SCHOOL

1. SCHOOL Most children in Denmark attend ‘folkeskole’. A free offer of education for all children after kindergarten. The child starts in ‘børnehaveklasse’ at the age of 5-6 years. Also called ‘class 0’. Børnehaveklasse prepares the child for schooling. There is room for learning numbers and letters, playing, singing, short trips outside the school, and learning to be quiet and sit quietly during lessons. It is emphasized that it must be fun to attend to school and that children find joy in learning new skills. Otherwise 10 years in school can be an awful long time! Typically, the lessons will vary a lot and the teachers will experiment with different methods of learning, new technology, group work, interdisciplinary themes etc.

2. more about SCHOOLS …. Education is compulsory in Denmak for everyone between ages 6 and 16 - from grade 0 to grade 9 (0. – 9. ‘klasse’). An extra year (10. klasse) is possible – to strengthen either skills or maturity. Another possibililty during the last years is ‘efterskole’, a boarding school. It is education itself that is compulsory, not school. So whether the education is received in a public school, a private school or at home is a matter of choice, as long as the standards are met. The child belongs to the same class all years. It is very rare to fail and repeat one level. However, it is the responsibility of the parents to ensure that the child is mature for schooling and not attend school too early. It is important to have a dialogue with the kindergarten about the issue. Thus, when your child enter the school, you will be included in a ‘class community’ together with other children and parents that will last for 10 years. This community feeling is given a high priority and all parents have a responsibility to maintain it.

3. Reception class Some schools place minority children with poor Danish language skills in a reception class for a shorter period of time to prepare for ordinary schooling. No later than three months after arrival, the child will be presented with the class she or he belongs to.

4. THE ROLE OF PARENTS It is expected that parents actively take part in schooling: • Participate in parents’ consultation once or twice a year. Typically, it lasts for 20 minutes and sometimes your child also participates. • Participate in a couple of parents meetings every year • Take part in social gatherings together with the children, trips outside the school, sleepovers, theater etc. It is a nice way of socializing with other parents and children. • And you are always welcome to take part in lessons at school. Just make an appointment with the teacher in advance.

5. More expectations towards parents….. Support the education of your child. Even if your own Danish language skills are limited, there are important ways: - Your child has got a good nights sleep. Small children need 10-11 hours. - Carries a healthy lunch box - Keeps the school bag tidy - Remember clothes and towel for sports - Plan your vacation together with the vacation periods of the school, to avoid to much absence (Integrationsnet has a list of inspiration with more issues)

6. Possibilities for influence Every class has a parents’ council or contact parents. They have regular contact with the head teacher and represent the other parents of the class. The council discuss day-to-day issues and problems like bullying, use of mobiles, birthday celebrations, parties, use of alcohol, smoking etc. The council also prepares social events of the class to strengthen the community feeling. The earlier good connections are established among the parents, the easier it is to solve problems among the children. Participating in the council is a good way of extending your network in Denmark and get much more information about the school and life of children and parents in Denmark in general. Have any of you already that kind of experience from your home countries?

7. More about influence …. At every school the head master refers to a board of elected members. Most of them are parents and the head of the board is a parent. You can also engage in the board of the SFO or club, both of them are paid after school activities for your child. Which possibilities of influence do you know of from your home countries?

8. CHOICE OF SCHOOL Automatically, your child belongs to a school in your neighborhood. Thus, your child will have playmates nearby and transport time will be limited. It is possible to choose another ‘folkeskole’, but you might be put on a waiting list, if it is a popular school. Private schools is another option, but here you have to pay a monthly fee.

9. More about choice of school …. You need to consider leisure time possibilities after school hours. Most schools have ‘SFO’ (skolefritidsordning) for children from grade 0 to grade 3. From grade 4 the child can attend club. Usually, the activities close at 5 p.m. You have to pay a monthly fee for SFO and club, but if you have a low income or more children attending, you can receive subsidies from the municipality. The SFO and club is an extra possibility for playing and learning, getting new friends and practicing the Danish language. It stimulates social and creative competences. In some of the larger cities you will find ‘all day schooling’. A special offer which also includes doing homework.

10. Danish as a second language Schools with many minority children have teachers that have specialized in teaching children who have Danish as their second language. Talk with the school if your child has a special need for language- training or support. Be aware that Danish as a second language has an influence in all subjects at school, not only language lessons. It can be hard to understand the wording of maths if you are not fluent in Danish. Thus, ask the school how they deal with Danish as a second language.

11. More about Danish as a second language… Danish as a second language as a dimension in all subjects means that the teacher consciously tries to use a lot of words and create dialogue around a subject. E.g. in sports, cooking and creative subjects it is not necessary to use a lot of words – BUT a lot of words can be hidden in the subject and it is a great support for minority children to speak out and write down those words. As an example, in the music lesson the children can prepare in groups a small presentation about an instrument or in art explain the techniques used and how the colors were mixed.

12. Mother-tongue education According to EC legislation citizens from other EC countries and Greenland, Faroe Islands, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein have the right to receive mother-tongue education. For other nationalities the municipality can choose, but are not obliged to offer mother-tongue education. It is a problem in Denmark that a large number of minority children have two ‘half languages’ which is a major obstacle when continuing in the educational system after ‘folkeskole’.

13. Common subjects These subjects are taught at school: Danish Maths Biology Arts Music Christianity Sports Woodwork Needlecraft Cooking History Geography English German French Social studies Physics / Chemistry The ministry of education has norms for the number of lessons in each subject, but the individual schools are free to choose their own learning and teaching methods. Camp school is a compulsory part of the curriculum. Do you know all the subjects from your own childhood?

14. Christianity Christianity teaching is a part of the Danish ‘folkeskole’. However, it is important to notice that the teacher is not allowed to preach and teaching about other religions and ethics in general is a part of the curriculum. A good teacher includes the religion of all children in the class and respect that some teaching methods are not acceptable to all e.g. Muslim children are not allowed to draw their God. A typical task for a Christian child. It is possible to be exempted from Christianity, but be aware that you child will loose this knowledge and the language training included, and often the school do not offer alternative teaching.

15. Sports It is expected that all children shower after sports. In Denmark, the children have common bathrooms. One for the boys and one for the girls. If your child finds it difficult to shower together with other children, then talk to the teacher to find a practical solution, e.g. a shower curtain.

16. Special support If your children has special needs, e.g. dyslexia, a consultation with the school psychologist is typically required. The psychologist can test your child and obtain the documentation needed to get the municipality to pay the costs for special support. Be aware that an important role of the head teacher is to secure the wellbeing of your child. Thus, it is important that you have a dialogue with the teacher, if your child is not happy, experience bullying or if you have serious issues affecting the family like divorce, death or illness. If you feel that the head teacher is not willing to listen then contact the head master of the school.

17. Interdisciplinary subjects The school also teach general education such as: - healthy living - traffic - environment - sex education - avoiding bullying Parents are expected to back up and talk with the children about the issues. The school does not allow bullying: ‘A girl is not bullied because she has red hair and glasses, but because the class has developed a culture of intolerance’. Thus, it is the responsibility of the class and all parents to solve the problem. ASK ALWAYS if you do not understand the purpose of activities at school.

18. Do you want to know more ? Contact the pedagogical consultant of your municipality or Watch the movie: ’Welcome to the Danish folkeskole’ www.uvm.dk/service/publikationer/publikationer/folkeskolen/2010/velkommen-til-den-danske-folkeskole/engelsk. It is uploaded in different languages.