Educational myths in the long history of the GDR

Education and child-rearing, childhood and adolescence have all been the subject of a variety of narratives and memories during the GDR and after 1990. What happened here and how did the material for these varied narratives and myths come about?

Curated content to discover

'Education for all'
Myths

A central myth within the GDR's socialist conceptions of society was the realisation of an 'education for all' (Bildung für Alle).
Gender equality
Myths

The narrative of gender equality was an important element of the state’s self-image in the GDR and the promises of socialism.
Antifascist founding
Myths

The myth of a so-called antifascist founding was part of the GDR's self-image in its use as a system-reinforcing narrative.
Communality
Myths

Groups such as the class at school or the Young Pioneers (Junge Pioniere) and the FDJ (Freie Deutsche Jugend) played an important role in the GDR as 'collectives'.
Scientific rigour and the natural sciences
Myths

In the GDR’s scientific education films, politically impactful images were conveyed at the same time as specialist knowledge.
Educational film "Human Breathing" (1982)
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The film is about four and a half minutes long and was...
Impressions from children's magazine "Bummi" (1957-1989)
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"Bummi" was published by "Junge Welt"...
Table in pedagogical lecture (1968)
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Excerpt of a diagnostic table...
Film "By Educators for Educators: The Individual Characteristics (...)" (1979)
Sources | Video

The first 10 minutes of a television report with the...
Covers of German didactics journal “Praxis Deutsch” (1990-1991)
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Various covers of a widely read journal
Interview excerpts on the topic of "childhood"
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Conversations between primary school children and contemporary witnesses
Mathematics textbooks for Mozambique (1971, 1972)
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Excerpts from Portuguese-language textbooks
Handicraft in pedagogical lecture (1974)
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Handwoven red star in a pedagogical lecture
Letters to Christa Wolf (1989)
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Letters to the editor in reaction to Christa Wolf's essays...
Interview excerpts on the topic of "communality"
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Secondary analyses of biographical interviews with contemporary witnesses
Children's book illustrations (1978-1988)
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Works by various illustrators...