Early years education: Sweden versus the UK Part 1 (of 3)

haha good days!

I take UK primary teachers to Africa because they are so far behing the curve in this respect. It's sad, but we can make a huge Impact. It is such an important time in a child's development. They must be looked after properly.

Its all well & good to note that Americas system is too adversarial. But WHY is it that way?

Sweden's a relatively homogenous country. That eases the social tension. Also, for half the 20th Century Sweden implemented a program of eugenics.

Im certainly not advocating eugenics or genocide. But Swedens isolation from the 3rd world is a factor. For the same reason, Americas K-12 schools are actually pretty solid once you get away from the major urban areas.

Eugenics usually focuses on eliminating people with "special needs" and I see just as many such people in Stockholm as in say, the UK. So if there was a eugenics program, it can't have been much good!

Whilst not as heterogeneous as the USA, Sweden has had the highest rate of immigration in the EU and accepts many more asylum seekers than other EU states. Yet it succeeds in implementing, even imposing this style of education on children from Afghanistan and Iraq, etc. with good results.

IIRC, USA & Sweden both forced about 60k sterilizations in the 20th Century. Sweden's population was less than 1/20th of the USA.

Geography & politics also limited 20th century Swedish immigration. Todays immigrants might eventually make Swedens consensual society more adversarial. Cant think of a single historical example suggesting otherwise.

BTW, thanks for the civil response on such a touchy subject. I have nothing against Sweden. Theres a lot to learn from them. This video is a good counterpoint to those who would have us emulate the cram school systems of East Asia.

But NY & London will never be Stockholm.

very well said!!!!!

jag har fått nyheterna som du inte är ok svensk?

om du var dig skulle förstår men, kanske skitas du

-sigh-... I wonder IF my fellow Americans will learn to get it right like this. Stop crapping out kids would be my first advice.

MondoBeno wrote:
"While teaching Special Ed in New York, I used to email teachers in Sweden to find out where we were going wrong. Here's what I found:
1. The population of Sweden is smaller. Couples have fewer kids. You don't have 5 boys with the same mother and different (absent) fathers.
2. Parents are more austere when it comes to spending.
3. You pay high taxes to pay for top day care.
4. The diet is stricter with less junk. I admire Sweden. Whatever they do, it keeps everyone safe."