Henrik Dalgard joins SvD up important points about how a culture of adaptation and lowered requirements in teaching affect students and pupils. But it is crucial to place the problem in a larger context. The deteriorating results in school and students' reduced ability to write and analyze is not an isolated phenomenon. They are consequences of decades of political decisions marked by budget restrictions, privatizations and cuts.
The school's resources and structure
Higher wages and improved working conditions
Higher wages and improved working conditions for teachers can attract more academically gifted individuals to the profession, including specialists in technology and physics. Countries with high-performing education systems, such as Finland and Singapore, prioritize high teacher salaries and a good working environment, which strengthens teachers' status and commitment.
Research also indicates that investment in teacher salaries and resources for schools can improve innovation and productivity in society. If the schools manage to get more pupils and students well-off and competent, this can strengthen the country's competitiveness and long-term economic growth and the individual former students' health and life situation in general.
Teachers' salaries have been raised somewhat. Is it perhaps time for the challenging working conditions for teachers to improve? Teachers probably need more time for pre- and post-work as well as to recovery.
Adaptation culture and its causes
The removal of special and general courses in English and mathematics
The abolition of level grouping in subjects such as English and mathematics aimed to promote inclusion. However, this can lead to high-achieving students not being challenged enough, while struggling students can feel overwhelmed. In a situation with already insufficient resources, this can increase the demands and stress on the teacher to provide good teaching for all pupils and students.
A rule of no more than two exams a week and no exams close together
Limiting the number of tests per week and avoiding putting them close together can reduce stress and give students better opportunities to prepare. Research shows that excessive testing can lead to superficial learning and increased anxiety. A balanced exam schedule can promote deeper understanding and better performance.
Reading skills and the ability to write
Grades in lower ages help or help
The introduction of grades in lower grades is under debate. Research from the University of Gothenburg shows that grades can motivate some students but also increase stress and anxiety in others. Younger students develop at different rates, and early grading can lead to insecurity and negatively affect their self-image.
Do students with strong special needs in regular classes affect the school's resources and teaching?
Research shows that inclusion of students with special needs in regular classes can be challenging if sufficient resources and support are not available. Teachers may experience difficulties in meeting the needs of all students, which can affect the quality of teaching. A study from the University of Gothenburg sheds light on these challenges and the importance of adequate support for inclusion to work effectively.
Creating special education groups or special schools for students with extensive needs can be a solution, provided that these environments are inclusive and offer high-quality education. It is important to avoid stigmatization and ensure that students receive the education they are entitled to.
Newly arrived students of older ages
In today's resource shortage, it is difficult for teachers to provide adequate support to all newly arrived pupils and students who need extra support. However, this is only a resource issue and resource scarcity is an ideological and not a monetary issue.
Such important thoughts! As it is now, we are failing children and young people. As a retired teacher, I hear from younger colleagues that many students in junior high school today are unable to read even a simpler youth book on their own. 10-15 years ago we had different literature themes in each grade, of course with the possibility of different degrees of difficulty.
The school must seriously invest in reading and writing skills!
Just!
The magazine We Teachers seems to agree: https://www.vilarare.se/nyheter/betyg-och-bedomning/betygsutslagning-kopplas-till-hog-dodlighet-bland-unga/.
The newspaper blames the unique Swedish system - but the question is whether liberal extremism's unreasonable demand that everyone should create their own happiness has a hand in the game. At least that's what George Monbiot thinks: https://www.monbiot.com/2006/07/07/willy-loman-syndrome/
Just!
An interesting descriptive text about how important it is that every child has their need for education met in a society built on the equal value of all people.
And it gets bad when only economic profitability incentives are put in the foreground.
Just. We often reach peak performance when we put the health and well-being of the person performing something at the center and before the performance.
Ok, one lesson learned after the numerous SIP meetings in support of students with special needs is that I believe that division based on needs and ability can help a great many without costing more. People with special needs quite often receive 1 to 1 teaching and then take up studies again in introductory programs at upper secondary school and folk high school later in life. Often, students also manage to get hurt because the costs run out and the measures come late. We could save enormous amounts for the core business if we shifted to mercilessly punishing schools that are organized according to the "new public management". Punish schools and principals severely if there is double documentation, over-documentation and teaching staff perform large amounts of additional administrative work. In this way, it is probably possible to do an awful lot without the ongoing operations needing to cost that much more, provided that money is freed up for the conversion/efficiency. It would probably reduce the costs of operations and lack of results in teaching if teacher salaries were set based on market prices and too large classes were avoided.
Wise, but would like to drastically reduce the number of independent schools as these are not constructive in any particularly large sense.