One of the goals for the Swedish middle form school is that they should be a safe place for all children. According to the developing plan every child should get the help they need whatever problems they may have.
One very common thing in the Swedish middle form school during the last years, is mixed ages in the same class.

Sundskolan - a Swedish middle form school is one of many schools in Sweden which have mixed ages in the same class. Pupils in the age of ten to twelve are in the same class.
This is not compulsory for the school; other schools in Sweden have chosen to have ordinary classes. But a great number of middle schools have mixed classes.

Why is it common with mixed classes?

According to the vice principal at Sundskolan, Claes Göransson, mixed classes are better for both children and teachers.
- It's a way to help the teachers to meet the children on their own level. Says the vice principal. That means that no child should feel less smart then his/hers classmate. If you are in a mixed class you have the possibility to always have someone to compare you're self with, someone younger or older.

What do the pupils feel about mixed classes?

The pupils at Sundskolan are used to have a mixed class. That's because they have been in a mixed class since first grade.
The youngest pupils think it's great to have older friends in the same class.
- You can ask them for help, so you don't have to ask the teacher all the time. Says Emil, 11 years old.
The oldest children are tired of having a mixed class. They want to finish middle form school and have a class with only children of the same age as them self.
They say that they get tired when the smaller children ask them for help all the time.
But all the children whatever age says that one great thing with having mixed classes is that you get friends in different ages.

The Italian middle school

The Italian middle school is not like the Swedish middle school. They haven't the possibility to choose to have mixed classes. But one important thing which is the same for Swedish and Italian schools is that both of them want to give all children the help they need whatever problem they have. But we do it in different ways.
The middle schools in Italy have a new way of working. They want the children to use all their senses because different people learn in different ways. They work allot with their hands, like painting and creating things.
This type of learning is on its way into Swedish schools to, but at this time it's a very new way of working.

Children with special needs

Italian schools want to help all children to a further education. In many countries children with special and seriously problems are forgotten by the ordinary school. The school can't give them all the help they need and these children becomes a problem for the school.
Italy has alot of new schools and centres for children with special needs much bigger than other children may have. In these schools can these children have almost the same chance as other children to learn things. The can get all the help they need and are never a problem or something to forget for the school.
But many of the children can't learn things like a "normal" child so they paint create and plays during the days. The "keyword" for these schools is to suit the learning after the child and not the opposite.
Sundskolan in Sweden are also trying to take care of children with special needs. They have a special class called Växthuset. Children who needs a little more help from the teacher than his/hers classmates can have the chance to go in this class. There is more than one teacher in Växthuset because they want to give the children as much help as possible.

© 2002 Freeway
Writer: Lina Brännström (sp02-02@park.se).
HTML by: ONy (olle@park.se).