Educational Myths in the GDR - A Dictatorship and its Legacy

In various case studies conducted by the network’s collaborative partners, an extensive collection of previously unexplored image, text, sound and film sources have been used to analyse culturally influential images and narratives about education, upbringing and schools in the GDR that survived the dictatorship. These are then related to often positive assessments of the GDR education system (→ the people's education system) that were expressed soon after German reunification (→ transition / transformation) and have intensified over subsequent years. These include, for example, ideas about socially unrestricted access to education, a better and more systematic (scientific) education and gender equality that was achieved through education.

These assessments become myths when they become identity-forming components of collective memory. Through source-critical analysis and contextualising and contrasting interpretations, the production of narratives and images in educational and teaching situations is revealed and their coalescence into effective, lasting educational myths is examined. The insights gained in this way and the data and sources, newly explored and harnessed in the collaborative research, are available on this platform for use in research, teaching and learning, as well as for public interest.

There are differences in the content of the networks researchers’ findings, findings that were produced using different methodologies. These differences illustrate the complexity and incompleteness of memories and narratives about the long history of the transformation of the two Germanys - meaning both history in general as well as the history of education in particular. Political assessments, social debates and individual biographical experiences shape the spaces that hold these memories in different ways. Nor are the networks researchers a homogeneous group. They come from different generations, have diverse socialisation and educational backgrounds (in East Germany, West Germany and internationally), and therefore have different points of contact, experiences with and approaches to the history of the GDR. This is reflected in their varied ways of conducting research. Part of the joint effort of the network is therefore also to mutually reflect on these differences; however, they cannot always be systemised or levelled out.