Do not treat non-denominational people as second-class citizens

“We expect the Federal Administrative Court to strengthen the rights of non-denominational people in Germany. The judges must make it clear in their decision that non-denominational people are not second-class citizens.” This was stated by the President of the Humanist Association of Germany, Frieder Otto Wolf, on Tuesday afternoon in Berlin regarding the upcoming decision of the Federal Court in Leipzig on the fundamental right to ethics education in elementary school. On Wednesday, the court will rule on the complaint of a non-denominational mother of three sons (BVerwG 6 C 11.13), who in 2010 demanded the introduction of ethics lessons for her two school-age children at primary school level in Freiburg i.Br. in Baden-Württemberg. The application was rejected by the state’s Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs. The Freiburg Administrative Court and the Administrative Court in Mannheim confirmed the Ministry’s decision. The appeal against the rejection is supported by the Humanists Baden-Württemberg, a regional association within the Humanist Association of Germany. Frieder Otto Wolf continued: “In the past, the Federal Administrative Court has already ruled in favor of non-denominational and non-religious parents who want an ethical, moral and philosophical school subject as an alternative to denominational teaching in schools. We therefore expect the new decision on Wednesday to continue this course.” The ruling should also clarify that such teaching should not be treated as a subordinate school subject for financial or other considerations. “With the ruling on the lawsuit, the court also makes fundamental statements on the position of ethics lessons in all federal states. Although corresponding subjects have now been established as an alternative at secondary school level, there is often a lack of political support on a par with religious education. We hope that Wednesday’s decision will also strengthen the rights of non-denominational parents and pupils by making it clear that their right to an alternative to religious education does not exist more or less on paper.” Wolf emphasized that, despite the expected decision of the Federal Administrative Court, there should be no pure nationalization of school values education in the future. “In our country, there are impressive historical examples in which ethical and moral education and upbringing in schools have been in the hands of just one authority, both church and state.” These errors must not be repeated, and such developments also contradict the ideological neutrality of the Federal Republic of Germany. Wolf: “In our view, there is a right to equality in ethical and philosophical education, even at primary school age, which should be guaranteed for parents and pupils without a religious denomination. And it must finally be implemented consistently and correctly in view of the growing number of non-denominational people and today’s ideological plurality.” Wolf therefore emphasized once again in conclusion: “Non-denominational people must no longer feel that they are being treated as second-class citizens.”