Ida Pencova visits schools in Varnsdorf and its surroundings with gabfests from workshop series on Ethics. In the middle of October I visited with her two forth and one fifth class in Elementary School in Rumburk. Ida has been in all these classes at least for the third time and children have remembered her very well. She started this gabfest linking it with the previous one relationships with parents: “What has happened since our last visit? Have you tried the magic sentence with your parents?”
Children were very enthusiastic, putting their hands up and saying how surprised their parents were with a question like: “Can I help you with something?“ or answering „Yes Mum.“ Some parents have not responded but others were wondering whether their sprouts were OK. One mum in amazement even dropped her mobile phone.
The topic of gabfest for the fifth class was: „What shall I do with my appearance?“ Children went into lively discussion, opinion polling and imaginations. The aim was to teach children that looks do not play an important role but that it is more important whether we feel comfortable with others or not. They learnt about inner beauty and how to improve it.
Friendship – how to become a good friend was the topic for fourth classes. Half time of the gabfest children went with Ida through some statements about friendship discussing whether they are true or false. They came to some interesting and for children difficult topics for example „What to do if my friend hurts me?” Then Ida introduced three model situations, when one to another said something gracelessly. Children were supposed to find better ways of expressing opinion so that the friend would not be hurt. At the end of the gabfest children came to think of what their friend likes. They were asked to make a wish where they would write their thoughts with giving thanks. After every gabfest the children gathered around Ida talking with her.
Eliska Zeiskova, the Healthy Youth Program Coordinator
