This project day was characterized by numerous contrasts. Alternating between emotional and interactive elements to the legal consequences of (cyber)bullying, the feeling of weakness, sadness and helplessness, but also of new strength, hope and belonging.
Under the motto “From digital to analogous”, the Serbian theater educators started the day with improvisational theater. To break the ice and release new energy after several days of project work, the “pif-paf-puf” exercise promoted concentration, focus and a feeling for the group. In the next step, the participants were asked to imagine walking through different environments such as water or fire and then, in country teams, to choose a line-up that represented their own country. These preparatory exercises increased the willingness to engage in the following tasks. In the second phase, typical bullying victims were first described for their own social group and, based on this, monologues were formulated and presented in plenary. The reactions of the perpetrators were also included here. However, this unit should not end with a negative experience. In the person of a grandmother (“Baka” in Serbian), a role model was created for loving, helpful and trustworthy people who can act as supportive actors within a community against bullying. This unit was concluded by the Serbian partners with a “circle of feelings”, in which all participants were able to express their current feelings in one word.
A different focus, a different mood. While previously emotional approaches to bullying were explored, hard facts were now on the agenda. Under the title “What is criminally relevant in regard to bullying in progress?”, Mr. Drießen from the police spoke about the legal consequences of bullying. He was supported by Dr. Matthias Keidel, who translated the lecture into English for all participants, and Alexander Louis, who documented the results throughout the week, moderated and provided technical support. Both are teachers at Sophie-Scholl-Berufskolleg (SBK) and active members of the European team. The presentation made it clear that bullying – especially on the internet – is not a trivial offense, but can be a criminal offense. Mr. Drießen went into detail about the consequences of cyberbullying, grooming and sexting, for example. An example video stimulated a lively discussion among the international participants.
After a joint lunch break, during which the previous discussions could be digested, things got lively again. In the “FAIR PLAYER Quiz”, a BAM sweater specially developed by Inga Fromm, co-organizer of the Erasmus project meeting at the SBK, could be won. In the end, Anastasia from Greece, already known to some from the interview (see article on 15.03.2024), won the race for the coveted prize.
There were also contrasts in the afternoon. After all the teachers in the project had worked intensively on further planning, they set off on an excursion to Düsseldorf together with the pupils, accompanied by visits to the old town, the Kunsthalle and the Rhine.