Why join us as an international teacher
What is the best thing about working as a teacher?
It’s the relationships with the students. I love arriving at the classroom in the morning, talking with the students and experiencing that I can give them a good and interesting day. Some days, the students don’t have much energy, and other days, I’m the one who shows up for work a little tired. But I have learned that a good mood can be contagious, and that’s why I love working with relationships, because the positive energy almost always overcomes any fatigue or a bad mood.
What do you think is special about working as a teacher at an independent school?
That we have so much freedom to work with the students on their individual terms. Sometimes I find that the lesson I have prepared is a bad match for that day. There may be conflicts in the class, or some students might be affected by something that happened the previous day. In these situations, I think it’s a great strength that I have the freedom to change my plan, talk with the students and figure out a different plan of action. The most important thing about having a special freedom is that we teachers also have time – time to stop and change our plans, and rearrange our teaching. I love this freedom.
What do you get from being a member?
I get a tremendous amount out of meeting with the teachers from the other international schools. Each year, we have a couple of international days at Hornstrup Kursuscenter. Those days are really important for the international teachers in Frie Skolers Lærerforening to get to know each other, meet the community, and experience the benefits of their union.
Why do you think that it’s important to have a union for teachers at the independent schools?
Because the independent schools in Denmark have a special set of values that ties us together. All of the independent schools share a desire for greater freedom of choice, which enables individual schools to help define and create a good life at the school and for the children. The international schools are a really good fit with Frie Skolers Lærerforening because it takes a little more flexibility to create a school where so many cultures and languages meet and collaborate.
Why are you a member of Frie Skolers Lærerforening?
When I first got a job as a teacher in Denmark, I didn’t know about the strong culture of associations and the political work involved in being part of a union. But over time, I learned that there is a strong community in Frie Skolers Lærerforening. And when I went on maternity leave the first time, I found that I could get a lot of help and advice from Frie Skolers Lærerforening who understood the exact situation I was in.
What do you say if a colleague asks you why they should join Frie Skolers Lærerforening?
Because the more we are, the stronger we are. As a union representative, the more members there are at the school, the stronger your hand. I also say that the greatest benefit of Frie Skolers Lærerforening is that there are consultants who can help you with your precise situation.