The denominational school is for students of all faiths, but is mostly attended by Jewish children, many of whom are originally from the former Soviet Union. Together with around twenty Year 10 students, Kloeppel and Böhmer, who is also patron of the media award, discussed the students’ experience of migration and integration. The students said they had not been discriminated against on the grounds of their Jewish faith so far. However, the general view was that the mere mention of the fact that they went to a Jewish school usually causes a stir.
But as much as the students were against prejudice, they were not entirely free of it themselves. There was talk of "plebe Russians" and "anti-social Turks" and the simple and understandable recognition that their own prejudices were only human. 16-year-old Aaron complained about the address by Integration Minister Böhmer: "People are too soft on a lot of foreigners. Turkish and Arab immigrants to Germany are hardly under any pressure to assimilate, because they often just stick to themselves and get away with it."
Maria Boehmer (left) and Peter Kloeppel
When Peter Kloeppel asked how prejudice against young people from immigrant backgrounds or other faiths could be overcome at school, 15-year-old Lior came up with an interesting proposal: "You could send a class of mostly Jewish students and one of mainly Muslims on a joint school trip, then we would soon see how much we have in common."
Böhmer also picked up on this idea in her conclusion, and promised that by the next youth integration summit at the latest, she would explore the question of increased opportunities for young people from different racial backgrounds meeting each other. "Targeted youth programmes and school trips can be very effective," said Böhmer. Her final appeal to politicians was that "in order to be places of integration, schools need more teachers and social workers. We also need more time overall, which means true all-day schools."
RTL Television’s "Com.mit Award" for integration is aimed at students between the ages of 15 and 20 who draw up concepts for film footage dealing with the topics of integration and migration – either on their own initiative, as a group or as part of a school project. The deadline for storyboards is 31 March 2010.