#Edutopia
Lisa Kraan, Jodie Schulthess, Katya Klymenko & Nathan Werlen
##What if we learn how to express our feelings and thoughts properly?
To this day topics such as menstruation, sex, gender, racism, or domestic abuse are still taboos. It is a pity to feel insecure about sharing thoughts about such personal and impactful subjects. Acknowledging these themes, as issues within our society, is the beginning of a harmonious life as a community.
We propose a new way of thinking to the young generation and ultimately our whole society by simply talking about these complex topics in a non-judgemental way. To be able to execute this idea in our reality, the project focuses on re-designing the current educational systems by creating a playful and safe space for the children and their parents. Sharing values such as equality, diversity, and tolerance would help the children to grow an open mindset from an early age.
The project covers the curriculum and architectural aspects of primary schools in Switzerland. These new “classes” are as important as the other courses and will be treated as such by teachers and students. During the course, children are offered to talk about their thoughts and feelings freely and get the chance to discover their own identities. Unfortunately, not every household allows kids to talk about these topics, because their parents neither have the capacity nor skills to handle it. To concur with this issue, this new learning space would also be a safe platform for the parents, by offering them room to exchange thoughts and tips. Workshops would be provided to the parents and their children by educating them on creating a bond between each other and acknowledging their differences.
Our society would be less superficial and acknowledge these themes as part of our lives, which they are. Our mental health would improve because we would learn how to understand and express ourselves.
The ultimate goal of the project is to root this way of thinking firstly within the Swiss culture and then slowly evolve it globally. Every culture on this planet should be able to talk about these topics carelessly and safely.
