Student Teaching Observation and Thoughts on Education in Sweden

[pennswoods]

I just completed my first week of teaching observations where I had the chance to observe my students teaching in 7th, 8th and 9th grade classrooms (the pupils were 13, 14 and 15 respectively). Some things stood out, and I'm not sure yet if I'm seeing a trend that signifies Swedish educational norms, or if this is just a few isolated cases. Some of

Comments

[clevermanka]

because they are too sexy and distracting to male students
because they are too sexy and distracting to male students
because they are too sexy and distracting to male students

[pennswoods]

Yes. I know. Institutional sexism disguised in 'think of the children' discourse. So many school dress code policies are about 'reacting' to the overpowering and uncontrollable specter of male teenage hormones.

And there is so much crap that teachers and teacher trainees have to comply with in order to be allowed to do such a thankless job sometimes.

[foxestacado]

This is really so interesting. I think about my European friends who look down on these aspects of American education. But it's really eye-opening to read about what the academic education system is like in Europe. Or at least, in Sweden.

[pennswoods]

Comparative education is incredibly eye-opening. I'm only describing some of the logistics issues, but differences in ideologies run very deep as well and that can pose a challenge when trying to motivate students.

[dickgloucester]

Interesting.

Schools here supply stationery, and the primary schools supply all pens, pencils etc. - when we were in France and had to buy huge amounts of stuff at the beginning of each year, that was initially a surprise and quickly a very unwelcome one, because of the cost.

As you know, here the children wear uniform, and teachers are expected to be conventionally smart. Suits and ties for the men, smart clothes for the women. No first name nonsense! Kids refer to their teachers as "Sir" or "Miss".

Sadly, there's more security here than there was. One can't just wander into a school now - they have to admit visitors, there are electronic locks on school gates, and if you're going to be wandering round, then you have to wear a "Visitor" badge. I think Sweden must be either a safer or a less paranoid society than here. Maybe both.

[pennswoods]

School supplies are tremendously expensive and really add up when you have multiple children.

There's apparently a historical legacy as to why there are only first names used. Historically, female teachers were called Miss (because they were required to retire when they married) and male teachers (who often taught the upper grades) were called something like Master. The legacy is that the equivalent of Miss in Swedish is still considered patronizing when used to address a female teacher, so to equalize things, only first names are used. Sweden is very much anti-hierarchy.

Nobody ever calls me Dr. Pennswoods here and that makes me a little sad sometimes.

I was surprised at not having to wear a badge or sign in the office, but I was accompanied at all times. And Sweden is really a tinier country, so the majority of schools are rural and I think that influences part of the lack of security-mindedness.

[lindenswallow]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%9310_Malm%C3%B6_shootings

[pennswoods]

There is more violence in Sweden than people might expect or be willing to acknowledge, but ideologies run deep. This is not a society that is motivated by fear.

[ellie_nor]

I think part of it is ideology, part of it that Sweden generally has a very low density of population, and part of it is that relatively speaking the culture is very homogenous. It is horribly sexist, but in different ways than US/Canadian, British or French culture is horribly sexist.

All that to say, though, I think the Swedish education system is much more humane.

[pennswoods]

Yes. There are a lot of different factors here, and it's interesting to see how they play out in how students and teachers are socialized. Education is a powerful tool for molding a country's population and national identity (and perpetuating social problems). It's so interesting to see this as an outsider.

The system is much more humane on so many levels for both teachers and students, but I see deep issues with unacknowledged pervasive racism here that would not stand in other places, and that disturbs me.