1973 School Magazine

California via Salt {-ake City, Yellowstone National Fark, and the Grand Canyon (from the top). She has so far given 34 talks on A.ustralia, and is most touched by the very real affection she has been given by so manv oeonle in Osawatomie. : Mrs. Moodie, in Europe for 1973, wrote to Miss Shaw:- tr went in a group of twenty teachers to see one of Stockholm's Junior F{igh Schools. We were taken there by a science teacher at the school whose husband is a biochemist. trt is a school for 700 children and I'd like to tell you about it. Firstly, it was explained that school was from 8 a.m. until 3 or 3.30 p.m. with a free lunch for all. It had two school dentists and each child went once a year for a check-up and then for as many visiis as necessary in school time. In the same area there was a clinic, the school has a full-time nurse anda doctor one day a week. There are 30-35 in each class. Everyone learns physics, chemistry and biology. English is the second language and everyone learns it - we were shown beautiful language laboratories for 30 (It's a co-ed school by the way). Our guide said German was the second language in Sweden until aboul l942,when they saw who was going to win and changed the language! The children can also learn French, Russian, Chinese, Spanish, n-atin and Greek. In Sweden there are immigrants fiom over twenty countries, Turks, Italians, etc., and the law of the land is that every child is taught Swedish and English, and if of another country, has the right to also be taught its mother tongue! The science subjects are compulsory up to 9th grade and they have six periods of Physics, four of Chemistry and three of Biology in a 35 period week. There are two "free choice" periods each week when they can learn electronics, photography-wonderful equipment for ihem-embroidery, stamp collecting, cooking, etc. There is a wonderful metal workroom with 30 lathes, etc. Kitchens and a textile room with sewing machines and a huge loom. The studio for textiles is 40 x 2O feet. We were told that every child goes up at the end of each year no matter whether they can cope with the work. This staggered everyone, apparently there is no way they can be kept back and if they cannot cope they become troublesome, and there has been more trouble since they have been compelled to do science. They used to have 16 periods when they could do mechanical work, textiles, cooking and typing. Our guide said she found the easiest way to cope with a troublesome child was to put it in a class of very intelligent pupils who generally ignored any fuss made and after a few weeks the troublesome one was bored, because no one took any notice and finally learnt quite a lot by the end of the year! At this point someone asked if sex education was taught in Sweden!! We were told that it starts in the kindergarten! At about ten they are taught about contraception. They are firmly taught that every child must be a wanted child.

PAR.ENTS] AND FR.IENDS' ASSOCtrAT{ON NOTES The school year is rushing headlong to a close, seeming as always to accelerate at this time, and as it does, some familiar faces among the Farents and Friends Association will be severing a long connection with the school. They will be sadly missed. However, on the brighter side, each year, new mothers are welcomed to the association and interest continues. When one sees the quantities of food ordered and consumed at the tuck shop, when one sees the masses of stationery, and the mountains of books beginning to accumulate for 1974, when one sees the quantity of clothing handled, or the people participating in the n rny activities of the association, one realises again and again, what a large commitment ttris has become. tr am sure that the founder of the tuck shop and Farents and F-riends' Association,the late M1s. Bolton never envisaged this magnitude of an undertaking. As each activity grows, so does the need for help. During my year of office, mothers have often said to me. 'Oh I couldn't work for the FandF' and go on to give a variety of excellent reasons, such as they are busy-usually very true-or that they are antisocial or poor mixers, or don't know anyone, can't see their way clear to regular attendances, and so on. Yet when I look around our members, I know we are a very varied company, and this is admirable and as it should be, because all manner of talents are required, all rnanners of interest needed, and simply just warmth. I know of people who comejust once ayear, perhaps on school day, and their help is much appreciated. I know of others who loath the social functions but who hav. worked for years in the tuck shop, others again who hate tuck shop and invariably help on certain stalls. Others again are never sighted in the day but have been concientious attenders at night meetings. There is room for all, and interest too, and I am always impressed at the interest shown and the knowledge shared at the monttrly committee meetings. Especially too wehave great need for people who have special skills, secretarial experience, a knowledge of accounting and an understanding of business know' how. I personally feel a little anxious-as to the future. In some respects we have been too successful over the years. Perhaps the Association should be re-structured, and in particular fathers sought for executive positions. With the increasing number of mothers working I would like to see geater involvement of fathers. Perhaps more evening and less daytime activities )iay be the answer. However I would not like members to feel that I am in any way critical of the work done or the interest shown, and I thank all most wholeheartedly. I would also like to thank Miss Shaw and her Staff, Mrs. Pashen, Miss Slater, Mr. Wilmott,and his Staff, and the Trustees of the school for their help and co- operation, I wish the Association further succes$ in 1974. Sue Knyvett, Fresident. r' .,r.f-1