05/03/2022, 22:13

Dear signatories of the Petition,

We'd like to give you some follow-up concerning our Petition.

We forwarded the Petition with its 250 signatures and all the wonderful and truly inspiring comments to the Director of the School. Before the Easter break, we had a meeting with Mr. Wedel. He explained to us that, some days after the war started, there was a meeting of the directors of all the 13 European schools where they all decided that "school is not a political institution" and therefore, as schools, they will stay "neutral" in the face of this war; raising flags of Ukraine beside the schools is "not recommended". However, they apply a "pedagogical approach", i. e. the teachers are free to discuss the war during their lessons. Mr. Wedel admitted that the majority of the teachers are not experts in the issues of the war in Ukraine.

We strongly encouraged him to raise the question at the Directors' meeting again, perhaps, in view of what has happened during now more than two months of the war, the decision could be changed. He promised to do so and to keep us informed of the outcome.

European School I has 3300 students out of which 10-15 have Russian nationality. The Director didn't know about the number of Ukrainian students.
Some ideas raised by the Director: "You cannot impose on the children what is right and what is wrong".
"I'm open to organise a panel discussion, perhaps for older students, similar to those organised before elections, where all sides are heard".

Please feel free to send us your feedback and suggestions.

Kind regards,

The Petition Team