Experiencing Scandinavia's Schools of Life/People's Colleges/Folk High Schools
- jjcampbe
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
It's hard to believe that I am already about halfway through my three-month Teaching Fellowship experience at the International People's College (IPC) in Helsingor, Denmark! It's also hard to know where to start with this blog!
The last post that I wrote, I was just getting settled into my simple, IKEA like apartment . I had not yet met most of the staff, and the students would not arrive for a few days. Fast-forward six weeks and I am teaching two classes: Religion and Empire, and, Kinesiology and Fitness. I'm also taking three courses as a student: Storytelling, Danish, and Regenerative Agriculture. Additionally, I am running a Social Dance Club on Tuesday evenings and a Men's Circle on Sunday evenings. I've also been to a Folk High School symposium in Copenhagen. At the symposium I met a principal of another school in Sweden who invited me visit. Last week I went to Karlskrona, Sweden for two days to see that school and learn about its programming. It was a fascinating visit where I got to visit a few different adult education classes: upgrading, firefighting and coast guard training, a senior's academy for mature life-long learners and, the coolest of them all, a boat-building class (Karlskrona is on an island on the southeastern edge of Sweden)! The principal also told me about a Tiny House Course run at another folk school in Sweden, which I am now planning to visit next month.
So that's a very condensed look at my first six weeks here!
Overall, I'd say that one thing that really sticks out to me about these "schools of life", as they are called, is the democratic leadership structure. To attend a staff meeting where all voices are welcomed and considered was refreshing, even though it can be inefficient. When I spoke with another staff member about this, she said that such a staff meeting structure was inspired by IPCs found Peter Manniche. Manniche himself was a fascinating personality. There are stories of him literally standing on his head to help resolve conflicts between staff and students (see below pic). When I looked more into it, I found out that Manniche's inspiration came from the Quaker's (check out THIS LINK to learn more). If I do get my own people's college going one day I would aspire to use a method like this for the meetings. (I gotta work on my headstand though!)
Anyways, on that note of starting a people's college back in Canada: I am getting support from Dr. Carolyn Bennett, Canada's Ambassador to Denmark. Ambassador Bennett (Carolyn Bennett is a former MP who served under three prime ministers and spent a little over 10 years in cabinet, more than half of that as the Crown-Indigenous relations minister). I met with her last Monday at the Embassy of Canada to Denmark, in Copenhagen. And, tomorrow, she will be coming here to IPC to visit. Hopefully, this can lead to some kind of Canadian public support for a people's college in Canada. I will keep you posted!!!
I think I'm going to end there.
Oh, today was Fastelavn in Denmark. I see it as kind of like a Danish cross between Halloween and Mardi Gras (sorry for the gross simplification if you're Danish). Kids get dressed up and then smash a wooden barrel that has treats in it (used to be cats from what I've heard, but I'm not gonna touch that!). People also eat "boller" (sweet or savory buns) and sing a fun song together (see below). I checked out one of the events (without trying to look too creepy) and got a laugh! It seems like Fastelavn is held every year right before lent so, there ya go...
Oh, and one more thing... Not sure how many of you have been watching the Olympics. With my VPN I'm able to watch Canadian coverage. Last night when Denmark was beating the US in men's ice hockey, I was so PUMPED! I was literally yelling and screaming at the TV in the common room and students would pop in and wonder what the hell was wrong with me!! Anyways, the US ended up winning in the end, but with only four NHLers, the Danish team put up a great fight! Oh, and on the note of the Olympics, I was really disappointed in our men's curling team. Just so unclassy. I'm grateful that I went to Sweden before we had our whole blow-out, cuz I felt kind of ashamed.
Alright, I'm done!
Fastelavn er mit navn!!
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