The main challenge is to bring together and support actors in education who are looking for elements of democracy, freedom and responsibility in education. The aim is to build a community of free and democratic schools that is able to change the outdated education system. The target group are supporters of free and democratic elements in community schools in the villages, who seek support in this area and are confronted with views from the era of communism (30+ years ago).

CZ with civic deserts of Tišnovsko, Novojičínsko, Bruntálsko, Kokořínsko, Kroclov and Strakonicko.

The project focuses on the longest-running primary school with the principles of freedom, democracy, respect and responsibility in children's education and faces the challenge of changing the legislative framework of an outdated education system. Local more recent schools seek support outside the system and enroll their pupils to this official school because they would not be able to function without it according to the law. The activities and sharing of the know-how and experience of the longest-running school will support the functioning of these more recent schools and strengthen the community, which can work together to change the current system.

The environment of free and democratic schools enables children to grow up in the values of democracy and contributes to the education of active citizenship. Supporting these schools will strengthen participation and create space for sharing experience and problem solving processes. Project activities will support the creation of a network of these schools, help to obtain information that does not reach outside the urban areas. Establishing of such contacts will mobilize interest and support persons who are oppressed by the prevailing views favoring the traditional school arrangements. A larger and stronger community will create more pressure for changes in the current education system and may influence the fundamental document Strategy of the Czech Republic 3030.

On the topic of elements of democracy, freedom and respect at school:
-Organization of discussion panels for the public on free and democratic upbringing and education in ZS Jezek bez klece in Brno
-Organization of discussions and sharing of experience in the form of lectures and discussions for the community schools outside large cities
-Organization of meetings of the key actors in the education system
-Meeting with a mediator in the field of nonviolent communication
-Creating promotional and communication channels to connect the community, stream the content of lectures and share experience across society and all actors in education.
Channels: Web + blog, Facebook, Linkedln, Instagram

The result of the project is the building of coalitions, interconnection and greater strength and cohesion for the pressure to change the education system towards free and democratic education. The project will involve local active persons who will get support in the areas of argumentation and information so that the ideas of freedom and democracy in schools and school communities are widely spread. In the field of education, there will be talks about the necessary change in the legislative framework. There will be an increase in the number of followers in the community around the school and a newsletter will be sent out to keep in touch and spread further information. The project will build on current efforts to change the education system and the unmet needs of people from communities.

The current education system is rigid and does not allow the emergence of various forms of education with elements of democracy, freedom, children's participation and mutual respect. The current education system and customs go against the values of democracy and pluralism of opinion and block the growth of independent communities of these schools by obstacles not only in legislation. We want to support the change that will enable the development of a network of such schools as a foundation that builds democratic values for active civic life.

I never wanted to teach children until I knew the values of freedom, democracy and respect in the practice of Ježek without a cage primary school as a teacher, educational counselor, janitor and coach. I worked for one year in a traditional large school, where I was very dissatisfied with the authoritarian approach and the impossibility of children's participation in the educational process. I lead sports activities and events for children, where I use democratic elements and I am fully convinced of their importance for society as a whole and active citizenship. I burned down several times as a young person in just 5 years as a teacher and now I have decided to be the initiator of changes in the field of children's education and I will change the existing rigid system.

Personnel cost - 13000 EUR
Travel/accomodation/events/rental and create meetings place in school - 22000 EUR
Public relations 5000 EUR

We would like to receive any advice or comments from others on these subjects: rejecting the differing views of the older generation, how to talk about changes effectively, experience with changing of the legislation and established practices, and promoting the right strategy to perform the change.