Students and Teachers

What an absolutely lovely day--inside and outside the school.  The weather was picture perfect with highs in the 60's--bright and sunny.  A perfect day.

Inside the school, I observed a Danish Literature lesson -- students in their second year of high school.  (Remember that Danish Gymnasiums have only three years--ending at age 18 - 20.)   Since this was a literature lesson, most of the class were girls.  Like in America, boys seem to be the majority in science and math, girls in the humanities.

While in class, I observed great cooperative learning groups.  The students had read three short stories the night before--fairy tales from the middle ages.  Today in class, they were placed into six groups.  Each group analyzed a tale--two groups to one tale.   The teacher gave instructions, giving specific questions that should be answered.  After thirty minutes of working in groups, the teacher divide the groups and had members form different groups.  This time each student was to tell the results of the analysis.  After discussing the different interpretations--esp. Freudian interpretation, the class met as a whole to review the results.  Students were so engaged, all members participating.

Yesterday we also observed classes.  I observed a religious studies class and second year music class.  I think my students would be very envious of the Danish students and perhaps a bit scared of the teaching methods.  The students in religious studies sat in a circle to give their presentations on Buddhism.  One young lady spoke for over ten minutes, never consulting notes, never waiving.  She made great eye contact and impressed me immensely.  She knew her material.  Students asked her questions; she knew the answers.  Again students were engaged with the material--listening and discussing, giving opinions in a respectful manner.

The music...what can I say?  The method was fantastic.  The students had been studying the makings of a hit--different motifs and structures always found in hits.   Now, they were putting their knowledge to work by composing their own hit song.  Someone was on drums, base guitar, piano, flute, and violin.   And of course there were singers who composed the words.  I still can't believe how wonderful the music and lyrics sound.

We also met with two student council representatives today--just us and them.   Here was the chance for students to tell us the real story without the teachers.  So, what was the real story?  That Aarhus Katherdraleskole is a great school, and that most of the students choose the school because it has such a wonderful academic reputation.  And we certainly were impressed and saw absolutely nothing to contradict the fact that Aarhus is indeed a great school with high academic success.

We met with one of the largest employers in Denmark, Vesper -- producer of turbine windmills.  It seems that businesses in Denmark make an extraordinary effort to connect and help the local school systems.  They are an international company who promotes globalization in its education, philosophy and workforce.

Tonight is our last night in Aarhus, and we will be eating dinner at a famous local restaurant.  It will be a bittersweet supper, knowing that this is the last meal we will share with our sister school until April.

To conclude this very long letter, let me say that I have found the people in Aarhus:  principals, teachers, students, and citizens some of the most giving and kind people I have ever met.  I have no reservations about sending our American students to Denmark.   I am so looking forward to sharing ideas and lessons with our sister school.