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DENMARK - "THE VALUE SCHOOL"

1. Information on the school

» Kind of school: Public primary and lower secondary school (6-16 years old)

» Number of pupils: 710      Number of teachers: 62

» Specific School Educational Policies concerning equal opportunities:

No explicit policy on equal opportunities but under obligation to observe the law on primary and lower secondary school, the Law on Education Environment 1st August 2001 and the law of prohibition against discrimination.

» Social characteristics of environment

Situated in the suburb of town in Jutland of approximately 54,000 inhabitants. The school district is situated in an area surrounded by detached houses. The population is rather homogenous socio economic as well as cultural. The majority of students come from a middle class background.

The school is an open design school with the classrooms connected trough a "missing" wall in the direction of a common room. Together with movable furniture this enables the adaptation of the physical environment to a number of teaching students.

2. Reasons for the actvity

» Why did the activity begin?

The headteacher and the deputy headteacher attended a course in 1997. It inspired them to initiate the process of working to redefine the priorities and values of the school.

» What was the aim of the activity?

To establish a common set of values that could be a fundamental to the planning, teaching and the daily life at the school.

» Types of discrimination worked on

In principle all types.

3. Development of the activity

» The activity is directed at:

All Parents
Some Parents (Representatives of parents were asked to participate in focus groups)
All pupils in principle (but the pupils board were particularly active in formulating a "Law of Pupils"

» Who managed the activity?

Teachers:

The headteacher and the deputy headteacher started the process by asking (in questionnaire) all teachers what values they could agree on.

A special group of 5 teachers was selected as responsible for the process.

Parents:

Parents representatives were invited to focus groups were they were interviewed about what values they found important in the school.

Others:

The pupils in the school were also involved.

» Date and duration of development of activity:

Initiated in 1999 and conclusions made in 2002. But the implementation of the values in the teaching is an ongoing process.

» Methodology and Strategies

  • The values of the school were initially established in 1973.
  • Questioning the teachers on what part of the 1973 values they could agree on.
  • Asking the parents what values they found important in the school.
  • Workshops with all teachers reformulating values of the school.
  • Working with the pupils (and later the pupils board) on formulating a "Law of the pupils"
  • Reporting to teachers and parents on the progress of the project.
  • Construction of a "manual" to strengthen the implementation of the values in everyday teaching.

4. Results

» What has improved as a result of this activity?

  • Construction of a common platform for planning and teaching
  • Discussions and reflections on important values

» Variables that have facilitated or hindered the success of the activity

  • The initiative of the headteacher and the deputy headteacher.
  • The high level of engagement from parents.
  • A tradition in the school - already present before - of discussing and working together.