School Museum

Having Your Say - Influencing Society

"Too much education will endanger the monarchy." This was the argument used by the Prussian state in the first half of the 19th century to keep school education for the wider population at the lowest possible level. But is it possible to manipulate a nation through schools? There are manifold interactions between political and social developments and school education. What happened when, in the 17th century, the children of the nobility were attending the same schools as day labourers' children? When they were given school reports? What were the consequences when in the 19th century, schools showed that, contrary to the then received opinion, girls were indeed talented enough to attend higher education institutes and universities?

The exhibition shows both "faces" of schools. On the one hand, schools provide their students with skills and abilities which for example enable them to think and act independently. Education can also contribute to successful understanding between peoples and to enlightenment. On the other hand, the exhibition gives an insight into the manifold attempts to abuse school education for political purposes. Examples shown are text books and brochures advocating war or running down other nations, and also Stasi spy reports made by a school teacher. School education can also be abused for purposes of indoctrination with ideologies and manipulation. This is demonstrated by text books and teaching aids which either indulge in war-mongering or, alternatively, promote understanding between peoples.