The Association of Free Waldorf Schools has taken a position on critical reporting in Jan Böhmermann's "ZDF Magazin Royale" program. "Of course, we are committed to the free democratic basic order, which makes it possible for us to operate as independent schools," wrote board member Nele Auschra in a statement published on the Internet on Friday.

The schools are obliged to develop a protection concept to prevent violence. In a statement published on Wednesday, it was said that Reich citizens, New Rightists or supporters of conspiracy ideologies had no place in Waldorf schools.

Böhmermann criticizes contact with corona deniers

Jan Böhmermann had criticized in the program that the German state supports the Waldorf schools with more than half a billion euros a year without knowing exactly what is happening in the schools. Waldorf trainers and teachers have contacts in the Corona denial scene. Violent teachers are also apparently made easier to remain undetected. Böhmermann also relied on research by the online magazine "Krautreporter".

Waldorf schools are private schools. According to the association, there are more than 250 Waldorf schools in Germany - they have joined together to form the Association of Free Waldorf Schools. According to this, around 90,500 pupils in Germany attend a Waldorf school. Classic subjects such as math or German are taught by a single teacher in these schools up to the eighth grade. There is no sitting and no grades - except for the state final exams.