![German teachers pushed out for calling out 'far-right' pupils](https://www.portugalcolonial.pt/media/shared/articles/85/9c/8d/German-teachers-pushed-out-for-call-666124.jpg)
-
Wolves' Kilman reunites with Lopetegui at West Ham
-
Schmidt reign off to winning start as Australia beat Wales 25-16
-
Russian wrestlers reject Olympics invitation
-
Raducanu rediscovers Wimbledon 'fun' factor after turbulent spell
-
Winning all that matters at Euro 2024 for Mbappe's minimalist France
-
Eight dead, two million affected by Bangladesh floods
-
Robertson pleased to 'find a way' past England in tough Test baptism
-
Martin sets lap record to secure German MotoGP pole
-
'Shattered' Germany set sights on World Cup after Euros exit
-
Olympic hope Pedersen pulls out of Tour de France
-
Djokovic eyes sweet 16 at Wimbledon as Swiatek takes on 'gangster'
-
End beckons again for Ronaldo after Portugal Euros KO
-
New Zealand edge England 16-15 in tense, brutal first Test
-
Turkey take on Dutch in politically charged Euros quarter-final, England face Swiss
-
Calling for better ties with West, Iran reformist wins presidency
-
Cybercrime groups restructuring after major takedowns: experts
-
Activists hail Sierra Leone child marriage ban, urge action on FGM
-
Marsch relishing Canada's semi clash with Argentina
-
Canada stun Venezuela on penalties to reach Copa semis
-
Iran reformist Pezeshkian holds early lead in runoff vote
-
Swiatek faces 'gangster' threat, Djokovic feels need for Wimbledon speed
-
France holds its breath ahead of uncertain vote
-
Starmer begins UK 'rebuild' after landslide election win
-
Paris's Moulin Rouge inaugurates new windmill sails ahead of Olympics
-
Pan, Rai share halfway lead in PGA John Deere Classic
-
'I was feeling terrible' in debate, Biden says in TV interview
-
France coach Deschamps savours ending penalty hoodoo, defends Mbappe
-
Thompson bids farewell to Warriors after exit
-
Portugal exit Euros with pride, will return stronger: Martinez
-
UK's new PM Starmer speaks to world leaders, names top team
-
Spain and France to face off in Euros last four, Turkey lament 'unfair' Demiral ban
-
Israel says negotiators to hold fresh Gaza truce talks next week
-
France beat Portugal on penalties to reach Euro 2024 semi-finals
-
Endrick to start for Brazil in Uruguay Copa clash: Dorival
-
Heartbreak for Germany fans after dramatic Euros exit
-
Beryl heads for Texas after causing damage, no deaths in Mexico
-
Nagelsmann laments late penalty decision as hosts Germany exit Euros
-
Biden declares he's all in ahead of high-risk TV interview
-
Spain team 'is a winning horse', says De la Fuente
-
Bows at the ready, Chad villagers battle kidnappings
-
Alcaraz mimics Bellingham goal celebration after Wimbledon win
-
Olmo hopes Pedri can make speedy return for Euros semi-finalists Spain
-
Retiring Kroos hopeful despite Germany's 'bitter' Euros exit
-
Southgate turns on English 'entitlement' over claims of easy Euros draw
-
Merino extra-time goal sends Spain past Germany to Euro semis
-
Koeman demands Dutch silence fervent Turkish fans at Euros
-
Brad Pitt at Silverstone for filming of F1 movie
-
Raducanu storms into Wimbledon last 16
-
California fires spread in July 4 weekend heatwave
-
Alcaraz wins five-set Wimbledon thriller as Gauff eases through
![German teachers pushed out for calling out 'far-right' pupils](https://www.portugalcolonial.pt/media/shared/articles/85/9c/8d/German-teachers-pushed-out-for-call-666124.jpg)
German teachers pushed out for calling out 'far-right' pupils
Two teachers have been pressured out of their jobs in a small German town after denouncing the alleged right-wing extremism of their pupils, in a case that sparked a national outcry.
Laura Nickel and Max Teske were working in the high school in Burg, a picturesque town in the eastern state of Brandenburg popular with tourists, when they noticed worrying behaviour among some of their students.
"Right-wing extremism was on full display in the school," Nickel, 34, told AFP. "From Hitler salutes to swastikas drawn on dictionaries and students' lockers, not to mention racist and homophobic language."
"They were really the loudest pupils -- they did not hide," she added.
In April, the teachers sent an anonymous letter to the local press denouncing the behaviour they had witnessed.
The letter's publication led to other schools in eastern Germany reporting similar incidents and renewed soul-searching about the growing appeal of extremism.
The far-right AfD party has climbed to record highs in opinion polls in recent weeks, boosted by discontent with the ruling coalition. It is making most progress in the former communist east.
Many in the east -- known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR) during communist rule -- still feel they lost out when national reunification happened in 1990.
A study by the University of Leipzig has indicated that democracy is less deep-rooted than in the west, while some miss aspects of authoritarian rule from the GDR era.
After reporting the behaviour, Nickel said the teachers at the Mina Witkojc school found some of their colleagues supported them but others did not, and the school management "was passive".
At the end of the school year, an anonymous letter from some students' parents was sent to the management, demanding the resignation of the two teachers.
Then about 100 stickers with photos of the pair and the words "Piss off to Berlin" were put up all over Burg, and a call to hunt them down even appeared on an Instagram account, but was later taken down.
The pressure became too much for Nickel and Teske, 31, who requested to be transferred.
- 'Committed teachers' -
The decision was applauded by the AfD, with Lena Kotre, a member of the Brandenburg regional parliament, telling AFP the teachers were "cowards" who were "unable to face up to headwinds".
She played down the pupils' Hitler salutes, despite the fact there are photos of them making the gesture, and it is an offence punishable by up to three years in jail in Germany.
"They did not want to glorify the Third Reich but to provoke, like teenagers do when they are going through puberty," she said.
Timo Reinfrank of the anti-racist Amadeu Antonio Foundation said the area around Burg is one of the worst in Germany when it comes to racism and homophobia.
"A mixture of neo-Nazis, hooligans, organised crime and far-right businesses has flourished," he said.
"The police are being intimidated and the courts are being lenient."
The teachers' cause has found some support, with regional education minister Steffen Freiberg condemning the attacks against them.
And efforts are under way to bolster resistance to the far right in Burg, with the town's council chief Tobias Hentschel lamenting the school had "lost two young, committed teachers... who put their finger where it hurts".
Tourism is a major source of income in the spa town, famous for its cucumbers and gherkins and home to a small Slavic-speaking minority, and local officials recognise the catering and hotel sectors rely heavily on foreign workers.
In a video posted on the town's website, six residents -- including the mayor, a man who rents out canoes and a school social worker -- speak out against "all forms of extremism, racism and discrimination".
L.Torres--PC