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Short introduction
 We thank you for your interest in our school and welcome you to a short introduction to the ideas of the "friskole" and the "efterskole" in general and Vinde Helsinge Fri- og Efterskole in particular.
About Vinde Helsinge Fri- og Efterskole
Vinde Helsinge Fri- og Efterskole is a combined school - a combination of a "friskole" and an "efterskole". "Friskole" and "efterskole" are not easily translated, it might lead to mistaken conceptions; the Danish terms will therefore be used consistently.
The school is situated between Kalundborg and Slagelse, some 100 km from Copenhagen.
 The friskole offers education from preschool to 9th form - currently 155 pupils. The efterskole offers courses of 1 year at 9th and 10th form - 80 pupils.
Vinde Helsinge Fri- og Efterskole was founded in 1867 on basis of the ideas of Grundvig and Kold. The schoolboard consists of parents in the friskole and a single parent in the efterskole.
If you wish to know more about Vinde Helsinge Fri- og Efterskole please contact us. The school is open for visits.
Vinde Helsinge Fri- og Efterskole
Vinde Helsingevej 41
DK-4281 Gørlev
Denmark
Phone +45 58859100
Fax +45 58859131
Mail Headmaster forstander@vhfe.dk
Administration kontor@vhfe.dk
Webmaster webmaster@vhfe.dk
The "friskole" – introduction
Denmark has two school systems: The state schools with 87 % of all school children and the private schools which are used by the remaining 13 %. Parents are free to choose which school system they prefer, or to establish their own school. They alone decide the structure of the school as well as its teaching principles and the content and scope of the teaching. Parents also have a constitutional right to teach their children themselves.
 The state supports the private schools by paying 70 % of the expenditure. On behalf of the state an inspector, chosen by the parents of the school, will ensure that the teaching of danish, mathematics, english and other subjects is comparable with the demands of the state school. The school also has to pay the teachers the same salary as the state school pays, although the private school may employ teachers without considering their formal education.
Among the private schools there are about 200 "friskoler" all over the country. The number of pupils varies from 28 to 450. The schools may also be very different ideologically as well as in their teaching methods. However the majority were established on the theories and principles of Grundtvig and Kold.
The first "friskoler" were established about 1850, when a spiritual awakening of the people took place in Denmark, inspired by N.F.S. Grundtvig, the clergyman and poet, who professed that man, being created by God, is a free and at the same time responsible being.
Moreover they were a reaction against the rigidity of the state school with its cramming and learning by heart. The pioneer was the teacher, Christen Kold, who felt convinced that children experience through their imagination and the living word, i.e. narration should be given priority to academic knowledge and learning by heart.Christen Kold also thought that children can only learn when their curiosity has been aroused - when they feel concerned.
The fundamental principle is that man is free to shape his own life, but he is also responsible, not only to himself, but also to the community. - The child is respected as an independently thinking being, and the aim is to develop children into "complete human beings", instead of restraining the teaching in accordance with the demands from industry or institutions of further education.
 It is essential that the child acquires knowledge in every field. Therefore practical skills, art and music are given the same weight as theoretical knowledge. At the morning assembly the Danish songs and hymns are sung. Singing and narration are incorporated as an integral part of the teaching. Narration is particularly used to teach the history of Denmark, scripture, myths and fairy tales. In that way the child is made conscious of its roots, the sense of community and the Christian outlook on life, which are all fundamental for the "friskoler". It is also important to give the children good experiences that will contribute to encourage them to take up challenges without competitive tests and exams.
Behind every "friskole" is a support group of people, mostly parents. This group choose a committee which is responsible for the running of the school. The committee employs and dismisses the staff. The support group often gather in the school for different meetings and arrangements; they also take part in many of the daily activities of the school.
The "efterskole" – introduction
The efterskole is a unique Danish independent residential school for students between 14 and 18 years of age. Presently some 22.000 students attend one of the app. 240 schools throughout Denmark.
An Efterskole offers general education. It is regarded as the primary task for the Efterskole to deal with the entire development of each individual young student.
The Efterskole offers education at 8 th - 10 th forms, and you can choose to complete a school year in the Efterskole, instead of the municipal school (Folkeskole). You even have the same possibilities of passing final examinations.
Although the Efterskoles fulfil social functions, it is important to stress that they are schools and not social institutions.
The Efterskole is a private self-governing educational institution, run by a private school board with great responsibility and authority. The school is superintended by The Danish Ministry of Education.
 Education and boarding fees are charged and can vary from one school to another, in reality though with only minor differences. The fees are paid partly by parents and partly by state and municipal grants. The public financial support ensures that everybody has a realistic, free choice of attending an Efterskole.
The schools are open to students from abroad, but please note that to attend you must pay school fees like Danish students.
At the homepage of The Danish Ministry of Education (Undervisningsministeriet) you can find an English version, including lists of English publications on various aspects of the Danish educational system: Undervisningsministeriet www.uvm.dk
   
Siden oprettet 3/5 2003 - sidst opdateret 1/8 2004
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