DemokratieWagen in Schulen

In a free democratic country, many people often take the achievements of democracy for granted. Recent events have shown that this is not always the case. Engagement with political processes is essential to understanding the value of democracy. Practicing democratic exchange processes, already at school, is an important part of societal development.

The simulation game in the DemokratieWagen allows school classes to approach political questions through system exercises. The bus symbolizes a social and political system where people assume very unequal roles: one person sits at the wheel, while eight others can sit in a comfortable lounge at the back. Additional participants may sit at the front, and some must stand.

At the end of the game, students create a documentation on a prepared flipchart-sized poster, which can then be displayed in the classroom. The goal is to help students develop a positive and reflective relationship with democracy. During the game, students experience inequalities in political and social systems themselves and collectively consider what a better system could look like.