Philosophy Month at Savremena Gimnazija

 

November – Philosophy Month

As part of the national event "November – Philosophy Month," philosophy teachers from Savremena Gimnazija, Marica Đurić and Slobodan Rodić, in collaboration with their colleagues, organized a series of activities focused on popularizing philosophy and highlighting its relevance today.

Philosophy Through Time: A Journey Through the History of Thought

Throughout the month, students at Savremena Gimnazija could view a presentation on the interactive boards in the hallway of the third floor. Created by student Lenka Ilić from class IV-6, the presentation provided an overview of the history of philosophy, featuring photos, quotes, and brief biographical sketches of renowned philosophers. Interested students had the opportunity to explore the key ideas of great thinkers through this engaging visual format.

Philosophical Café (Café Philosophique)

An improvised philosophical café was set up in the school, where students could engage in philosophical discussions during their breaks in a relaxed atmosphere with refreshments and snacks. Each table featured cards with topics such as "What is justice?" "Does free will exist?" and "What does it mean to live a good life?" Students could also propose their own topics for open discussions, guided by philosophy teachers.

Visit to the Belgrade City Library

Thanks to an agreement between Savremena Gimnazija and the Belgrade City Library, a visit to the library was included in the November program. This visit provided students with an introduction to the library and its collection. A guided tour was organized in collaboration with the library staff, during which students learned about the library’s history, the Roman hall, reading rooms, and artistic exhibits within the library. Students also had the opportunity to join the library, borrow their first book, and write a review, which would count as part of their grade for philosophy and Serbian language activities.

Exhibition: Philosophical Collage Workshop

Students created visual representations of philosophical concepts such as truth, freedom, fear, and individuality. The best works were exhibited in the school, and other students were invited to share their interpretations of the displayed works, fostering the development of abstract thinking. The workshop was led by visual arts teacher Zorana Milićević and philosophy teachers.

PROMOTING PHILOSOPHY CONTINUES

Although November is dedicated to philosophy, Savremena Gimnazija will continue to promote philosophical studies beyond this month. Activities initiated during this project will be implemented throughout the rest of the school year:

  • The Trial of Socrates
     Preparations have begun for the "Trial of Socrates" project, where students, under the guidance of philosophy teachers, will simulate the historical trial of Socrates. The classroom will be transformed into a courtroom, and each student will be assigned a role to represent one of the figures involved in Socrates' trial.

  • Literary-Philosophical Corner
     Students participated in creating a plan to establish a literary-philosophical corner within the school. This space will allow students to borrow and donate books and engage in discussions about philosophical and literary topics. The aim of this project is to promote a culture of reading within the school.

Filmosophy (A New Section Combining Film and Philosophy)
 The "November – Philosophy Month" event inspired the formation of a new section at Savremena Gimnazija, combining film and philosophy. This section will explore the role of film in conveying philosophical ideas. Activities will include film screenings and debates following the movies. The section, led by philosophy teachers, will begin in the second semester.

I am extremely pleased and proud to be the parent of a Savremena student. During my first encounter with the school management, when I asked about my child’s potential enrolment, I saw how much love, enthusiasm and professionalism you put in your work. I was impressed by your approach, ideas and methods. I couldn’t believe something like this existed in our country! It doesn’t take long to realise that this is a school you would recommend to everyone. Creativity, modern technology, top-quality education, and most of all, the humaneness that can be seen throughout the school, make it truly different and worthy of its name – Savremena Gimnazija. With such an approach, the success of this school and, consequently, our children’s success, is unavoidable. Congratulations! Jelena Đorđević, Andrija’s mum
Contemporary in any sense of the word, our school offers functional knowledge and quality preparation for tertiary education in Serbia and abroad. Implementing modern and creative teaching in the classroom, where the teachers’ pedagogy and students’ performance are aligned with the highest academic standards for the high-school finals, our school develops linguistic, mathematical, scientific, artistic, cultural, technical and ICT competence, which is a prerequisite for further education and professional development. Teaching is supported by the interactive whiteboards and educational software, whereas practice exercises research and critical thinking.