Nanny-methods nothing for a democratic school...

Mary Poppins.

Mary Poppins:
[Spoken]
In ev'ry job that must be done
There is an element of fun
You find the fun and snap!
The job's a game

[Sung]
And ev'ry task you undertake
Becomes a piece of cake
A lark! A spree! It's very clear to see that

A Spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
The medicine go down-wown
The medicine go down
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
In a most delightful way

A robin feathering his nest
Has very little time to rest
While gathering his bits of twine and twig
Though quite intent in his pursuit
He has a merry tune to toot
He knows a song will move the job along - for

A Spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
The medicine go down-wown
The medicine go down
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
In a most delightful way

[Interlude]

The honey bee that fetch the nectar
From the flowers to the comb
Never tire of ever buzzing to and fro
Because they take a little nip
From ev'ry flower that they sip
And hence (And hence),
They find (They find)
Their task is not a grind.

Ah-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h ah!

A Spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
The medicine go down-wown
The medicine go down
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
In a most delightful way

From one of my teachers’ papers today; the editor's chronicle “Nanny-methods nothing for a democratic school.”

Where you can read that the trend with harder grips against children in our society has got an against-reaction. The [Swedish] professors Mats Ekholm, Hans-Åke Scherp and Bengt-Erik Andersson have reacted strongly in a petition against super nanny methods like expelling, taking no notice of, and putting children in the corner - and against the government’s policy with harder grips in the school.

The professors want us to meet children and adolescents as we wish them to be – responsible taking, enterprising and critically reflecting. They also want that Sweden shall incorporate the UN’s child’s conventions in the Swedish legislations. And many agree with them. Almost 20,000 (6,000??) people have signed the petition Barnuppropet ”Barn har rätt – Lagstadga barns rätt att utvecklas med lust i trygghet!” or the Child Petition ”Children have the right – Lay the Children’s Rights to Development With Lust in Security Down by Law!”

That psychical abuse or mistreatment of children is sent as entertainment in TV and that the methods are taught on different courses, of course influences how we think and react the editor thinks [this was one of his better contributions, because I haven't been so fond of this newspaper and its tame and lame views, colored by this editor??]. The school and teachers are influenced by this too.

During the former century the Swedish society made a journey from an undemocratic society to a democratic. From an undemocratic school where the students were disciplined with violence to a school with a democratic and humane outlook on mankind.

This journey has been very positive for both students and society. Swedish students are frank, open and creative and they dare to call things in question they think are wrong. Swedish students don’t do their school tasks because they fear their teachers, but because they have an inherent lust to learn. This is an outlook on students and a school we shall take care of.

Do we really need sugar to help the medicine go down???

From the petition in my a little free translation:

“The former century’s big catchword – the child’s century [see pictures here from a series in Swedish TV on The Child's Century] – quickly disappeared from those in power and moulders of public opinion. The media producers use to send psychic abuse of children as entertainment. From the ideal of the Super nanny parents are taught to expel and ignore their child when it needs nearness and warmth. Standing in the corner is reintroduced but is called time-out.

Education programs are brought about for school and child care where the personnel are trained to discipline with authoritarian shutting off (suspension) and humiliating treatment. Instead of teaching children to respect themselves and other people it is raised to staking on own profits (gains): what can I loose or win doing as the grown ups want?

The government is walking at the head of a hardened fashion in meeting children and young people. In its rhetoric knowledge is honored. It would be valuable if the government uses systematic knowledge also in the education area [They ought use the knowledge that they say they honor - quite ironically!!]. Contrary to scientific findings punishment is advocated as a raising method, for example in form of detention./…/

Young people grow when they are put demands on and when they meet challenges in safe contexts, where it is allowed and desirable that they are learning by mistakes as well as ‘successful tricks’. Young people are growing best in circumstances when they are accepted/recognized and when their way of thinking and feeling is met with respect. We urge ministers/secretaries and other moulders of opinions ceasing to treat children and young people as less worth. Show them respect instead. Use science and well-tried experiences when initiatives are taken so that young people are allowed to develop from desires, joy and engagement in secure circumstances. Meet children and young people as we want them to be – responsible taking, enterprising, creative and critically reflecting.”

People having fun: