What are schooling conditions like in Sweden? I've just watched a video to prepare children to return in the US and I'm wondering if it's a spoof?

[Strangerthanstrange]

This is the video. m.youtube.com/watch?v=-gI1Oi_rJSc
I'm hoping it's a spoof. Have Swedish schools adopted these practises does anyone know?
My kids school is small, but that's both in number and indoor space. The keyworker children have enjoyed school as far as I know here.

[MuffinFace]

@Ilets Yes it's basically informed by continuous assessment, which takes different forms in different subjects as you'd expect (tests, assignments, practical activities). In some subjects and year groups it is supported by a national test towards the end of the course, which is set by a central organization but still marked by class teachers. That's the part that's been cancelled this year.
As I teacher I certainly feel treated more like a professional here. Particularly in this respect, I am considered to be an "expert" on my subject and how it should be graded and am also expected to act sufficiently impartially that I will grade my students fairly and honestly (although of course some students will feel hard done by and some parents will complain sometimes as you would expect - it's not perfect!). It's an interesting difference coming from the UK. I'm not sure if it would catch on there as I don't think there is necessarily the level of trust in the teaching profession for most people to be happy with teachers setting the grades.

[MuffinFace]

@Strangerthanstrange It was for (under 16) pupils who were at home "sick". So either because parents were worried about them catching the virus and didn't want to send them, or if they just had very minor symptoms (like a bit of a cough) so couldn't be in school but were otherwise fine. I think it has reduced now because the government has made it clear that keeping your child home if they are not sick shouldn't be done (if they are in the age range 6-16 where school is compulsory), and that schools aren't expected to educate children who are sick even if the symptoms are very minor.

[Ilets]

Do a lot of people you know think that about Sweden? That they are carrying on with no changes? Is that where the resistance to going back to what is now the Sweden model comes from? Interesting.

[Ilets]

I didn't know teachers set grades. Is that like a type of continuous assessment? Certainly a model that might be more useful for us over the next few years

I haven't seen any threads about university reopening 'like Sweden'. After all, it's revision/holiday/exam period

And year 13 are long gone

So that leaves year 12. Selfishly I'd like us not to be like Sweden on that, and send them back first, before the rest of secondary

[Frustratedsenmummy]

Lumene loads of children start reception not knowing any others. They possibly will have the easiest time of all school children right now

[ineedaholidaynow]

@Strangerthanstrange I think most people think Sweden is carrying on as normal with no changes.

[Lumene]

This is going to be so difficult for those starting in reception, especially if they don’t know anyone

[Strangerthanstrange]

@muffinface are younger children doing half at school and half at home, or is the at home part only for those you are currently unwell?

[Strangerthanstrange]

@Piggywaspushed which part is not widely known? Teachers setting grades or age 16plus not attending? I think most people are aware that older students aren't attending.

[Piggywaspushed]

That's as I thought : this is not widely known in the UK, where everyone keeps going 'but Sweden'...

[MuffinFace]

@PiggyWasPushed all over 16s including university students and anyone in adult education is now doing distance learning so they're not in school/university. All national exams have been canceled for our students, though it is allowed to bring in small groups of final year students (up to about 5) to do assessments that are impossible at a distance, for example on vocational programs. The system is a bit different here because it is teachers - rather than an exam board - who set the grades, so we will still be expected to give grades to all students and just have to find appropriate ways to assess them.

[MuffinFace]

@KeepDistance cod liver oil isn't especially common here as far as I've seen, but I think a reasonable number of people do take vitamin D supplements as it's known to be an issue with the low sunlight. Children under 2 get vitamin D drops provided for free (I think up to age 5 for groups at higher risk of deficiency). I really don't know the statistics on it though - only from chatting to people.

[Piggywaspushed]

In Sweden muffin does that mean 16-18 year olds aren't in school? Are unis open?

I ask because there is quite a drive here to get year 12s back in asap, yet they are the school year group most at risk , age wise (and the ones who do the least to resolve the schools =childcare conundrum)

[Keepdistance]

Can i just ask
Do you think sweden has low levels of vit d deficiency?
I hear they take cod liver oil in scandinavian countries
So what happens to residents of care homes? Are they more likely to be deficient?
Would you say you guys are healthier weight and drink less than uk.

[MuffinFace]

@ineedaholidaynow I can't speak for the whole country but from what I see and hear, and in the news, it seems like people are simultaneously mostly in support of the measures but also concerned by the death rate compared to the other Nordic countries. It seems most deaths are in the capital and particularly in nursing homes, so the health care system in much of the country is still holding up well all things considered, which I think is probably reassuring a lot of people.

[MuffinFace]

@Strangerthanstrange I think there is mostly an acceptance that it is basically impossible to ensure social distancing during social times at school. Especially with younger children - certainly at my son's preschool they play outside but there's no real attempt to actually keep the children apart. I think the main concern for teachers just now is trying to balance teaching the pupils who are in school and also what to do about pupils who are at home. The guidance now is clearer (children should be in school unless they are actually unwell) but to begin with a lot of parents were choosing to keep healthy children home and schools were still trying to teach these pupils too. I teach post-16 students now and we've all been doing distance learning only for about a month and a half, which is pretty hard work without having to balance teaching children in the classroom too I think.

[Keepdistance]

Tbh the world is in this mess because it is clearly not possible to accurately extrapolate th china data to other populations
Uk and us were determined that there was an iceberg of asymptomatic cases but it just is not to t he number they were saying.
In china no child died (they only had 80k confirmed cases though)ly
Then there are the actions taken by gov and the healthcare system.
Then it hit italy in 1 area so they were hit differently to every other eu country.
If you get overwhelmed you are not ventilating over 60s (some of whom would be workers).
But maybe the fundamental difference is asia seem to value maths more and are more guided by it.
Our pm and advisors do they even have gcse or alevel maths?
They shoukdnt need people saying x number of deaths -yes modelling can refine it but surely they could have seen their herd immunity would be hundreds of thousands of deaths.
Though the way they are running it i think 100k would be a low estimate still sadly

[PurpleCrowbarWhereIsLangCleg]

The YouTube channel looks like its other videos are a playlist of songs about inclusion for Inclusion Week - probably for assemblies etc.

I think it could be genuine. It's pretty much what I'd expect schools to bd trying to put in place.

Can't see it working when all Ben's mates he hasn't seen for 3-6 months turn up, but it looks like an idealistic attempt to put the measures in place.

Re the masks & hearing impaired kids - my dd2 is deaf - I've seen masks with plastic 'windows' over the mouth for exactly this reason. Some student was making them as a uni project I think? Don't know if they are commercially available.

[Keepdistance]

Would you feel the same as a 50/60yo diabetic etc or 30yo pregnant teacher?

[Piggywaspushed]

nellodee

[nellodee]

@Piggywaspushed you don't need to venture into the corridors to wash your hands. Just have a bucket of water and a bar of soap in your classroom, silly.

[ineedaholidaynow]

In what way @Ilets? I wonder if the Swedish people do when comparing themselves to the other Scandinavian countries

[Ilets]

I so wish we were more Swedish in approach

[Keepdistance]

I agree im concerned about these kids that they cant possibly cope with a few weeks at home (doing a bit of work and going on walks /cycling etc). That they canot play alone. Tbh that is a useful skill. Occupying yourself.

Although they say kids cant transmit cv to adults - they dont say they cant transmit to children and clearly adults can give it to kids.

The aguments are really polarising people as the im alright jack people dont care about others.
Just as older teacher vs young vs vulnerable but not shielded.
Unfortunately the reality of this shit situation is our choices (and gov) directly affect each other.
The teacher that doesnt want to wear a mas will infect colleages, children etc
Likewise the parents that dont want their child to wear one their child might infect other kids
The child who wont wash their hands properly or after the toilet may make everyone around them ill.

Only idiots would say we didnt need to lockdown.
Sweden has had a lot less deaths so either their infection was slower so more stayed inside as they had warning
They have better vit d levels
Lower air pollution
Lower bame population?? The somali there are being more affected.
Healthier citizens?
Better healthcare?

I cant see how uk schools could have them all outside the playground isnt large enough.

At this current r0 well anything over 0 we will have more people infected by sept therefore more immune people less key workers contagious.
It is very infectious but the infections will slow gradually as more people are immune.
And hopefully if all workers do wear masks we will reduce the transmission.
I think the issue is more that kids cant play together outside in parks etc even. Maybe only children should be allowed 1 friend to pair with.

[Beerincomechampagnetastes]

There is hope for your dc strange change can be especially difficult for many children, you’re not alone.
You may choose to phase your dc back to school once you have more info about how your school will manage and what they will put in place.