The keystone of liberalism are individuals.
As for schools, the keystone is individuals too, namely their students. Teachers should empower their students to stand up for their ideas and freedom because they are the ones who will create the future. As a matter of course, they should not discuss somehow, but by using well-grounded arguments, i.e. by reflecting, by respecting the arguments of one another, by debating, by being inspired and inspiring. The future generation should not accept legal inequalities and dependency. Everyone should have the right to express their opinion, to live their religion, beliefs and philosophy.
Very soon, debate will be more important than ever. As teachers, isn’t it our mission to prepare our students for free speech? Because that is the only way to develop political ideas and democracy. Exchanges between countries and cultures are indispensable. Educational systems can already lay the foundations today for our peaceful tomorrow.
Hopefully, this idea of liberalism might someday lead to a war-free world.
A blog post by Jenny Drösch
