CALGARY — A German anti-extremism organization sparked controversy after publishing guidance for kindergarten educators that included traditional gender roles, quiet behaviour and obedience among characteristics discussed in a case involving children from a far-right “völkisch” family.The guidance, published by the Amadeu Antonio Foundation in 2018 and has resurfaced online, was intended to help daycare and kindergarten staff ''recognize and respond to right-wing extremism, racism and discrimination.''The publication, titled “Ene, mene, muh – und raus bist du!”, includes a section discussing children from so-called “völkisch” families, a term associated with an ethnic-nationalist movement emphasizing German ancestry and traditional cultural values.One case study describes two children whose parents were reportedly known to have connections to a ''right-wing extremist organization.''.The children are described as unusually quiet and obedient, with the publication stating that traditional gender roles were evident in their upbringing.The girl is described as wearing dresses and braids and being encouraged to participate in household and handicraft activities. The boy, meanwhile, is described as undergoing intensive physical training. The publication also states that both children sometimes arrived at daycare after completing a 1.5-kilometre run.Following the controversy in 2018, the Amadeu Antonio Foundation issued a clarification addressing reports that its publication portrayed girls wearing braids as potential indicators of extremism.The foundation said the passage referred to a specific case involving a family whose völkisch background was already known.“It is about a case in which a girl from a known völkisch family is described,” the Amadeu Antonio Foundation said in a statement. .The organization argued that the controversy had removed the example from its broader context and emphasized that the publication was intended to help educators deal with established cases of right-wing extremist attitudes.The German government also addressed the controversy in 2018, saying the criticized passage was based on a specific case involving so-called “völkisch settler families” and was not intended to establish a general test for identifying extremist families.Berlin politician Falko Liecke, a member of the Christian Democratic Union, criticized the guidance and advised daycare operators in his district against using it.The dispute eventually reached the Berlin Administrative Court. In 2019, the court rejected the foundation's request for an interim injunction against Liecke's public criticism of the publication.There is no indication that the Amadeu Antonio Foundation has issued a new 2026 version of the guidance or that Germany has introduced a new national policy instructing kindergarten teachers to identify children based on their clothing or behaviour.
