5) Описание
Free2choose is a DVD of ten video clips that explore the limits of freedom. The
clips are short, lively and focus on interesting issues of relevance today. Concrete
cases, focusing on specific rights, such as freedom of speech and freedom of
assembly, show that in a democratic society there are sometimes dilemmas for
those who want to uphold these rights. What if neo-Nazis want to make use of the
right to demonstrate? And what if newspapers support terrorism? The practice
also includes an accompanying teacher’s manual.
Typically, three video clips are shown and discussed in an hour-long class period.
These clips can be chosen ahead of time by the teacher, or students can vote on
which clips to view.
Free2choose film clips – also shown in the Anne Frank House as part of an
interactive exhibition – promote a critical reflection on the concept of “freedom
rights” and human rights in general. Though fundamental in a democracy, these
rights can come into conflict in practice. By using debate suggestions from the
teacher’s manual, students are invited to think thoroughly about the arguments
of their opponents. In this way, the debates promote mutual respect and lead
participants to learn both debating and active listening skills.
While many learning tools developed for human rights education emphasize
the importance of human rights, this practice forces students to think critically
about the boundaries of and potential clash between different human rights. The
methodology, borrowing heavily from co-operative learning methodology, gives
all students a voice but also challenges them to listen carefully to others. The
methodology also focuses on empowering students to express their opinions and
to have those opinions heard.
Since 2006, Free2choose debates have been organized in 11 countries within the
European Union. Five thousand DVDs have been distributed and some 60,000
people have actively participated in these debates. In most cases, these debates
took place at school, but sometimes Free2choose was at the centre of a community
event. During the pilot phase of the project, each of the European partners
developed 2–3 videos based on the concept of Free2choose. These additional film
clips were collected on a separate DVD and posted on Youtube.