1. Danish Education vs. American Education By Jon Fontaine

2. Introduction to Denmark An area slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts An area slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts Located in Northern Europe Located in Northern Europe Geographically similar to New England Geographically similar to New England Democratic Government Democratic Government

3. The People of Denmark Predominantly Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian and Somali Predominantly Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian and Somali Majority of population between 25- 54 years old Majority of population between 25- 54 years old 8.7% of Gross Domestic Product spent on education (8 th in the world) 8.7% of Gross Domestic Product spent on education (8 th in the world)

4. Brief History of Danish Education Tiered Structure of Education Tiered Structure of Education Basic School – Level 0-10 Basic School – Level 0-10 Upper Secondary – Level 10-13 Upper Secondary – Level 10-13 Bachelor Programs – Level 13-15 Bachelor Programs – Level 13-15 Master’s Programs – Level 16-17 Master’s Programs – Level 16-17 PhD – Level’s 18-20 PhD – Level’s 18-20

5. History Continued Pre-Primary Education Pre-Primary Education Introduces Children to a School EnvironmentIntroduces Children to a School Environment Primary and Lower Secondary Primary and Lower Secondary Comprehensive School for 1 st and 2 nd gradesComprehensive School for 1 st and 2 nd grades

6. History Continued Upper Secondary Education Upper Secondary Education 16-19 year old students16-19 year old students General Education General Education Vocational or Technical Education Vocational or Technical Education Production SchoolsProduction Schools Students under 25 Students under 25 Helps students obtain qualifications to join the job market Helps students obtain qualifications to join the job market

7. Education for All Basic Education is Compulsory Basic Education is Compulsory More than 50% of students enter Higher Education yearly More than 50% of students enter Higher Education yearly Each school prepares students for the next tier in the education structure Each school prepares students for the next tier in the education structure

8. Education for All Continued Education is 100% free Education is 100% free Tuition is never charged to students Tuition is never charged to students Students receive monthly financial aid Students receive monthly financial aid This educational support helps pay for expenses while not working and attending school This educational support helps pay for expenses while not working and attending school

9. The Danish Education System Compared to US, Denmark uses a 7 point “grading scale” Compared to US, Denmark uses a 7 point “grading scale” Danish Mark 12 equals an A Danish Mark 12 equals an A Danish Mark 00 equals an F Danish Mark 00 equals an F This was introduced in 2007 to make grading more comparable internationally This was introduced in 2007 to make grading more comparable internationally

10. Danish Education System Continued Self-governing Politics in Education Self-governing Politics in Education Ensures a broad range of options for studentsEnsures a broad range of options for students Requires institutions to create educational opportunity and developmentRequires institutions to create educational opportunity and development Each school maintains pedagological developmentEach school maintains pedagological development

11. Subjects & Curriculum in Denmark Humanities Humanities Danish, English, Christian Studies, History, Social StudiesDanish, English, Christian Studies, History, Social Studies Practical/Creative Practical/Creative Physical Education, Music, Visual Arts, DesignPhysical Education, Music, Visual Arts, Design

12. Curriculum Continued Science Science Math, Natural Sciences, Geography, Biology, Physics,Math, Natural Sciences, Geography, Biology, Physics, Other Topics Other Topics Road Safety, Health & Sex Ed., Educational, Vocational and Labor Market OrientationRoad Safety, Health & Sex Ed., Educational, Vocational and Labor Market Orientation

13. School Years Around the World United States United States September to JuneSeptember to June 188 Days188 Days 943 Annual School Hours943 Annual School Hours Australia Australia January to DecemberJanuary to December 200 Days200 Days

14. School Years Around the World Brazil Brazil January to DecemberJanuary to December 7am to Noon7am to Noon China China September to JulySeptember to July 7:30am to 5:00pm7:30am to 5:00pm

15. School Years in Denmark Denmark Denmark August to JuneAugust to June 741 Annual School Hours741 Annual School Hours Christmas Holiday, Spring Break, Easter Holiday, Summer Holiday, Autumn BreakChristmas Holiday, Spring Break, Easter Holiday, Summer Holiday, Autumn Break

16. US School Day Compared to Other Nations US School Day US School Day 7am to 3pm typically7am to 3pm typically One meal providedOne meal provided Average 900 Instructional Hours YearlyAverage 900 Instructional Hours Yearly

17. US School Day Continued India and China require 25% more schooling than US India and China require 25% more schooling than US Students in China attend more school days per year than US Students in China attend more school days per year than US Danish Students attend LESS school than US Danish Students attend LESS school than US

18. Denmark Education vs United States Denmark Instructional Time = 790 hours per school year Denmark Instructional Time = 790 hours per school year Demark Averages 9.7 years of school for adults, US averages 12 Demark Averages 9.7 years of school for adults, US averages 12 Denmark spends 8.74% on Education, US spends 5.62% Denmark spends 8.74% on Education, US spends 5.62%

19. Continued Denmark has 7.44 primary teachers per 1000 students, US has 5.49 Denmark has 7.44 primary teachers per 1000 students, US has 5.49 Pupil to teacher ratio in Denmark is 9.93 to 1, in the US it is 14.29 to 1 Pupil to teacher ratio in Denmark is 9.93 to 1, in the US it is 14.29 to 1 Denmark’s Primary Education Teachers ranked 61 st in the world, the US teachers ranked 5th Denmark’s Primary Education Teachers ranked 61 st in the world, the US teachers ranked 5th

20. What Can We Learn? Education is something that should be free and compulsory Education is something that should be free and compulsory Longer school days and years does not correlate to higher education Longer school days and years does not correlate to higher education Less money spent on higher education means more money in the economy Less money spent on higher education means more money in the economy

21. What Can We Change? Shorten school days Shorten school days Put more funding into education Put more funding into education Focus on students and not testing Focus on students and not testing Increase vocational schools and training Increase vocational schools and training Observe other nations and model their successful educational systems Observe other nations and model their successful educational systems

22. Conclusion Education in the US needs to be revamped Education in the US needs to be revamped We need to change the way we look at educationWe need to change the way we look at education Education should be a right, not a businessEducation should be a right, not a business Students need to be given more freedom in their educational processStudents need to be given more freedom in their educational process

23. References (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world- factbook/ (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world- factbook/ (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://studyindenmark.dk/study-options/the-danish-way- of-teaching-1/the-danish-way-of-teaching-1 (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://studyindenmark.dk/study-options/the-danish-way- of-teaching-1/the-danish-way-of-teaching-1 Education for all. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://denmark.dk/en/society/welfare/education-for-all/ Education for all. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://denmark.dk/en/society/welfare/education-for-all/ http://denmark.dk/en/society/welfare/education-for-all/ Overview of the Danish Education System. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://eng.uvm.dk/Education/Overview-of-the-Danish-Education-System Overview of the Danish Education System. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://eng.uvm.dk/Education/Overview-of-the-Danish-Education-System Subjects & Curriculum. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://eng.uvm.dk/Education/Primary-and-Lower-Secondary-Education/The-Folkeskole/Subjects- and-Curriculum Subjects & Curriculum. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://eng.uvm.dk/Education/Primary-and-Lower-Secondary-Education/The-Folkeskole/Subjects- and-Curriculum Denmark - History Background. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/368/Denmark-HISTORY-BACKGROUND.html Denmark - History Background. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/368/Denmark-HISTORY-BACKGROUND.html (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://www.infoplease.com/world/statistics/school- years.html (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://www.infoplease.com/world/statistics/school- years.html School days: How the U.S. compares with other countries. (2014, September 2). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/09/02/school-days-how-the-u-s- compares-with-other-countries/ School days: How the U.S. compares with other countries. (2014, September 2). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/09/02/school-days-how-the-u-s- compares-with-other-countries/ Denmark vs United States Education Stats Compared. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/Denmark/United-States/Education Denmark vs United States Education Stats Compared. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/Denmark/United-States/Education Sanders, S. (n.d.). What Can We Learn From Denmark? Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/what-can-we-learn-from-de_b_3339736.html Sanders, S. (n.d.). What Can We Learn From Denmark? Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/what-can-we-learn-from-de_b_3339736.html Time in school: How does the U.S. compare? (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/Main-Menu/Organizing-a-school/Time-in-school-How- does-the-US-compare Time in school: How does the U.S. compare? (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/Main-Menu/Organizing-a-school/Time-in-school-How- does-the-US-compare