42% of secondary school teachers in the Netherlands witnessed antisemitic incidents in the classroom in the past year. These mostly involved swearing and abusive language that was not directed at specific individuals.
This is revealed in the report by research firm Panteia, which carried out research on antisemitism in secondary education commissioned by the Anne Frank House.
The Anne Frank House aims to use the survey, in which 432 teachers took part in 2022, to gain an up-to-date picture of the nature and extent of antisemitic incidents among secondary school students. Similar research was also conducted in 2013 and 2004. In 2013, 35% of teachers experienced one or more antisemitic incidents in the classroom, compared to 50% in 2004. Antisemitism in the classroom, as in society, remains an intractable problem.
Antisemitic incidents occur at all educational levels, from basic ‘practical school’ to VWO (pre-university education), with an overrepresentation in VMBO (pre-vocational education). This mainly involves swearing and insults that are not targeted at a specific individual.
“The results of the survey show that countering antisemitism in secondary education is still badly needed. In doing so, successful approaches – such as education on the Holocaust and on the prejudices underlying antisemitism and other forms of discrimination – should be continued and extended. Successful approaches to combating football-related antisemitism should also continue. The Anne Frank House, in partnership with other organisations, remains committed to this” said Executive Director of the Anne Frank House Ronald Leopold.
