Life_under_Siege_The_Jews_of_Magdeburg_under_Nazi_Rule.pdf

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Science, Art and Education was received in Magdeburg. 51 All Jewish schools
were instructed to adhere to the new syllabi. One of the stated goals was the
preparation of every Jewish child for emigration, with a particular emphasis on
emigration to Palestine. The mandated subjects were listed in the following order:
Religion and Hebrew; Biblical and Jewish History; German; Jewish Civilisation
(Heimatkunde); Geography; Music and Drawing. 52 In January 1938 the provincial
government received a directive from Berlin to commence the process of
establishing a segregated school by seeking suitable Jewish staff. 53 From 1
January 1938, the only Jewish schools permitted to operate were the new
segregated schools and/or authorised classes. All non-authorised schools and
classes ceased to exist after 28 March 1938. 54
In March 1938, preparations for the establishment of the ‘Judenschule’ in
Magdeburg commenced. The number of pupils was estimated at eighty-five and
the school was to consist of two composite classes. It was to be located in a
building at the front of another school, the ‘Zweite Gemeindeschule’, at Kleine
Schulstraße 24. The buildings were in fact only metres apart in proximity and
were at right angles to one another. Jewish pupils were to enter from a separate
entrance from the street and separate toilet facilities were provided. Owing to the
proximity of the two schools, segregation was to be policed by the headmaster of
the ‘Zweite Gemeindeschule’ to ensure ‘the desired complete isolation of the
51
Richtlinien zur Aufstellung von Lehrplänen für jüdische Volksschulen, 29. Oktober
1937, Bestand Rep. C 28 II, Signatur Nr. 88, Band 2, LHASA MD, op. cit., p. 62.
52
Ibid., pp. 62–63.
53
Beschäftigung jüdischer Lehrer an öffentlichen jüdischen Schulen, 30. Dezember
1937, ibid., p. 67.
54
Correspondence from Der Reichs- und Preußische Minister für Wissenschaft,
Erziehung und Volksbildung, 28 April 1938, ibid., p. 68.