The “Netzwerk für Demokratische Kultur” (Network for Democratic Culture) brings bigotry up for discussion – by offering a comic-strip workshop in order to fight prejudice and hatred in primary schools.


Bigotry and hatred start at an early age.  It is not merely adolescents and adults who discriminate against outgroups – it happens as early as in kindergarten or primary school.  Thus, equality and human rights education must be an essential element in the curriculum from first grade on in order to prevent discrimination and prejudice as early as possible.  But how can one make six- to nine-year olds aware of bigotry and hatred?  After all, it’s a fairly complicated topic, taking into account that there are many different elements of “group-focused enmity,” as the social scientist Wilhelm Heitmeyer puts it.  Needless to say, scientific studies don’t catch the attention of a primary school audience, but then again these studies are rarely even understood by average readers.  The trick is to see things from the child’s perspective: How would we - at the age of seven - have taken notice of a serious topic such as racism?  A walk down memory lane reveals: hands-on activities are most likely to succeed.

This is what the staff members of the initiative “Netzwerk für Demokratische Kultur” (Network for Democratic Culture) had in mind when they thought about how to present the topic to 20 pupils of the Diesterweg Primary School in the town of Wurzen in Saxony.  In spite of the great popularity of computer games, comic strips remain extremely popular with kids, especially when children are asked to draw their own strips.  So the “Netzwerk” initiative came up with the idea of offering a special comic-strip workshop to deal with human rights and equality.  The story is simple and taken from real life: 9-year-old Michael watches a group of classmates insulting, harassing and physically abusing the school “misfit” Arnold.  Unfortunately, the group notices Michael witnessing the scene and then gives him the choice either to join them or to suffer their harassment, too.  How would Michael react?  Which is the best way to deal with this difficult situation? 

Looking at discrimination from different perspectives

The idea for the story originated in a children’s book that was part of the curriculum.  The book deals with exclusion and violence and possible ways to overcome or even prevent them.  The “Netzwerk” initiative is cooperating with a professional graphic designer, Elke Steiner from Berlin, who has worked on the subject of human rights for several years, so she knows what she’s talking about.  “Both Elke Steiner and the teacher confirmed that the students were enthusiastic about the topic as well as the way it was dealt with in the workshop,” says “Netzwerk”-member Miro Jennerjahn.  The story turned out to be particularly suitable for children to see things from the protagonists’ perspectives.  So when Elke Steiner asked them to continue the story, she offered the kids various ways to look at the situation.  First the participants were asked to identify with Michael’s situation, then they were supposed to try and watch the scene from Arnold’s perspective: How would he feel when being harassed by his classmates?  How could he escape from the desperate situation?  And is there a third party who could bring help or mediate between Arnold and his tormentors?

It comes as no real surprise that there are as many answers to these questions as there are participants.  The more adventurous kids turn the story into a crime thriller, with the police or Superhero intervening in the conflict, while other students create a more down-to-earth version of the story: Christoph and Lilo trust their teacher, Sophia and Tim consider their parents to be the best mediators in the conflict - and Benjamin draws his big sister.  The most important question is dealt with right at the end of the workshop: “What is this all about?”  Whereas the children’s views on the “third party” question differed significantly, most of them agree that Michael should speak out in favor of his classmate Arnold in order to stop the bullying.  Thomas has in store the decisive argument: “Arnold should be allowed in your gang, too – otherwise I’m not going to join you either!”

The comic workshop “Anders sein” (Being different) was carried out at the Diesterweg Primary School by the Netwerk für Demokratische Kultur in Wurzen (Saxony), with the help of graphic designer Elke Steiner.  The workshop was part of the project “Mensch(enfeind)lichkeit” (Philanthropy – Misanthropy).  The project was co-financed by the Federal Program “Vielfalt tut gut: Jugend für Vielfalt, Toleranz und Demokratie” of the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.


Jan Schwab

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