A German Teacher's Disturbing Experience in a Predominantly Migrant School

Teacher Describes a "Hellish" Experience

Birgit Ebel, a teacher with 15 years of experience in a predominantly migrant school, has given a distressing account of her time there, describing it as "absolute hell". She reported incidents of knife violence, bullying, and sexism. Her experiences may shed light on Germany's declining PISA test scores and deteriorating educational outcomes.

Immigration and the School System

Ebel, who has since transferred to a different school district, asserts that the majority of the chaos in her previous school was caused by foreign students. She stated that 80 to 90 percent of the students had a migrant background, originating from predominantly Islamic countries such as Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Algeria, Bosnia, Chechnya, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, and North Africa. She also mentioned that some of these students were refugees who escaped war and harsh Islamic rule. Ebel believes that there is a direct correlation between immigration and the deterioration of Germany's school system, although she acknowledges that this view is controversial. She also noted that the extreme violence she witnessed was primarily perpetrated by migrant students, particularly male adolescents.

Violence, Sexism, and Racism

Ebel described a culture where stronger boys, capable of wielding weapons like brass knuckles and knives, were considered "masculine" and admired by others. She claimed that many students were armed with such weapons and that it was considered "normal". According to Ebel, conflicts between different ethnic and religious groups were almost always present in the school. She also noted that sexism was rampant, with male teachers generally facing less of it due to the cultural backgrounds of many students. Ebel revealed that she was frequently insulted with extremely offensive language. She also stated that students would often accuse her of being racist if they received poor grades, a claim that was sometimes even supported by their parents.

Increasing Violence in German Schools

Despite Ebel's shocking experiences, violence and harassment in German schools have become increasingly common. In 2024 alone, security authorities across the country reported approximately 27,500 violent crimes, such as knife attacks and assaults in schools, marking a 27 percent increase compared to 2022. Ebel shared a video with Focus Magazine that depicted a brutal beating of a boy by four others at her former school. She stated that such violence was commonplace. She also recounted a brawl involving 20 students, during which a pregnant teacher was punched in the stomach while trying to break up the fight.

Demographic Shifts and Declining School Quality

Ebel noted that the demographics of her school have changed dramatically over the years, with increasing numbers of poor people, parents without jobs, and individuals lacking German language skills. She also mentioned that other schools are experiencing similar levels of violence.

Bottom Line

Ebel's account paints a distressing picture of the state of education in Germany, particularly in schools with a high percentage of migrant students. It raises important questions about the impact of immigration on educational outcomes and the need for effective strategies to address violence and discrimination in schools. What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you think more needs to be done to address these challenges? Share this article with your friends and join the discussion. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.