Educating the democratic citizens of tomorrow. Our project is about democracy, its multiple transformations throughout time and the ways this type of government can improve people’s lives. The initial idea was born during a school visit to the National Parliament. The students had previously studied the types of democratic government and the importance of the freedom of speech in modern democracies. Despite the academic knowledge, the project hasn’t changed their view towards the democratic institutions. Since we strongly believe that the systematic rejection of the democratic institutions is one of the major risks modern democracies are facing, as it could pave the way for various authoritarian ideologies, we decided to run this project. We aim to help the pupils have a different approach of the democratic institutions. We took into consideration that school projects should activate even the less advantaged. The activities are based on the principle that every pupil can develop his learning potential in an agreeable and stimulating learning environment, that favors autonomy and creativity. The participants overcome 50% of students and staff in each school. The participants in each mobility are 30 pupils, some coming from less advantaged family environments and 12 teachers sharing the same concerns on children’s needs, early school dropout and personal evolvement. Activities could involve visits to places where democracy was born, like the ancient Agora in Athens, where Athenian citizens discussed in person every issue of city life, the Greek Parliament or the ancient theater of Larissa, where poets and play writers of the 5th century A.C freely expressed their beliefs and accused their leaders, thanks to the democratic freedom of speech. Rhetorical speeches on controversial issues and strategies used to influence the voters could be presented. Role playing could cover a significant part of the activities. The participants could play the roles of legislators, leaders, warriors, women, slaves immigrants to understand the conflict between individual and social interest. All the activities are designed to present the different and often conflicting opinions that flourish in a society and the competence required to use them in favor of the less advantaged. The methodology will be a combination of theoretical research and development of social and interactive skills. The students, teachers and the local community will benefit from the outcome of this project. By participating in different activities the students will improve language and communicating skills, share their knowledge on democratic institutions and understand the political evolution in human societies. The local community will benefit from those future citizens interested in discussing, negotiating, presenting arguments and respecting people’s rights. In the long term, schools and communities situated in the countryside will feel that their needs will be respected and their opinions appreciated and they willingly accept their responsibilities as citizens.
Our project was about democracy, its multiple transformations through time and the ways this type of government can improve people’s lives. It was realized from 2019 to 2022 by two Greek, a Portuguese, a Polish and a Spanish school. Some activities were virtual, due to the covid-19 restrictions. We had decided to run this project because we strongly believed that the systematic rejection of the democratic institutions is one of the major risks modern democracies are facing, as it could pave the way for various authoritarian ideologies. The activities discussed in this project were designed for pupils of 15-18 years old and their teachers. The groups of pupils were carefully selected according to their motivation and involvement in the activities. Some of the participants in the project were students coming from less advantaged family environments and teachers sharing the same concerns on children’s needs, early school dropout and personal evolvement. Activities had involved visits to places where democracy was born, like the ancient Agora in Athens, the Greek, Polish, Portuguese and Balearic Parliaments, ancient theaters and public spaces where poets, play-writers, politicians freely expressed their beliefs and the EU institutions in Brussels. All the activities during the virtual or actual mobilities were designed to present the different and often conflicting opinions that flourish in a society and the competence required to use them in favor of the less advantaged. The methodology used in this project was a combination of theoretical research and development of social and interactive skills. By the moment our project was completed, pupils were able to • Learn about the historical circumstances and the efforts that lead different countries to democracy. • Understand the importance of human and political rights and the ways to protect them and make the connection between freedom, equality and democracy. • Discuss on the procedures of decision-making in society, school, family environment, especially when people of various origins and backgrounds are involved . • Understand that laws are made to protect our rights, to solve social problems and to provide support to the unprivileged and therefore respect and support the rules in school and social environment. • Improve their language and communication skills and the ability to express themselves in front of an audience. • Improve their skills in analyzing and understanding data, debating, presenting arguments, cooperating. • Acknowledge that there are different types of learning procedures that could be introduced in school curriculum, in order to prevent early school dropout. • Understand the role of media in a democratic society and successfully interpret what they see or read. • Learn to express them in a democratic environment and to raise the right questions, develop their creativity, tolerance, openness. Evaluation of the project had provided feedback for further academic, professional and personal improvement. School representatives, the school council and parents had also participated in various ways, by organizing and supporting welcoming and hosting events. They were informed before, during and after the end of the project and were invited to various learning and dissemination events (presentations, photographic exhibitions). Apart from the teachers participating in this project, all interested teachers in each school were welcomed into different activities, asked to provide their know-how in teacher’s workshops and attended some of the learning and dissemination activities. The whole procedure was beneficial for the local community. Its members were able to communicate in a foreign language without fear of being inadequate, exchanged views with people from other countries, shared European perspectives, experienced social inclusion. The local community will benefit from those future citizens interested in discussing, negotiating, presenting arguments and respecting people’s rights. In the long term, schools and communities situated in the countryside will feel that their needs will be respected and their opinions appreciated and they willingly accept their responsibilities as citizens. Our project gave us the opportunity to transform ourselves through a procedure that encouraged autonomy and creativity. New friendships were formed and everybody had the opportunity to be in touch with different ways of thinking and acting. The teaching and learning activities had covered the aims of the project “Educating the Democratic Citizens of Tomorrow” and new questions were posed, to be answered in future projects.