Learning through discourse – Pupils’ conference on 22 November 2012

Four school classes in Hamburg each spent a project week working intensively on the topic, interviewing experts and finally drafting their own proposal or policy recommendation on the subject.

At a conference on 22 November 2012, pupils from all four classes will compare and discuss their proposals and, where possible, reach a consensus. We have also invited three representatives from Hamburg-based companies with whom the young people can discuss their recommendation on the women’s quota in ‘round-table’ discussions. The outcome of the conference will be a policy recommendation, which the pupils will present to the Hamburg Ministry of Justice and Equality.
To mark the ceremonial conclusion of this conference on 22 November 2012 at 6.30 pm, we would like to cordially invite you to the premises of the Alfred Schnittke Academy, Max-Brauer-Alle 24, 22765 Hamburg.
There, you will be able to view the pupils’ work, find out more and round off the evening together over a glass of water or juice and a light snack.

For the past five years, we have been running this project week with four to five school classes from Hamburg. The focus is always on a topic that is currently the subject of heated debate in politics and society. This is because discourse is an essential component of a democratic society – both when it comes to shaping how we live together as a society, and on a larger scale, when decisions of great importance are being made. However, the latter in particular often take place within the circles of political or economic elites. We wish to counter this with an approach in which young people have a say and, as citizens, engage in genuine discourse on issues relating to the shaping of society.