When my almost twelve-year-old daughter was younger, she replied to my request to open the dishwasher: “Child labor is forbidden, mom!”
Even if I was happy that the political decision-making process started early on, I could confidently disagree and use a few Unicef arguments to make it clear to her what the difference is between a privileged child in Berlin-Tempelhof who now and then puts his dirty plates in one Dishwasher, and a child, mainly in other countries of the world, who is physically and mentally exploited, prevented from going to school and deprived of his childhood.
The topic came up again recently, in a different context. It was before the general election. It was not without ulterior motives that I talked to her for a long time about fair pay, which parties are campaigning for the minimum wage so that people can also make a living from their work, and which party would even like to increase the minimum wage.
“I think that’s right, but for us children saving the planet is very important, so the minimum wage is more of the second decision point for me,” she said.
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She has been the class representative since the new school year. Good thing, because here she gets to know the basic principles of democracy and what it means to actively shape social life. She recently met with her co-class representative with the “main people from school catering”, as she said, to make suggestions for improving the school lunch.
“I drove after mad drivers and swore at them and hit them on the roof”
Wouldn’t it be possible to put salt and pepper shakers on the tables for seasoning? (Not possible, too much risk that the children will make nonsense with it.) Or whether there might not be ice cream for dessert again? (Also not possible: hygiene measures, cooling situation.) After all, the caterers now want to think about a hot dog or burger day as a special event before the holidays.
For weeks, my daughter has been looking forward to her biggest event to date: the Tempelhof-Schönberg children’s and youth parliament, which invites you to a virtual session. The same applies here: no participation without a suggestion. She wants to do something about the frenzy in front of her elementary school. That is sensible. At least in comparison to my method: In the past, when I still accompanied her to school by bike, I rigorously chased racing cars, hit the roof and insulted those on the steering wheel (“Vollpfosten!”).
My daughter has a different approach: She would like to submit an application for a traffic sign “where something like ‘Off the gas, school!’ it says, “she said. Political participation is obviously good for her. Not only that she is now putting her plate in the dishwasher. I recently got a Whatsapp from her after a long day at home while I was jogging. Content: “Should I fold the laundry?”
