Draft Syllabus
Active Citizenship in Denmark Summer 2018, Session 1 Credits: 3 Location: Copenhagen Major Disciplines: Anthropology, Political Science, Sociology Faculty Members: Mette Jungersen and Ditte Marie Egebjerg
Course Description Denmark is renowned for a strong civic society characterized by equality and social trust, but this is never a given. Democracy depends on citizens to actively engage in society. In this course, we discuss civic responsibility, social cohesion, and the importance of active citizenship, and we learn alongside Danish students by visiting a range of Danish højskoler (‘People’s High Schools’) – unique living and learning communities characterized by a high level of engagement and enthusiasm.
Learning Objectives of the Course The students taking this course will gain insight into:
the idea of democracy as a way of life how social cohesion is instilled in youth through an emphasis on dialogue and conversation in education how civic engagement is developed through individual growth how the Danish concept of ‘liberal mind’ is reflected in current debates about social cohesion and immigration.
Faculty Mette Jungersen, mag.art. Russian Studies and Literature, University of Copenhagen Instructor of Danish Language and Culture and Russian Language at DIS since 2008 Contact: [email protected]
Ditte Marie Egebjerg‐Rantzau, cand. mag. in Nordic Literature and French, University of Copenhagen. Vice Consul at the Royal Danish Consulate of Ethiopia 1999‐2000. Educator in Danish Language and Culture at Mærsk, Novo Nordisk 2001‐2006. With DIS since 2006. Contact: [email protected]
Required Texts ‐ Hall, John A., Korsgaard, Ove and Pedersen, Ove K. (eds.): Building the Nation: N.F.S. Grundtvig and Danish National Identity. McGill‐Queen’s University Press, 2015. ‐ Korsgaard, Ove: The Struggle for the People. Danish School of Education Press, 2008. ‐ Broadbridge, Edward, Jonas, Uffe and Warren, Clay: The School for Life: N.F.S. Grundtvig on Education for the People. Aarhus University Press, 2011.
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Draft Syllabus
Approach to Teaching
‐ Discussion based ‐ Interactive ‐ Case studies relating to current issues and events ‐ Hands on approach: Multiple visits to højskoler, grassroots organizations, and local associations
Expectations of the students Active participation in class is essential for the success of the course. In each meeting, your contribution includes raising questions in relation to the day’s topic and responding to your peers’ contributions. Preparation for class includes close reading of the texts, entries to your blog (to be discussed), and reflection on visits and previous class meetings. In class discussions, you will be asked to refer to specific course materials and course experiences to support your interjections.
Field Studies This is a course with a strong hands‐on approach, with many activities outside the classroom. We will be doing visits to local institutions and organizations, city walks, outside lectures, trips to højskoler, and more. Be prepared to learn and be active outside the classroom as much as in it.
Grading To be eligible for a passing grade in this class you must complete all of the assigned work.
Evaluation
Engaged participation 25% Blog 30% Oral presentation 15% Final paper 30%
Academic Regulations Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:
‐ Course Enrollment and Grading ‐ Attendance ‐ Coursework, Exams, and Final Grade Reports
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Draft Syllabus
Course overview – field trips and activities
Tuesday, May 22 What is a People’s High School? ‐ Visit to Suhrs Højskole in the heart of Copenhagen. Guest lecture: What is a folk high school – and why do they sing all the time? A short history of nearly everything about the Danish folk high schools by Jonas Moller from The Association of Folk High Schools. Discussions with international students at Suhrs Højskole followed by communal cooking and dinner. Reading: Ove Korsgaard, “The Struggle for the People. Five Hundred Years of Danish History in Short” (Excerpt).
Wednesday, May 23 Urban sport and Activism – Visit to Borup People’s High School We will participate in a traditional morning assembly. Urban sport event with Danish People’s High School students followed by communal lunch. Reading: Eichberg, “The Popular Voicing of Sport: Comparative Aspects of Grundtvigian Movement of Culture,” in Building the Nation – N. F. S. Grundtvig and Danish National Identity.
Thursday, May 24 Responsibility of the Self in Danish Education – Visit to Borup People’s High School Communal breakfast with the Danish students followed by traditional morning assembly. Class sessions with the Danish students. Reading: Damsholt, “‘Hand of King and Voice of People’ – Grundtvig on Democracy and the Responsibility of the Self.” In: Building the Nation – N. F. S. Grundtvig and Danish National Identity.
Friday, May 25 Introduction to oral presentations and paper topics – In class We will set up groups for your oral presentations and introduce the topics for your final paper. Each group will visit a school in Copenhagen as part of a mini research project on citizenship education in Danish schools. Reading: Haas: “Citizenship education in Denmark: reinventing the nation and/or conducting multiculturalism(s)?, in: London Review of Education. Vol. 6, No. I, March 2008, 59‐69.
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Draft Syllabus
Monday, May 28 Visit to Roskilde Festival People’s High School Based on the ideas of the renowned Roskilde Festival and situated right next to the festival area, this People’s High School will innovate the idea of the People’s Highs School while adhering to the traditions of learning inherent in the People’s High School movement. Guest lecture by Headmaster Jesper Øland. Reading: “Grundtvig’s Idea of A People’s High School and its Historical Influence” in Building the Nation – N. F. S. Grundtvig and Danish National Identity.
Tuesday, May 29 Democratic Citizenship in Danish schools. Independent field trips to schools with a multicultural student population.
Wednesday, May 30 Active Political Citizenship at Grundtvig’s People’s High School Overnight stay at Grundtvig’s Højskole. Class discussions and role‐plays with Politics students at Grundtvig’s Højskole. Afternoon: Visit to Frederiksborg Castle lead by historian and professor Ole Vind. Reading TBA Dinner and social with the students at Grundtvig’s Højskole
Thursday, May 31 Communal breakfast followed by traditional morning assembly with students at Grundtvig’s Højskole. The rest of the day off.
Friday, June 1 Oral presentations in class Groups will present their conclusions from the visits to selected schools in Copenhagen.
Monday, June 4 2‐day trip to Funen – Visit to Ollerup Højskole and The Independent Academy for Free Schools In cooperation with Danish and international students, we will prepare for the largest festival of democracy in Denmark taking place June 5, Constitution Day, in Ollerup. Guest lecture by Simon Finnerup. Reading: Carole l. Hahn: Teachers’ perception of education for democratic citizenship in schools with transnational youth: A comparative study in the UK and Denmark. In: Research in Comparative & International Education 2015, Vol. 10(I) 95‐119.
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Draft Syllabus
Tuesday, June 5 Constitution Day in Ollerup Around 5000 participants will commemorate Danish Constitution Day in Ollerup and you will take part by hosting your own stall at the democracy festival. The day will also include a visit to The Independent Academy for Free School during which you will discuss education for democratic citizenship in Denmark with future teachers at Danish free schools.
Wednesday, June 6 Work on your final papers.
Thursday, June 7 Concluding the course.
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