Nazi Education Policies

Read the .pdf reading, "Nazi Education Policies," in the shared file folder that is entitled Nazi Methods of Rule Readings.

1. Identify three important changes made by the Nazis to the education system. Explain the purpose of each change.

A. All teachers had to join the National Socialist Teachers' League (NSLB)
This was to ensure that all teachers followed what the Nazi's told them to teach. Members had to attend one month training courses, stressing Nazi ideology and physical education.

B. Nazi's changed the curriculum
There was a stress on physical exercise, Nazi ideas were incorporated unto subjects, especially biology and history. Religious education was removed. All textbooks had to be approved, and eventually new textbooks were produced reflecting Nazi values.

C. Co-ed schools were replaced by boys schools and girls schools
This was to ensure that boys and girls got the education that fit to them. Girls took needlework, music, language and home crafts. These taught them the skills they needed to be good mothers.

2. Give specific examples of how the Nazis tried in schools to develop the spirit of Volksgemeinschaft in the following seven goals:

Anti-intellectualism:
In 1933 the Law for the Restoration of the Civil Service purged schools and universities of extremely smart teachers because of racial or political reasons.

Anti-semitism:
University curricula were changed to include racial and eugenic ideas in medicine, law and politics.

Indifference to the weak:
Physical and military training was present in schools. The weak were not able to participate in these activities and were looked down upon. Students were forced to join the Nazi-controlled German Students' League and had to attend twice weekly sessions for fitness training.

Nationalism:
The official manual for teachers said, "The chief purpose of the schools is to train human beings to realize that the State is more important than the individual, that individuals must be willing and ready to sacrifice themselves for Nation and Fuhrer."

Militarism, Obedience and discipline:
Military training was included in the curriculum.
The Nazis built National Political Institutes of Education (NAPOLAs) for boys ages 10-18 to develop future leaders. They provided military style boarding education, with the atmosphere of a military camp.

Hitler Worship:
All teachers had to sign a "Declaration in Support of Hitler and the National Socialist State."

3. What methods did the Nazis use to try to ensure schools were teaching correctly?
The Nazi's made sure that all teachers supported Nazi ideology. Every subject had some piece of Nazi ideology integrated into it. Even math word problems had messages, for example it would cost the same amount of money for one insane asylum as it would to build 400 houses. Another example shows that it is a "waste" of money to spend it on disabled people. History was used to strengthen nationalism and pride for Germany. Also it showed how the Jews had been hurting the German country throughout the years. In the curriculum, there were things relating Hitler to Jesus.

4. Write out a statement that explains the main educational aims of the Nazi Education System. (Reference some of the sources from the packet.)
The main goal of the Nazi Education System is to educate the youth about the strength of Germany and Hitler (Sources 14.23, 14.25, 14.26), the inferiority of the Jew (14.23, 14.24) and the inferiority of the weak and disabled (14.21).