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“(School) Utopias” was the theme of the student council seminar from February 13-17, 2023. Students of all grade levels from three Berlin schools were given the opportunity to artistically implement their thoughts and ideas on the topic in artistic workshops.
On the first day, everyone had the opportunity to get to know each other personally and present the advantages, challenges, projects, and structures of their student council and the school as a whole. The Wilma-Rudolph-Oberschule, the Willi-Graf-Gymnasium , and the Gustav-Heinemann-Oberschule were able to highlight and reflect on similarities and differences in their discussions. All schools already had extracurricular activities, academic focuses, and interesting student council projects to showcase. At the same time, the seminar week also revealed how difficult it is to formulate positive future prospects when issues such as personal mental health, bullying, and life in a divided society marked by wars and natural disasters are more present in students' daily lives than ever before.
Participants were invited to think big and broadly. The topic of utopias in schools was introduced using a film clip from 1973, based on Erich Kästner's 1933 novel "The Flying Classroom ." The idea of learning not in a dusty classroom, far removed from the real world, but traveling the world in one's own airplane and experiencing geography, history, and biology firsthand—this utopia existed 100 years ago and remains just as relevant today. However, even thinking about grand utopias begins with one's own agency on a small scale, within one's own school. The realization that one's own actions have an impact, that individuals can make a difference and initiate change, was a key learning experience of the seminar.
The film workshop addressed the topics of inclusion and tolerance. Using a situation of discrimination from everyday school life as a starting point, the participants demonstrated a positive development towards a society characterized by tolerance. (Link to the film on Vimeo here.)
The dance theatre workshop presented various images, depicting a student at a new school, and exploring themes of selfishness and community spirit within the school. The performance addressed topics such as appreciation, anxieties, and solidarity within the school community.
The rap song expressed a desire for more respect and tolerance in schools. The rap group envisioned a utopian environment where students could freely develop in small classes with approachable teachers who addressed their real problems. (Link to the video on Vimeo here.)
In the photography workshop, various photo series were created exploring abstract and very concrete utopias. Looking to the past and future, the students' visions of a respectful, tolerant society, encompassing family, workplace, and everyday life, were revealed. (Link to the album on Flickr here.)
The results were presented and admired at a final presentation on Friday. After a thorough reflection on the week, and especially on what the students would take away with them to their schools and student council work, the short week came to an end.
We wish all participants every success in their continued commitment, so that all plans and utopias become reality.
See you next year!
The seminar was funded by the Senate Department for Education, Youth and Family.
