The Underestimated Space – Citizenship Education in Elementary School between In-School and Out-of-School Learning

A Good Practice Example

Abstract

The article focuses on the project „Ich kann!” (engl. „I can!”) developed by the author, in which elementary school students, starting from a classroom setting, get socially involved in a nursing home and reflect politically on their involvement at an out-of-school educational seminar. Initially, it is shown that both school-based and out-of-school Citizenship Education lacks visibility in the primary school sector and that the full-time classes can be described as underestimated. The project aims to address this desideratum. The practical report vividly shows how schools can participate in social projects and how critical Citizenship Education can already be implemented in elementary school with an out-of-school cooperation partner. Initial findings from the accompanying research are also presented. On the one hand, the results point to the importance of out-of-school places of learning. On the other hand, it is shown that space for criticism – e.g. of the existing conditions in the nursing home – plays an important role. The data also show that criticism based on the participants' own experiences and the assumption of perspectives is associated with emotions. As an example of good practice, the project aims to contribute to the professional discussion on the possibility of cooperation in the primary school sector and to encourage implementation in practice.