Martin's story.a dossier on Tvind, Planet Aid and IICD.

'Martin' enrolled as a teacher at a friskole in Denmark and discovered that Tvind was systematically underpaying its teachers.

MY story seems to be a little different to the other stories posted on your website.    I was never involved in DNS (Det Nodvendige Seminar) or in Rejsede Hojskole (Travelling folk High School) or even in DAPP or UFF.   I worked in one "Friskole" for children aged from 8 to 16, for the entire period.

Teaching had always interested me as a career and back in 1990 when I was unemployed, I saw this offer in a national English newspaper for "Teacher helpers" with very few qualifications required. This seemed to be exactly what I was looking for. So I applied, was interviewed, and sent to the original "Tvind Friskole".   I knew nothing about Tvind, so had not been influenced either way.

When I arrived I was pleasantly surprised about the setup for the children. It seemed to treat all the kids with respect and involve them completely in the day-to-day running of the school.   Including cooking, cleaning, maintenance etc.  This later began to annoy me which I will explain later on.  I was primarily responsible for helping a small class of children aged 12 to 14.  I not only helped in the teaching, but also in free time activities, cleaning or "Rengoring" (that word still sends shivers down mine spine!) of the children's rooms and other areas etc.

I had always thought to work in Tvind for only one year but after the first year the teacher that I was helping, decided to leave and I was offered that position with more money.   I accepted this challenge, even though I actually had no pedagogical or teaching qualifications, apart from the year before.  That year had it's ups and downs, and I became accepted by other "Teacher Group" teachers  (by the way, I was never in the Teachers Group) . I had a contract which of course was in Danish, and I didn't fully understand, but this didn't matter at the time; I was doing what I wanted, and gaining experience at the same time.

It wasn't until I discussed my working hours and salary with a Danish teacher who came from outside Tvind each day ( which is rare in Tvind) that I realised something was going on. My wage was about 5000dkr per month (about 500) which seemed ok at the time as I wasn't qualified.

However, it was explained to me that the under the Danish state system (and I was paid by the state) you were either a teacher or not.  As my title was that of teacher my wage should have therefore been the minimum for a state teacher which at the time was about 13000 Dkr, more than double my wage. The 8000dkr must have been going somewhere. Straight into Tvind's pockets!

I knew of about 10 other people working within Tvind in my position.  If they all worked under the same conditions I did then that would be a profit to Tvind of 80,000 dkr (or 8,000) per month! Not bad going that is it? 

Of course to the Danish state all looked rosy, because the correct amount was going to Tvind.   Strangely though I didn't do anything about this, as I was doing well and didn't want to make waves, plus I only discovered this about 7 months into my second year. 

On a positive side, many children who came from poor or abused backgrounds, came to Tvind during the time I was there.  I actually witnessed many changes in their behaviour. I remember one child who when I arrived was riotous, to say the least (and in my class) came from a drug abusing family, and had committed petty crimes. Thanks to the Tvind system of respecting a child, looking at why a child behaves badly and not pointing fingers, involving him in day-to-day running of the school and encouraging his interests, by the time I left he was a "normal" respectful child who I am still in contact with to this day.

Tvind is actually great for this kind of child but not for all!  In my class were a few children who were extremely bright.  I could teach them English, Geography and a few other subjects with not much problem.  What about all other subjects?

Plus all kids were together in one class, so you can imagine that not much actually got taught!  Nobody actually ever checked-up on me or witnessed my classes.  In fact as long as the kids were in the classroom at the right time, that was all that mattered.  I could have been teaching (or not teaching) anything!  The children who wanted to learn more, and their parents, were promised all kinds of subject and activities that nobody was qualified to teach.

In fact it seemed to me that an all-out effort was made to keep as many children at Tvind as possible. The money the children brought in was much more important than their future.

I remember that I once had a secret meeting with the parents of one child, to tell them what really went on in the classroom and not the wonderful picture that "Teacher Group" teachers, seemed to paint.  Needless to say, this child has now left Tvind.

Then there was the infamous cleaning or "rengoring" as I previously mentioned.   The principle was fine.  Everyone had a duty to do each day, which ranged from cleaning the classrooms to washing-up or cleaning the school Land Rovers (anyone who has spent anytime at Tvind will know those white Land Rovers! I still look twice every time I see one!), plus tidying their own rooms.

However, it all became obsessive and intruded into the the children's class time. A lot of class time was lost due to cleaning, after all, no cleaners were employed. You can imagine how 12-14 year old children reacted to this. To avoid conflicts, it was often easier for the teacher (me) to do the job themselves. As long as the cleaning got done it was irrelevant who did it.  To put the whole thing into perspective, each child was supposed to spend about 4 hours cleaning each day.

And so I entered into my third year. I was offered the full teacher's wage this time and a new contract.  All was looking fine for me.  However half way through the year I became extremely tired, after all I was often working 12 or more hours a day.   I got to the point where I became ill and went to the local doctor, who advised me that it was all down to stress, and lack of sleep. Understanding more Danish at this point, I studied my contract which was basically a normal state contract, and therefore outlined my working hours, preparation hours etc. which were completely in conflict with what I was actually working.

I approached the head master of the school, reported what the doctor and said, and asked if my hours could be reduced.   The reply I received somewhat startled me "You'll just have to put up with it!"   I was extremely upset and didn't know where to turn.   It also made me quite angry and the next day I took my contract to a teacher's union.   Who advised me exactly what my contract stated and told me that providing it was followed, was acceptable.

When I returned and confronted the head master with the fact that I had joined a union everything changed.   I was shouted at, accused of not trusting Tvind, and I got the "after everything we've done for you" speech. i.e. TRAITOR!   When I look back on it now, I think they were actually scared that I had discovered a loop-hole in their organisation.

I was then presented with a new correct working hours plan, but in a childish, spiteful way. I was excluded from social events (as they were outside my working hours) and all the teachers had as little contact with me as possible.   This could have caused me to breakdown completely, however the children didn't care about working hours or unions, it is them that kept me afloat.  So I took it all with a pinch of salt, pretending that I didn't care and eventually the other teachers dropped their pathetic act. They could not fire me of course!

I must mention at this point one particular incident that occurred I now think that I should have reported to the Danish state, (or maybe someone still can).  Another teacher, who was not in the teacher's group, came across quite by accident, some financial documents that had been left in the photocopying room.   In them it clearly stated that I and this teacher, were both "Klasse laere" or Class Teachers.  Under the Danish system this means about 600 dkr extra per month. however, both of us had absolutely no idea that we were class teachers and we were definitely not getting the money.  You can imagine how much money per year this alone can generate if you look at how many teachers Tvind has.  No one can deny that Tvind is a very clever. In fact I feel that the media and the state are looking in one place while Tvind is making money in another.

The Danish gutter press, has made some wild accusations about Tvind that simply are not true. I know that for a fact. However they can provide great cover for other financial deviances. Everything will look perfect on paper for Tvind, look at my contracts, my wage. You will never find a mistake. However, as I have already mentioned, it is what lies beyond the paperwork, behind the doors of Tvind that matter.