No, there are no fundamental shortcomings in dealing with political neutrality at Aargau cantonal schools. This is the conclusion of a representative study commissioned by the Aargau government. A large majority of students enjoy going to school, find the atmosphere positive and do not feel discriminated against because of political opinions.
The background: How the study came about and what triggered it
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Is political neutrality systematically violated at Aargau canton schools? An FDP politician asked this question in the Aargau cantonal parliament. He referred to a thesis by three students who are close to the Young FDP. After their own survey, the students came to the conclusion that many students perceived the learning content and teachers as more left-wing. They saw this as a violation of the school law, which prescribes politically neutral teaching. The assertion made by the students was brought to the cantonal parliament by FDP politician Adrian Schoop. This then commissioned the government to conduct a study to investigate the allegation.
The case soon made waves. In other cantons, too, bourgeois politicians took up the accusation that middle schools were left-leaning. Various cantonal parliaments received inquiries and requests to examine political neutrality in schools more closely.
Nevertheless, the study also provides indications for the exclusion of certain political opinions. Even if this is only true to a small extent, the topic and the study should now be better discussed in the Aargau canton schools, the Aargau government wrote in a statement.
Young people who tend to be on the right see themselves at a disadvantage
According to the study, there are only a few young people who position themselves politically on the right. A large proportion of the students locate themselves in the middle, a smaller proportion more to the left. The study also shows that the more right-wing young people consider themselves to be above-average well-informed when it comes to politics.
As part of the study, the answers of around 2,200 schoolchildren were evaluated in a detailed online questionnaire (further details on the study in the text box below). Among other things, a clear majority of 84 percent said that they had never felt disadvantaged because of a political opinion or nationality.
Facts about the survey in schools
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- As part of the representative study, all 6,000 pupils from the Aargau cantonal schools, as well as 850 teachers, the rectors and one rector were invited to take part in the survey. The survey was carried out by the opinion research institute Sotomo from Zurich. The study cost CHF 65,740.
- The aim of the survey was to find out whether students can contribute their opinions to political discussions in class or whether the teachers prevent them from doing so. The design of the lessons by the teachers was not explicitly examined.
- Almost 40 percent of the high school students surveyed (2,270 people) and almost 60 percent of the teachers (493) took part in the survey. According to Sotomo, this response is high for an online survey.
- The quantitative data collection consisted of an online survey of the teachers and a (more detailed) online survey of the students of all Aargau secondary school types. The questions revolved around one’s own political opinion, possible exclusion due to the opinion and many other topics.
- In order to reflect the view of the school management, individual guideline discussions were also held with the rector and the five rectors.
- The complete study with all questions and graphics is available here: Sotomo study middle schools and political neutrality
In this context, the 16 percent of the students who have already felt disadvantages are particularly exciting. Although these are a clear minority, when it comes to disadvantages because of a political opinion, the survey paints a clear picture. It is mostly those young people who experience disadvantages who see themselves politically on the right.
According to the authors of the study, peer pressure plays a major role here and not the attitude of the teacher or the lessons. The students on the right in particular often receive derogatory comments or rejection from their classmates when they express their opinions.
Teachers rely on neutrality and that is noticeable
The way young people deal with each other with regard to their political opinions is one thing. However, the attitude of the teachers is also decisive for the political neutrality of school operations. The study therefore also asked the 850 teachers at the cantonal schools how they deal with political opinions.
The teachers agree on one point: personal attitudes must not be allowed to flow into the lesson. When it comes to political topics, 90 percent of the teachers find it important that the topics are presented in a controversial manner, that is, that different opinions are represented.
This attitude also applies to the student body. A large majority has never received a negative reaction from a teacher to their own political statement. However, here too it is primarily the more right-wing students who more frequently had the impression that a teacher prevented a discussion on a topic or ridiculed an argument that had been put forward.
Different reactions to the study and its interpretation
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The reactions to the study and how the study is interpreted shows how emotional the topic of political neutrality is at cantonal schools.
“Except for expenses, there was nothing,” she thinks, for example Aargauer SP. The Social Democrats don’t find it surprising at all that there is no need for action with regard to political neutrality at the Kantis, that was clear anyway. The SP criticizes that the bourgeois parties are not really interested in political neutrality, but in creating atmosphere.
She sees it very differently Young FDPwho initiated the study. The young liberals write that the study is “apprehensive”. Contrary to the government, they see a clear need for action based on the results and accuse the government council of “refusal to work”. After all, the study shows that middle-class young people are more afraid of the negative consequences of their opinions at school.
The Young SVP sees it the same way and uses similarly pithy words. The study clearly shows that middle-class thinking young people are “discriminated against and bullied” in the Kanti. The JSVP also sees an urgent need for action.
The middle on the other hand, criticizes above all that the study was carried out at all. In the context of the current canton finances, it is “questionable” that CHF 67,000 was spent on this investigation. Die Mitte is “pleased” to note that the study comes to the conclusion that political neutrality is maintained at secondary schools.
The responsible Aargau accepts with satisfaction Government Councilor Alex Hürzeler (SVP) the study results. The doubts about the political neutrality of the secondary schools have now been dispelled. The study gives the schools good marks.
