Wondering how teenagers tested their level of personal resilience and ability to work together? How does the figure of the teacher of nations, Jan Amos Comenius, relate to all this? Read more in the report on the program led by the Healthy Youth Worker Petra Dadakova.
There is a new activity here. Understanding the rules is the basis for everyone involved to really enjoy the game.
Programs on the inspiring life of the teacher of nations Jan Amos Comenius are regularly presented by quite many HY workers. However, the same topic can take different forms, as the HY worker Petra Dadakova showed in her program From Minus to Plus with Amos for eighth-graders.
Beside leading HY programs at schools, Petra regularly attends camps for children whose parents are serving a prison sentence. She can use the exceptionally powerful experience gained at the camps in her HY programs focused on relationships in a group or at the school adaptational retreats.
When was the last time you played tug-of-war? These eighth-graders just remind themselves of the rules and they can start.
The program I visited was such an interesting combination: the figure of Jan Amos Comenius connected with the class experience program on the outdoor school playground. The pupils experienced what it is like to overcome obstacles in life while learning to rely on each other when the result of a joint effort depends on the group’s ability to get along.
It seemed to be a slight advantage that the eighth graders could initially place themselves in groups as they wanted. However, this turned into a disadvantage as the individual groups were too one-sided. It was easy to find that at a crucial moment, for example, the boys lacked the girlish tenderness and intuition, or the girls lacked the boyish strength.
That is why the pupils finally decided to let themselves be divided across the whole class and… surprisingly, they found that it can really pay off in life.
The stronger will win. The girls, led by the HY Worker Petra, are trying hard. They really don’t give up easily.
Petra prepared interesting competition tasks for two groups of pupils of one class. Watching the fighting passion of today’s young generation (who are said to be interested only in social media and computer games) was truly unforgettable. Suddenly they were able to roll on the ground or jump on the field and when they succeeded, they rejoiced like little children, even though they had nothing but a good feeling from their victory.
It was a confirmation to me again that the HY Workers go to schools mainly to help create a safe space and support for young participants in programs; to look for and support what works well for them and not to focus on mistakes and failures.
Petra definitely succeeded in this program and the pupils left encouraged and in a good mood.
Martin Stavjanik, the Authorized Supervisor of the HY Program workers
