Peace, freedom, tolerance, equality - we at Euregio-Gesamtschule Epe ("School without Racism - School with Courage") also stand for the teaching of these and many other social values. For a targeted, long-term transfer of knowledge, learning at extracurricular places of learning is a good idea - as was the case today, Thursday, when almost 60 pupils and their class teachers set off to visit the "Peace Lab Express" in Bocholt.
The Peace Lab is a mobile laboratory in the form of a truck that deals with the topics of "peace, freedom and citizenship" and travels across Germany throughout the year. At interactive stations, the pupils were able to engage with these and many other topics in a practical way and exchange and reflect on personal values in a playful way.
The laboratory was stationed directly in front of the LWL Museum Textilwerk Bocholt with its weaving mill and spinning mill, so that the pupils could also attend two workshops parallel to the interactive peace laboratory. If we look back to around 100-150 years ago, the focus in the past was not yet on teaching the above-mentioned values. Based on this, the pupils were able to experience the time and life of that time at first hand. For example, they learned about how steam engines and a loom worked, the life and working conditions of workers in a textile factory and their work processes. They were also able to see the inside of a fully furnished, typical 19th century home and clean laundry by hand using a washboard, soap and a washing tub.
During the breaks between the stations, the children were able to climb, swing, slide and romp around in the nearby adventure playground in perfect weather.
The pupils and teachers can look back on a great, productive day and are already looking forward to the next excursion together.