As Hitler came to power, he started to make changes within Germany. All of the changes he began making were to support the ideas he represented and to make them the ways of the people. Hitler decided to use education to support his regime.
Hitler started by putting all education under the Reich Ministry for Education and Science and removing all nonconforming educators in the process. He put all the aspects of education under the Reich Ministry because he wanted to have full control. The more control he has, there is less of a possibility that things will not go his way. And also this way he could control exactly what goes on in schools. So he gets to brainwash the children any way that he would like. He removed all nonconforming educators so that he would have no opposition. He does not want any opposition in the government or the school systems. Teachers began joining the National Socialist Teachers’ League which was sponsored by the Nazis. I imagine that Hitler strongly encouraged the teachers to join and was not happy with the 3% of them who did not.
Hitler felt it necessary that 15% of school time should be devoted towards physical fitness. This was probably because he was trying to get children ready for the army at a young age. He wanted to build strong and healthy people so that as they grew up they could continue all the way into the armed forces. German, Biology, and History became the most important school subjects. Also to help get children into the militaristic mindset, German literature was taught to get them in the right mentality. Hitler felt strongly about his dislike for Jews and he wanted to make sure that the people in the schools were very familiar with racial genetics, so that is what they learned in Biology. If the children could easily determine ethnicity they could respond quickly and always be sure of who is the enemy and who is not.
Youth movements were arranged for students of all different ages. In these movements they were probably taught to be the way that Hitler wanted them to be, thinking as a Nazi and acting as a Nazi. The more that the students were surrounded by the new German ways, the more likely they were to know of nothing else. This was Hitlers plan to get the young people of the country on his side. In the youth movements the boys once again participated in military activities. The younger Hitler could teach them to be in the army, the better they would be. The girls would take part in maternal activities. Hitler was so focused on preparing the students to be in the army and to join the Nazis that academics decreased substantially.
Hitler used education to support his regime to start turning the children of Germany into Nazis as soon as he could. This decision of his to set up more physical education time and focus on solely German things led to the decline of education. He was successful in teaching the students his ways and getting them on his side because it was what they were being taught every day.
I guess while Hitler used education to build his regime the quality of education went down. I think that kind of says something about Hitler. Almost as if he thought "I don't care if they know what e=mc^2 means, but they sure as heck will know what a Jew looks like!" He even disregarded subjects that he thought were useless, even though they weren't of any threat to him. I just find it ironic that he tried to get into the education system to ruin it, not to help it. It shows that Hitler could never be a teacher.
ReplyDeleteHe also used education to turn children against their parents. Their parents may not feel that Jewish people are horrible. In fact, as easy as it was for them to interract before Hitler, they may even be friends with Jews. By teaching them early by some "respected educator" they can go home and say "They're bad. My teacher told me so!"
I think since he was basically making an army out of little kids, he should have just splashed the title "Nazi Army" on them and let them at least get paid for it.
Leanne,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on your post, Hitler did use education to brainwash the youth in Germany. They were the next generation so they had to be trained with Hitler's training if HItler was going to continue to maintain his power. Even though Hitler was training the youth at school, it made opportunity for the children to put the teachings in practice at home. Once the children got accustomed to the trainings and practices, the children began to turn on the parents and family memebrs, like Chelsea said too. The parennts probably felt an insecurity about sending their child to school if they were going to be taught to turn against the Jews.
Ok, so I'm going to touch on everyone's point here to make my own point. :D
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, Leanne! Good post. I personally feel that you could analyze and make your points a wee bit strong instead of in a way "touching" on them. But for the points that you made, you are correct. But Hitler had a plan. Remember that. His plan was POWER. And with power he had to gain the support of the German citizens by whatever means necessary. Grant it, this was a great way "FOR HITLER" to gain power. To show the German citizens that he was "changing Germany and its citizens for the better."
I agree with the curriculum and your reasons why those particular subjects were chosen. And I approach a new point when you guys believe that Hitler treated the younger generation like his "little army". Hitler's plan was to also TAKE CONTROL. For the longest, Germany and its citizens have been "chaotic" and citizens have not had a leader to take CONTROL for the better. Grant it, the youth movements might have been "harsh" but it brought STRUCTURE to an unorganized and failing country. This could also HELP Germany in the future, Hitler's lessons to the younger generation may continue to bring structure.
On another point, one question for you guys to think about. Using your points, facts, and opinion. Do you think that with more thought, time, and a better timing than when this took place, do you think that Hitler's plan for education could have been a success for Germany? Think about how we "throw things together because we procrastinate" and think of how great our work is when we spend time and do it right and in a longer time span. This could have applied to Hitler as well, don't you think?