BERLIN (RNS) A mandatory ethics course in Berlin’s public schools does not violate a family’s right to educate children according to religious beliefs, the European Court of Human Rights ruled Tuesday (Oct. 20).
At issue was a 2006 move by the city-state of Berlin to require ethics classes for all students in grades 7-10. Although elective courses on specific faiths are still available, opponents of the ethics class say its mandatory nature makes it harder for students to find time for religion courses.
Traditionally, most German students take a course focused on their religion. Students who are not members of a particular faith had to take an ethics course, but there was no set curriculum and some experts said these classes were little more than discussion circles.
A series of murders in Berlin, including a sensational honor killing, convinced educators that a new ethics course, with a set curriculum and time to learn about world religions, needed to be made mandatory to expose students to a variety of cultures and ideas.
Johanna Appel-Irrgang and her parents argued that the secular nature of the class would violate her Christian beliefs.
But the court decided the applicants had not argued that the course, as it had actually been taught in the school year 2006-2007, had been disrespectful of their religious beliefs.
The court also refuted the family’s argument that the ethics class meant that Germany’s Christian tradition was not being adequately represented in the classroom.
Finally, the court pointed out that Appel-Irrgang could still attend a voluntary Protestant religion course at her school.