As part of the Zoom Out project, the association Petit Philosopy conducted workshops for students of different ages in the Croatian language class.
Teacher Simona Jurjević held a workshop for third-grade students. She conducted the workshop ‘Princess or Ordinary Girl’ based on the book ‘Nearby Lives a Girl’ by Ide Mlakar Črničić. The girl in the story is rejected due to poverty, and her classmates isolate her and do not want to socialize with her.
„… When we play princess, she can be the maid. Even when she asks us, we don’t let her be a princess.…“
Teacher Daniela Crnković held the workshop ‘Dorcas and Me’ based on the book ‘Different’ by Ivana Guljašević Kuman, with fifth-grade students. In the workshop, we reflected on children of different races, their integration into society and in the classroom.
„…and what am I, so different in this world that surrounds me, forced to go to a small place where I won’t be able to blend into the crowd, so my differentness will shine in full glory.“
Teacher Bernarda Klarić conducted the workshop ‘Who Am I?’ with sixth-grade students. We read the work ‘Angel of Stuffed Toys’ by Nada Mihaljević. In the novel, we meet a boy who is autistic, has savant syndrome, and ADHD. Through the novel, we follow his thoughts and attempts to integrate into society, which he eventually succeeds in.
‘Viktor actually doesn’t like changes at all, not even the tiniest ones…’
‘Sometimes it just comes to him, and there Viktor can’t do anything. He simply cannot speak. Words hurt him. It’s as if everything around him is made of glass, and it will break if he just whispers…’
In all workshops, we made students aware of the problems and difficulties individuals face, both in novels and in real lives, and encouraged them to develop empathy and understanding for others. The workshops were successfully conducted, and most importantly, the students left with a strong message to help one another.”
