The workshop “In someone else’s shoes”, which was held at our school on Friday, 8 September, aimed to help students get to know each other better and understand each other’s actions. 

This workshop was designed as part of the thematic teaching by teachers Branka, Milica, and Jana, along with their students from classes II-1, II-2 and II-3. The main motivation behind this action was the idea that students could learn, in a fun way, that everyone is different and that everyone has different behaviours and qualities. By analysing the virtues and flaws of others and looking at them from a new perspective, our students practised understanding the reasons behind other people’s actions. The ultimate goal was to develop empathy towards others. 

To make the workshop more successful and to live up to its name, each student was tasked with dressing up as their favourite character from a book, film, or animated movie. Our school was filled with characters such as Puss in Boots, Peter Pan, Captain Hook, the Fisherman from The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish, a witch, Rapunzel, the Princess and the Pea, the old miller Trišo, and Cat Tosha, as well as characters from the Harry Potter films, Simba, Batman, and many others.

In this way, through fun, conversation, and analysis, students easily understood that the expression “walking in someone else’s shoes” means taking another person’s character or putting oneself in another person’s place to understand them better. 

On the other hand, this workshop once again demonstrated to our school’s staff that it is easy to talk to children about anything, you just need to find the right approach that suits their age. Empathy, as one of the noblest human qualities, is built gradually in a child, primarily through personal example. 

As a modern educational institution, Primary School Savremena always believes in the idea that no matter how serious the topic is, experienced educators and an interesting approach are the guarantee of success.