment to the cause.
The project's patron, Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, is the Anti-Semitism Commissioner of North Rhine-Westphalia. Her support underscores the importance of initiatives like "School Without Racism - School With Courage" in creating a more tolerant and inclusive society.
For more information about the "School Without Racism - School With Courage" project, visit www.schule-ohne-rassismus.de. The Communal Integration Center (KI) Düsseldorf has been the official regional coordinating body for Düsseldorf schools in the network since 2018.
[1] "School Without Racism – School With Courage" project website, [www.schule-ohne-rassismus.de](http://www.schule-ohne-rassismus.de) [2] "Adolf-Reichwein-Gymnasium in Heusenstamm joins the 'School Without Racism - School With Courage' project", local newspaper report, [www.heusenstammer-zeitung.de](http://www.heusenstammer-zeitung.de)
The Max-Weber-Berufskolleg, in joining the "School Without Racism - School With Courage" network, has demonstrated a commitment to education-and-self-development by seeking ways to combat discrimination and promote social cohesion in their school environment. With the support of the Communal Integration Center (KI) Düsseldorf, the students and teachers at the Max-Weber-Berufskolleg will engage in various activities aimed at creating a more inclusive society.
