Lesung "Rechtsruck im Klassenzimmer"

How New Right Ideologies Are Taking Hold in Schools and Threatening Our Children
When: August 11, 2026, 6:00 p.m.
Where: Former Jewish School in Leer
About the book:
Racism, hate speech, violence against “leftist parasites,” gay people, and immigrants, and open Holocaust denial—this is what teachers Laura Nickel and Max Teske experienced in their daily lives at school. Horrified and determined to take action, they published an open letter denouncing “a wall of silence” as well as the lack of support for schools from government agencies, politicians, and parents. After its publication, the two received solidarity and praise, but also faced intense hostility. Their story, their experiences, and the powerful accounts from other teachers and students show just how much children in school are now exposed to the danger of far-right indoctrination and threats based on their background, sexuality, or political views. This is a still-underestimated, highly topical problem affecting schools throughout Germany. This book is both a wake-up call and an encouragement to take action and shape the world our children live in so that they can continue to live in a democracy in the future.
About the Authors:
Laura Nickel has gained experience as a teacher in various types of schools for over 10 years and has been working as a principal at an elementary school since 2024. Together with Max Teske, she published an open letter in the spring of 2023 about far-right extremism at their school in Brandenburg, which made headlines nationwide. As a result, they were invited by the Federal President on the one hand, but also accused of “slandering their own institution” on the other. Together with other activists from the region, they founded the alliance “Schule für mehr Demokratie” (School for More Democracy).