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What is fair? Is it when the majority decides? Or by drawing lots? Is our school system fair?
These and other questions were addressed by approximately 40 students from the Robert-Jungk-School, the Fritz-Reuter-School , and the Friedrich-Ebert-Gymnasium when they met again this year at the wannseeFORUM for the training seminar for student representatives. This seminar provides a space where (prospective) student representatives and spokespeople can meet and exchange ideas about projects and implementation strategies within their schools' student councils. It's a place where they are encouraged to participate and engage with topics such as politics and democracy. Given the topicality of the subject, the students focused on this year's overarching theme of "Justice" during the seminar week.
The week began on Monday with an introductory session: Participants explored various questions about justice, such as the difference between equal rights and equal treatment. They also considered what is specifically fair or unfair at their own schools.
They could then choose between the workshops “Comic”, “Black and White Photography”, “Digital Photo Story” and “Rap”, in which they artistically explored the justices and injustices at school, in Germany and in their lives as students over five days.
On Friday, September 15, 2017, a public presentation finally took place, attended by invited guests from the three participating schools as well as students from the Berggruen Gymnasium, who were participating in their own seminar at the wannseeFORUM concurrently with this student council trip. The presentation room was thus well-filled, and the young people, parents, and teachers eagerly awaited the results from the workshops.
The presentation began with a photo exhibition by the black and white photography group, featuring photo series on the theme of justice. These series depicted differences between professional classes, models of justice, and much more.
This was followed by a presentation and reading of the comic "Amir and the School of Horrors," in which the characters grappled with the issue of justice at school, particularly within the student council.
Next came a presentation of a digital photo story, accompanied by music, depicting short episodes entitled "Karma Will Get You," in which the protagonists' misdeeds were punished by "karma" in everyday life.
The presentation concluded with a performance by the rap group, whose lyrics also addressed issues of justice, such as the right to education, and injustices, such as biased teachers in schools.
Parallel to the final presentation, the U18 election place on the same day at the wannseeFORUM. In preparation, campaign videos from the parties were shown every morning during the seminar. At lunchtime, there were further opportunities to learn about the party platforms, the Wahl-O-Mat (a voting advice application), and the party system in Germany. With a voter turnout of 85%, we received the following results from the student council seminar participants:
On Saturday, before the grand closing buffet and the obligatory party, a mock student council meeting was held, in which the respective workshop groups discussed proposals they had previously prepared. With students taking on the roles of parent and teacher representatives, as well as the meeting chair, arguments were gathered, votes were taken, and a decision was ultimately made as to whether the proposals would be forwarded to the school conference. The participants left the meeting feeling successful and with renewed confidence in achieving more at their schools.
The seminar concluded on Sunday with each workshop group summarizing how the theme of justice had resonated with them throughout the week and what they would take back to their schools. Thus, the 2017 student council retreat ended with new ideas, increased self-confidence, new friendships, and fresh perspectives on what justice means, or could mean, in schools. We wish all the students every success in implementing their ideas in their schools.