Saxony-Anhalt Education Office Withdraws Reprimand Against Teacher Before Court Hearing

The Saxony-Anhalt State Education Office has deleted a formal disciplinary reprimand from the personnel file of secondary school teacher Max Heckel, bringing a legal dispute to an end before a scheduled court hearing. The administrative procedure was officially concluded on October 29, shortly before the administrative court in Magdeburg was scheduled to hear the case later in November.

The controversy originated from a classroom conversation at the Comeniusschule in Stendal in March 2025. When sixth-grade pupils asked Heckel whether he had voted for the Alternative for Germany (AfD), he denied doing so and stated that AfD voters were either extremely wealthy, immoral, or out of their minds. He also directed the pupils to internet platforms that present critical perspectives on the party.

Following a formal complaint lodged by the AfD, the State Education Office issued an official reprimand against the teacher in August 2025. The authority determined that Heckel had violated the Beutelsbacher Konsens, a set of established guidelines for political education in German schools that prohibits teachers from imposing their political views on students.

Heckel rejected the administrative sanction and filed a lawsuit against the authority, maintaining that his statements were part of his obligation to warn students against right-wing extremism. He also turned down a compromise proposed by the education office to delete the reprimand after a six-month period, demanding instead its immediate removal from his file.

The education office ultimately removed the reprimand prior to the scheduled trial date, citing a lapse of time as the cause. Court spokesperson Tobias Kühne stated to local media that the duration depends on when, in the individual case, the warning function of the reprimand can be considered fulfilled. Kühne added that the deletion was not an admission that the initial disciplinary measure had been unjustified or inappropriate.

Throughout the legal proceedings, Heckel commented publicly on the dispute across various media platforms, including interviews with national print outlets and appearances on public broadcasting formats. During a television interview, he expressed frustration regarding colleagues nationwide who adhere to what he described as a myth of neutrality.

Written by Andreas Hofer andreas.hofer@alpineweekly.com