The German city of Tangerhütte has announced plans to rename a day care center after migrant parents reportedly expressed concerns that the current name does not accurately reflect the diversity of the community.
The day care center is currently named after Anne Frank, a Jewish girl whose diary was published after she died at the age of 15 in a Nazi concentration camp — and according to local reports, migrant parents have complained that it is “challenging” to explain to their children who Frank was and why her story mattered.
After migrant parent pressure, Anne Frank daycare center to be renamed @ZvikaKlein #Germany | #AnneFrank | #Holocaust https://t.co/6FzEhRd7OW
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) November 5, 2023
According to a report from The Jerusalem Post, the daycare center’s director explained that “parents with migrant backgrounds feel uncertain about the name and find it challenging to explain to their children.”
An open society advocacy group, Miteinander eV, argued that there were certainly age-appropriate ways to discuss Frank’s story with younger children — and objected to the change, They said in a statement that especially as anti-semitism is on the rise in many areas, “renaming the daycare center sends the wrong signal.”
The city’s mayor, Andreas Brohm, has said the name change will go forward in spite of any concerns, noting that Anne Frank did not fit the parents’ push to embrace a “new focus on diversity.”
“Ultimately, the parents and employees wanted a name that was more ‘child-friendly’ and ‘better suited to their concept.’ Their needs are more important than the global political situation,” the BILD newspaper reported.
“‘Migrant parents’ successfully got Anne Frank canceled in Germany? Seems a little on the nose,” Guy Benson responded to the news in a post on X.
“Migrant parents” successfully got Anne Frank canceled in Germany? Seems a little on the nose. https://t.co/8XeGy0BuL4
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) November 6, 2023
“Imagine telling yourself in 2013 that in 10 years time, the Germans will be cancelling the ‘Anne Frank Kindergarten’ because of ….. ‘Diversity,'” Gray Connolly added.
“This is appalling. A German daycare center named after Anne Frank is changing its name,” said Aviva Klompas. “German media reports that parents want the center to push a message more focused on ‘international diversity.’ Hear that? They are promoting diversity by erasing Jews.”
This is appalling. A German daycare center named after Anne Frank is changing its name.
German media reports that parents want the center to push a message more focused on “international diversity.”
Hear that? They are promoting diversity by erasing Jews.
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) November 6, 2023