Textbooks and Anti-ziganism: The Portrayal of Sinti and Roma in Current German Curricula and Textbooks

An analysis of curricula and textbooks for subjects taught at secondary level in German schools that foster a sense of meaning and identity, such as history, politics/social studies, geography and civics, aimed to discover the contexts in which Sinti and Roma are mentioned and whether antiziganism is addressed.

The project has been funded by the Federal Ministry of the Interior as contribution to the Independent Commission on Antiziganism of the Federal Government of Germany.

  • Goals

    The examination of current curricula allowed an insight into how antiziganism and the portrayal of Sinti and Roma are viewed in terms of education policy. Curricula reveal thematic contexts and teaching units that have the potential to encourage and support social diversity, critically address discrimination and teach skills to combat prejudice. These can be used by textbook authors to give space to portrayals of Sinti and Roma or to address the subject of antiziganism. The curricula analysis identified what emphasis is placed on Sinti, Roma and antiziganism in textbooks and lessons and where there are deficits or untapped potential.


  • Procedure

    A quantitative analysis of a significant sample of current textbooks for general secondary education aimed to identify the frequency with which Sinti and Roma are addressed in text and images whilst also identifying individual sources suitable for a qualitative analysis that investigated the presence of stereotypical depictions and an awareness of exclusion, discrimination and the cultivation of prejudice.

    A particular feature of the qualitative textbook analysis was its focus on the relationship between passive and active portrayals of Sinti and Roma. Do they appear as active members of society and are individuals mentioned by name with their perspectives, biographies and narratives included? Is there a critical examination of nomenclature? Are there references to Sinti and Roma organisations? Are options for tackling discrimination explored – both experienced and observed?


  • Results

    The insights gained through the study of textbooks and curricula provide an overview of the portrayal of Sinti and Roma in German curricula for 2019 and in the textbooks approved for use in the 16 federal states. Particularly striking depictions were highlighted in order to point out the potential of representations that are sensitive to discrimination and critical of racism against Sinti and Roma and to raise awareness of the discussion surrounding antiziganism in general. The sample was used by the government’s independent antiziganism commission as the basis for recommendations (pp. 237–252) for future curricula and textbook development.

    Interview

    Riem Spielhaus on News4teachers: "Buchmesse: Was leisten Schlbücher, um Lehrkräften beim Thema Vielfalt zu helfen?", 15 October 2021.

    Publication

    Imke Rath and Riem Spielhaus. Schulbücher und Antiziganismus: Zur Darstellung von Sinti und Roma in aktuellen deutschen Lehrplänen und Schulbüchern. Eckert. Dossiers 3 (2021). urn:nbn:de:0220-2021-0096


Project Team

  • Further Project Information

    Department

    Project Duration

    • December 2019 to May 2020

    Project Funding


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