As of: March 8, 2024, 9:30 a.m
By: Andrea Kästle
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The famous children's book author Otfried Preußler: The Pullach high school is still named after him, but not for long.
Since it decided to part ways with its namesake, the school has had to endure a lot of criticism.
© Ursula Düren
The debate about the renaming of the Otfried-Preußler-Gymnasium in Pullach has sparked discussions far beyond the municipal boundaries.
In a survey, Pullachers explain what they think of the school's renaming.
Pullach
- The desire of the Pullach state high school to separate from its namesake, Otfried Preußler, has caused a stir far beyond the municipal boundaries.
As a local survey shows, many people in Pullach can understand the attitude of the school family - partly because the naming after the children's book author was not implemented very democratically by the previous director.
Sebastian Westenthanner, CSU local councilor, was one of the two representatives on the committee who spoke out in favor of keeping the name.
He says that he himself was “never a fan” of naming Preussler, but: “For me it is also wrong to reverse it based on inconclusive evidence.” He does not feel in the position to decide The inventor of “Robber Hotzenplotz” should be judged: “No one who wasn’t there can understand what he experienced.” In addition, the author can no longer defend himself, Westenthanner believes: “We are not living up to our responsibility by renaming it.”
Sebastian Westenthanner, CSU local councilor.
© private
Community center boss Hannah Stegmayer has a different view, she says: “It's okay that the high school wants to give up its name.
You have to be able to change your opinion when you have a new level of knowledge." She was "always surprised" about the choice of name at high school anyway. Preußler ultimately created "harmless children's literature" and his young adult novel 'Krabat' doesn't change that.
He could have safely acknowledged his past in 1945.
Community center boss Hannah Stegmayer © Andrea Kästle
Joachim Puls is a filmmaker and founding member of the local history forum; he was himself a student at the “Pullacher,” as the school was called at the time.
His opinion: “The renaming of the school a good ten years ago was already wrong back then, because Preußler has no connection to Pullach.
Apart from that, knowing his early work, it would hardly be acceptable today.
With their exemplary commitment, the students and teachers now want to correct this mistake, and this should be honored and not unobjectively defamed.”
Joachim Puls, founding member of the local history forum.
© private
Florian Gering, Green Party councilor, who voted for the renaming to a “state high school” and who himself had or still has three children at the school, is slightly “shocked” by the echo that the school’s decision found in the national media.
“The presentation was sometimes very one-sided.” Meanwhile, he finds the school’s arguments for breaking away from the namesake “convincing; the children and young people were never able to identify with Preußler.
He is an author for a different age group”.
Because he did not take responsibility for his thoughts and actions, Preußler was only of limited use as a role model.
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Florian Gering, Green Party councilor © Andrea Kästle
Angelika Bahl-Benker, chairwoman of the Pullach History Forum, says: “Most of us welcome the school’s request to return to its previous name.
Students, teachers, management and parents have apparently not been able to identify with Preußler in eleven years and have dealt with him intensively.
'No connection to Pullach' and 'author for a different age group' were already mentioned against the name in 2013.
Preußler's early Nazi identification has now become known, from which he never distanced himself.
It’s unfortunate that the articles that are currently gloating about Pullach simply ignore these connections.”
Angelika Bahl-Benker, Chairwoman of the Pullach History Forum © private
Agenda 21, which the history forum supported in the application to rename Bischof-Meiser-Straße in Pullach, which the local council rejected, is also of the opinion that the school community's recommendation should be followed.
Spokesman Peter Kloeber: “There will definitely be a more worthy sponsor.”
Peter Kloeber, spokesman for Local Agenda 21. © Andrea Kästle