Zurich parliament backs new review of school busts

Zurich’s city parliament has narrowly approved a motion calling for a new expert review of 16 controversial wooden busts in the assembly hall of Hirschengraben School, SRF reported. The review is to examine how the hall is used for teaching and involve people affected by the depictions.

The carved heads, made in 1894 and 1895, represent people from different parts of the world. City experts say they reflect a racist worldview of the period and portray stereotyped “racial types”. A 2025 report, however, concluded that although the figures reflect their time, they depict the people represented as equals and are not degrading.

The debate began with a motion from the Alternative List, which wanted the busts covered while the hall is used for school activities. Councillor Sophie Blaser argued that the figures categorize people according to racist ideas and are unsuitable for children. She also called the 2025 report scientifically inadequate and described it as a favour.

Schools director Balthasar Glättli of the Green Party opposed covering the busts and said the city would instead provide more context, including information for adults and teaching materials for pupils. He noted that the hall is rarely used for regular lessons. The Social Democratic Party backed criticism of the existing report but rejected covering the figures. Its amendment calling for a new report was adopted.

The Swiss People’s Party opposed the motion, calling the debate symbolic politics and a culture war. Its representatives said the busts depict people from different regions as equals and pointed to the 2025 report’s conclusion that the figures were not racist.

The dispute is part of a wider debate in Switzerland over colonial-era heritage. In Zurich, the city decided to cover two historic house inscriptions in the Niederdorf district because of their racist associations; the Federal Supreme Court cleared the way for reversible coverings in 2025. In another case, the city left a statue of merchant David de Pury in place but added an information panel and art interventions after criticism of his links to colonial trade and slavery.