Visit to Kunskapsskolan

As part of my research on the Swedish education system, I visited Kunskapsskolan, one of Sweden's largest for-profit school chains. Borris – on his day-off from working on-set of some of Sweden's biggest TV productions – came along to help me film. We were met by CEO Cecilia Carnefeldt, and two bright and enthusiastic fifteen-year-old girls who showed us around the school.

The first thing that struck me was the layout. It was an open concept design with all of the offices and classrooms enclosed by glass, and there were no hallways.

"Nothing good ever happened in a corridor," Cecilia told me, and she claimed that their transparent rooms had reduced bullying.

Like many of the independent schools in Sweden, Kunskapsskolan offers a unique pedagogical teaching method, in this case, based on personalized learning.  Students are not bound to learning at a certain pace or in the same way as other students. They must only complete 35 "steps" by the time they are 16; how old they are when they complete each step and how they do it is up to them. In addition, each student is assigned a personal tutor with whom they meet once a week to discuss their goals.

It's not a method that will satisfy everyone. A family friend of Åsa and Jerker sent their child to Kunskapsskolan, but she felt overwhelmed by the non-traditional style and left. However, for the two girls I met, who both admitted to feeling unchallenged at their former public school, this was a breath of fresh air.

"I was bored at my old school. We did the same thing every day...I always worked a bit further than the others, then I'd have to step back and wait for them. That really damaged my development," said Elin in perfectly accented English. "[Here] you can always challenge yourself. That's the good thing about this school."

This brand of school is now planning to expand abroad (much to the chagrin of many Swedes – there is currently a big debate here about whether government-financed, privately run schools like Kunskapsskolan should be allowed to operate like a normal company and rake-in profits). It will open a school in the UK – where the government is planning to adopt the Swedish model of free school choice – and in Manhattan this fall.

Multicultural Malmö

My taxi driver in Malmo, Sweden's third largest city, was from Iraq.

"Is your family here with you?" I asked.

"No," he paused.  "And thank God I don't have a wife!"

"Why is that?" I replied. "You're scaring me. I'm getting married in a few weeks, you know…"

"Too many women here from all over the world: Russia! Lebanon! Iraq! I can't have just one!" he cackled.

At least he was honest.

Malmo is certainly a multicultural place, and because of its condensed size, that's much more apparent than on the streets of Stockholm. Like many countries in Europe, immigration has been a contentious issue here following an influx of foreigners in the past 10 years. Immigrants now make-up around 14 percent of the Swedish population, and the small town of Soedertaelje alone has taken-in more Iraqi refugees than the U.S. and Canada combined.

Here's a report from Malmo by the New York Times about the hardships immigrants to Sweden face:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/world/europe/27sweden.html

Is America Becoming Sweden?

Remember when conservative pundits were awash with fear that President Obama was about to turn us into Sweden? These very funny clips from the Daily Show with Jon Stewart highlight some of the differences – and misperceptions – between Americans and Swedes. 

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-april-21-2009/the-stockholm-syndrome-pt--1

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-april-22-2009/the-stockholm-syndrome-pt--2

Kalles Kaviar

"You either love it or hate it," said Murat, a student at Stockholm University.

I love it.

Kalles Kaviar in a tube (codfish paste) is a typical component of the Swedish breakfast, and despite my many trips to IKEA, I'd never come across it in their food market. I prefer the stronger version – saltier and slightly fishier – though a mild one is available. Price? About $3.

The Swedish Crown Princess

With the upcoming nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton in the UK, royal wedding fever is in the air. The blogosphere is abuzz with speculation over who will design the dress of the future princess, and television specials about the royals appear to be on constant repeat, whether it be in Europe or in the U.S.

However, the royal wedding has also conjured-up debates about the relavence of the monarchy in modern times. I asked Åsa what she thought of Victoria, the Crown Princess of Sweden and next in line to the throne who – like William – fell for a commoner (she married her boyfriend, Daniel Westling, a gym owner, last year).

"She's so pretty. I like her very much," she exclaimed. "And the people of Sweden support the monarchy."

It's true – for the majority at least. Fifty-eight percent of Swedes would like to preserve the institution, according to a survey commissioned by the Swedish Republican Association in 2010. However, those who favor abolishing it has more than doubled over the past decade. 

The BBC World Service recently aired an interesting documentary called, For King or Country, that explores the arguments for and against the monarchy in Sweden.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00fvht8

Pining for ABBA

Anthony Bourdain calls them a black mark on an otherwise great country. I call them the greatest gift to music and the foremost soundtrack of my life: ABBA.

While the architecture and waterways of Stockholm have proved to be every bit as beautiful as they say, one grave disappointment is the delay of the new ABBA Museum, which was scheduled to open back in 2009! At least I know the spirit of ABBA is still alive and well here. Åsa proudly announced that she and her fellow group members ("Group Björn") just won an ABBA song and dance contest to the tune of Voulez-Vous.