This autumn, 30 class representatives and dedicated students from the Röntgen School, the Sophie Brahe School, the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Gymnasium, and the Goethe Gymnasium once again came to the wannseeFORUM with the aim of preparing themselves for their roles as student representatives and exchanging their concerns and ideas. To this end, an inventory was taken in each school group at the beginning of the seminar, using the following guiding questions:
What's going well/badly at your school?
What ideas/wishes do you have?
What can student representatives do about it?
During the subsequent presentation of each school, highlighting its respective focus areas and specific challenges, particular attention was paid to the work of the student council. It became clear that many of the student council's issues at one school were similar to those at other schools, or that solutions had even already been found. These discussions led to thematic clusters for further work in the coming days. On the afternoon of the first day, the students divided into three creative workshops. Through a collaborative process, each workshop group agreed on its own thematic focus, which was then developed artistically throughout the week and ultimately presented to an audience.
The comic group tackled the issue of bullying at school. Together, they developed and drew a story in which a student is initially bullied and eventually receives support from the student council. The comic also includes a puzzle with questions about student council work and beyond. Enjoy reading and solving the puzzle in "Kitchen School"...
The rap group's discussions revolved around generational justice and empowering young people. All participants wrote their own lyrics for the collaborative song "Next Generation XXXX" and performed it live in front of an audience. They also recorded a music video, which can be seen here:
The theater group's play, titled "Self-Service," was about a fictional school where the student council is given a wish-granting machine. However, when it breaks down due to technical problems, the students realize they need to tackle their ideas and wishes together.
On the penultimate day of the seminar, a simulated student council meeting was held as part of a role-playing exercise. Each group submitted a proposal, which was then discussed with the other groups and finally put to a vote. The topics included participation in the Fridays for Future demonstrations, bullying in schools, and improving communication within the school.
After a review of the past few days and the awarding of participation certificates, all the students returned to their daily routines with renewed energy. We wish all participants every success in implementing their newly acquired skills and project ideas.
The seminar was funded by the Senate Department for Education, Youth and Family
