Non scholae, sed vitae discimus (from Latin ‘we don’t learn for the school, but for life’). The things children and teenagers learn should reflect the reality. Students should be able to apply the acquired knowledge and competences in solving real problems.
Open schools are not afraid of talking about what it means to be decent, what is solidarity or how to defend vulnerable people or groups. They teach about the ways in which biology, maths, IT or citizenship education help to improve their lives and the lives of the communities we belong to. Media education helps students understand how new technologies shape our vision of the world and how to become a creator of Internet content instead of remaining a mere observer.
Smart global education shows that we all depend on one another and that our decisions can influence the lives of the people living on the other side of the globe, e.g. riding a bike or taking part in a social campaign to support children with no access to education. Proper intercultural education: how to understand others, talk to them, work with them and not to be afraid of them.
