UNIT 1: Stereotypes and prejudices

What is identity? How do I perceive others, how do they see me?

Who am I really? Every day, students experience a wide variety of values and ways of living together. In order to find their own position, they need to develop the ability to make choices. What may I do, what mustn’t I do? What is right and what is wrong? Children and adolescents soon realise that these questions are not easy to answer. What may be right in one case may be wrong in another. How can I decide? What guidelines do I have?

Two important tools for personal guidance are a country’s constitution and its approach to human rights. These are two points of reference which demonstrate the pluralism of values in a society. The most important principle is personal liberty, which allows every individual the right to develop his or her personality, against a background of mutual tolerance and responsibility, thus bringing benefits both for the community in which he or she lives and for mankind as a whole. We may differ widely in our views and interests, provided that we have agreed the rules on how to discuss our disagreements peacefully.

Children and adolescents should know that adults also wrestle with the challenges and demands that they encounter. They should also realise that teachers do not possess the key to absolute truth, but make mistakes and try to learn from them.

This teaching unit deals with some of the questions about the development of a person’s identity and how people and groups perceive themselves and others. The students should understand that their identity is defined both by themselves and by their interaction with others. Identity is defined by marking both the differences between individuals and the need to belong to and be protected by the family or a peer group. Young people will understand themselves better if they explore their personal feelings and needs, their personal development and their wishes for the future. They need to experiment with different forms of behaviour, thus expanding their repertoire of interaction with others. They will learn this if they constructively contribute to situations of social interaction.

The social and political history of our country has a strong impact on our lives today. Students should become aware of this influence by regularly collecting information about current issues and discussing them, forming their personal opinions and listening to the opinions of others. They must pay careful attention to views, prejudices and stereotypes that are part of public opinion. A person needs to be aware of these subtle forms of influence in order to counteract them, and to critically reflect on his or her own choices and change them if necessary.

UNIT 1: Stereotypes and prejudices              

What is identity? How do I perceive others, how do they see me?