Renaming causes discussions: German daycare center no longer wants to be called ‘Anne Frank’.

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The daycare center in Tangerhütte (D) will from now on be called “World Explorer” instead of “Anne Frank”. It will no longer bear the name of the Jewish girl (1929-1945) whose diary has moved the world since 1947. Parents and employees would have liked to see a ‘child-friendly’ name that ‘better fits the concept’. Mayor Andreas Brohm (45) explains this to the Volksstimme. Their needs take precedence over the global political situation.

Childcare director Linda Schichor also prefers a more ‘child-friendly’ name, she confirmed to the regional newspaper. Parents and children with a migrant background “often have nothing to do with the name”. What is desired, according to Schichor, is a daycare center name without a political background.

‘Wrong signal in times of anti-Semitism’

But the requested name change has drawn criticism. The association “Together – Network for Democracy and Cosmopolitanism in Saxony-Anhalt” speaks out about . “Right now we need a high degree of sensitivity to the impact of symbolic renaming and a historical consciousness.”

The International Auschwitz Committee sees it the same way. In an open letter to the city of Tangerhütte, the committee calls for reconsideration of the name change. “If you are willing to dismiss your own history so casually, especially in these times of new anti-Semitism, you can only become fearful and anxious when it comes to the culture of memory in our country,” the letter, which is available, says. to Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR).

Decision on name change is still pending

According to the city, the new name has nothing to do with current events. The name discussion arose at the beginning of this year, the city announced in a press release on Monday. The daycare center has therefore gone through a renewal process over the past 14 months. The emphasis was on the transition to open youth work. Due to the fundamental concept change, there was talk of making this clear to the outside world with a new name.

Mayor Brohm thanked people on Monday for the ‘many constructive suggestions’, the MDR writes. According to the press release, the discussion about the name change has not yet been completed and a decision is still pending. It is currently unclear when this will be decided. (gs)

Source: Blick