Too casual? Or the global best? Danish education is a hot topic in Europe. Have these Scandinavians optimized learning or do they have a lot to learn?
Culture shock
The Danish education system is what brought me to Denmark way back in 2012 – another time before COVID and travel cards, when Brexit was still just an idea for a few rebellious English politicians.
I was fresh from my BA in the UK, having worked very hard to get top marks. My education was ‘candidat’, a master’s degree in the exotic city of ‘Aarhus’. When I landed in chilly Denmark, I have to admit that my new student life shocked me in a few ways.
It felt very ‘pat off’. No longer was a teacher over my shoulder checking that I was studying and working hard. Suddenly the answer was “Do what you want, it’s your education”, which came as a new and frightening thought.
Denmark is very good at handing over responsibility. It’s almost like a good parent: “Haven’t you done your homework? I’m not angry. I’m disappointed.” After much resistance, I slowly learned to motivate myself and make the most of opportunities.
Mutually fun learning
The teachers were suddenly young and funny and… I learned their first names! At university in the UK we addressed the teachers as ‘Miss’ or ‘Sir’ as we were in ‘Pride and Prejudice’. You felt they knew things just because they were old and mysterious.
Not in Aarhus. Suddenly a young bouncy man in his late 20s jumped around the classroom and told me I could teach him things! Oddly enough, the words for ‘lære’ and ‘lære’ are both ‘lær’ in Danish.
So either there is a connection between passing on/acquiring knowledge – or Danish teachers are really good at putting a positive spin on their mistakes: “It won’t just be me who has to teach you, but we will learn a lot together . “
Freedom to rock out
The biggest revolution in my educational journey came when I got to go behind the scenes in the system. After graduating, I got a temporary job as a teacher at the very university that brought me to Denmark – an incredible experience that also shook my world.
Again, very relaxing! First lesson I shuddered as my superiors marched in to report me. It didn’t happen and it never did. Which was actually wonderful. Because you think it will make you go full school and do ridiculous things, but actually you create some amazing lessons with all that freedom.
I mastered the ability to spin my mistakes into gold. I taught and learned! And perfect the answer “That’s a very good question! Something you can explore with your final project and tell the class about later.”
Researched on desert islands
I have only been through higher education in Denmark, but from those I speak to, the Danish school system also sounds better than my experience in England. The UK system is in desperate need of an update – it’s draconian.
You are examined while sitting at a desk in silence: no internet, no phone, no talking, a long series of complicated questions in front of you and only your memory to rely on. It is the worst representation of lived reality.
What scenario does this depict? Stranded on a remote desert island, a genie pops out of an old lamp and says, “I’ll let you travel home… but first solve these math equations accurately.” And it is reckless; you have one chance. When I took my exams at 16, I felt like my whole life was at stake. You fail, you die.
Accountability is key
My friends in the Danish education system instead speak of a very relaxed attitude. Students can fail repeatedly without consequence. And they get the help they need to do the best they can.
The authoritarian Brit in me gets outraged and feels they should be punished at the first fall. But after two years as a student and four more as a teacher, I understand better that we actually do great things when we are given the responsibility to do our best.
Source: The Nordic Page