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COOPERATION Independence equals freedom - lesson scenario and tasks completed by all teams

  • 11th November is the Independence Day in Poland

    On 11th November 1918, when World War I ended and the Armistice of Compiègne was signed, Poland regained independence after 123 years under control of three powerful empires: German, Austro-Hungarian and Russian. On this day, Marshal Józef Piłsudski assumed control of Poland.

    As 11th November is a national holiday and non-working day, students of class 7b worked on this topic two days earlier, during their form time. Now they're inviting project partners from Slovakia and Lithuania to cooperate on the topic of independence, which means freedom.

     

    We started with answering the basic question:


    Do you want to share your opinion on independence, too?

     

    ANSWERS GIVEN BETWEEN 9 AND 15 NOVEMBER:

     

    Independence.pdf

     

    ANSWERS GIVEN BETWEEN 16 AND 20 NOVEMBER:


    Independence.pdf

     

    Independence(1).pdf

     

    You can also write it in the AnswerGarden board below (remember to use not more than 40 letters):
     


    After that, we learnt about how other countries celebrate their Independence Day(s).

    Here is what we've learnt:

     

    DO ALL THE COUNTRIES CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY?

    There are some countries, like Germany, Great Britain, Spain or France, that don't celebrate Independence Day, because they've always been independent and have never fight for being free

    Our neighbours (except for Germany) celebrate their independence in different ways:

    • Den obnovy samostatného českého státu in the Czech Republic (28th October)

    The Czechs celebrate getting free (as Czechoslovakia) from annexation of Austro-Hungary in 1918.

    • Výročie deklarácie o zvrchovanosti SR in Slovakia (17th July)

    This day commemorates the announcement of Declaration of Independence in 1992. Slovakia became independent in 1 January 1993, after being separated from the Czech Republic.

    • День незалежності України in Ukraine (24th August)

    Ukraine became independent from USSR in 1991.

    • Дзень Незалежнасці Рэспублікі Беларусь in Belarus (3rd July)

    It commemorates the day when Minsk became independent from German occupation in 1944.

    • Lietuvos Valstybės atkūrimo diena (16th February) and Lietuvos Nepriklausomybės atkūrimo diena (11th March) in Lithuania

    Lithuanian peope celebrate the day of regaining independence in 1918 and the day of becoming independent from USSR.

    The most famous Independence Day is celebrated, of course, in the USA. On 4th July 1776 13 colonies became independent from the British Empire. Nowadays, American Independence Day is famous of colorful parades, fireworks and... barbecue.

     


    But... Does INDEPENDENCE always equal FREEDOM?

     

    We live in independent coutries - it means we should be free people, we should feel that we are free. Do you think you're a free person?


    ANSWERS GIVEN BETWEEN 9 AND 15 NOVEMBER:


     

    ANSWERS GIVEN BETWEEN 16 AND 20 NOVEMBER:


     

    You can also give your opinion (YES, NO or I DON'T KNOW) on the AnswerGarden board below!


     

    Then, students were asked to motivate their answers. Here is what they said:

    I FEEL FREE, BECAUSE:

    • I can do what I want and nobody can stop me
    • I have my own opinion
    • nobody limits me
    • I can travel abroad
    • I have access to education

    I DON'T FEEL FREE, BECAUSE:

    • my mum tells me what to do
    • of the law
    • I'm not an adult and others think they can tell me what to do
    • we have to pay taxes
    • I'm a woman and our government doesn't care about women (and about homosexuals)

    What about you? Why do you feel (or not) free? If you want to, share your opinion on the TwinBoard below this text (at the end of the page).

     

    To sum up the lesson, we discussed freedom as a chance and as a danger. What did we discover?

    1. Freedom is important, but sometimes it's overused, even by people who rule the countries.

    2. We feel great when nobody limits us, but life without any rules can be dangerous, especially when we have problems with stating our own limits.

    3. Freedom is a chance to live the way we want to, but we should remember nothing comes for free - even in independent country we have to fight for some things, for example for keeping our rights.

    4. Teenagers often have problems with accepting reality - they're fighting, argueing, rebelling and this is all caused by the dact they're searching for their identity and getting ready to become adults. It doesn't mean adults should avoid difficult topics while talking with teenagers, because young people's opinion is important and should be taken into account. When we know that people around really care about what we think, we feel safe and become more eager to look for compromise (this is valid for all the people, not only for teenagers).

     

    CONCLUSIONS?
     

    INDEPENDENCE = FREEDOM

    FREEDOM = AUTONOMY

    AUTONOMY = EQUALITY

    EQUALITY = RESPECT
     

    SO...
     

    INDEPENDENCE = RESPECT

    We can be fully independent only if we respect independence of other people.

     

  • I FEEL / DON'T FEEL FREE, BECAUSE...

    By M., Hlohovec

    I feel free because...

    I am able to cook my own meal. I can go out with my best friends. I can tell people what I think instead of telling people what they want me to say. I must say that people cannot feel completely free in today´s society, the rules are made not to be violated and they have a meaning. But the thing is, that we should be FAR more grateful than we are for what we have.

    We are all as free as birds, to fly to our desired destinations, directed by so many things that happen to us through our whole lives. All of us should be unobstructed living our best lives as we choose.

    By V., Hlohovec

    I feel free because I am studying what I want, I do what I want, when I want...

    But can you be 100% free when you are a teenager? In my opinion, being a 100% free child or teenager is not the best, because they would not know what rules are.

    I think it is the best that we have rights and obligations which means no one is 100% free even when they feel that way. Still, they need to pay taxes and abide the law.

    I also realize that people now are much freer than people in the past. But not everywhere it is like that. It is so sad that nowadays still exist countries, which restrict people´s freedom.

    I personally am free, but also, I need to listen to my parents, who know what is the best for me and this kind of freedom suits me now.

    By D., Hlohovec

    I feel free because I can say my thoughts out loud without getting punished. I believe that is the main indication of being free.

    But when are we free? Are we never free because laws exist? Saying that I am not free because I cannot do whatever I want is unfair. Obviously, you should not be allowed to do anything you want. Eventually, the line between legal and illegal will be irreversibly lost. So, I do feel free as I am.

    By J., Hlohovec

    I feel free because our democratic country enforces human rights good enough, so the people in our country do not feel endangered by actions of other people, whose actions may create problems people if these were not enforced. Our country makes a lot of work to try and let us keep our freedom even through crisis and fear of plague is upon us.

    By N., Hlohovec
    By N., Hlohovec

    I feel free because I have many opportunities. I can educate myself at a good school. I can travel to different cities or countries. I do not have to work at this age, I can focus on my education, my friends, my talents, my afterschool activities and I have the freedom to choose how I will spend my free time.



    I can choose who my friends will be and who I do not want to talk to. I can choose my opinions and my religion. Of course, there are things I cannot do, but some of them will come with the age and the other ones I would probably not want to do anyways. I'm happy with the freedom I got and I'm glad that our ancestors fought for our freedom so we could live the life we choose to have.

    By K., Hlohovec

    I feel free because I can freely move within our country and abroad. I can study what I want. I can express my opinions and nobody can change it and I have freedom of belief which also means freedom for me.

    I feel free because I can own something. I cannot imagine I wouldn’t have some of these rights. I wouldn’t feel free in a state with non-democratic government.

    By L., Hlohovec

    I feel free because I have everything, what I need as a person. I have my rights, which are same for all people in my country. For example, I can have my own opinions on certain things and I won't be punished for advocating them.

    I can also travel where I want without anyone checking me. There aren't any censored things or propaganda in politics, so I can know what is exactly happening and make my opinions on it. I can go to protest and say my opinion and if I'll be protesting calmly, police won't arrest me. When I am 18 years old, I may vote people, who I think should be in certain positions in parliament. Yes, some people can judge me for my actions, but they can't do anything about it because I live in a democratic state.

    By S., Hlohovec

    I don’t feel free because we live in this world. I am free but sometimes we are in a situation when we are not.

    I think there is a difference between being free and being free. It sounds crazy but what about abused children? Are they able to go out with their friends? And I am talking just about abused children but there are a lot of problems all over the world when people are not free or not able to do whatever they want for example people in Africa, they work in horrible conditions and they have to do it or they will die because of not enough food.

    So, I don’t feel free while anybody is in such a situation.

    By A., Hlohovec

    Most of the time I feel free, because my parents don´t force me into anything and I have my mum´s trust, so I´m able to go out with friends, or be home alone...

    But at the same time sometimes I don´t feel so free, this usually happens, when I´m feeling down, maybe because I have an argument with someone, that is really important to me, in that time it´s like I´m not able to stop my actions, and it´s like I´m fighting with myself inside, and I just pass it on the others.

    By A., Hlohovec

    I can say I don’t feel free, because many women do not have the same rights as men. I don’t feel free because in Slovakia some minorities are limited. I don’t feel free because everyone is telling me what I am supposed to do or have or telling me what I am supposed to look like.



    I feel free when it’s me, when I can say my opinion. I feel free while snowboarding and climbing. I feel free when I can escape from reality, it helps me anime and books. I feel free when I’m with my BFF.

    By E., Hlohovec

    I feel free because I have considerable options to live my life by, the option of thinking about subjects without adhering to artificial principles, the option to voice concerns, the option to be educated without limitations, the option to make decisions for myself and many others.

    For me, the biggest importance is in the realisation and use of all these options and finally, in the iniciative to protect these options when needed.