Translation of article in Billed Bladet #18, 2011.
Perfekt til Christian – Perfect for Christian.
Written by Anna Johannesen.
It was after many considerations and visits to several schools that Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary in the end chose Tranegårdsskolen in Hellerup for Christian. Here the firsthand impression indicated that Christian would settle well here with all the possibilities for activities there are here. Apart from that several of the CP couple’s friends, who have children at the school could also tell about the good rapport/good tone between the teachers and students and how safe and happy the children feel about going there. That reinforced the feeling for Mary and Frederik that they had made the right choice, after which Christian, who will turn six in October, was registered to attend 0. grade. (*) First day at school will be on the 12. August and when he on that day for the first time enter the schoolyard with his parents, he will be met with flags and cheers.
- “But it’s not because it’s him”, says school principal Torben Lind. “All children in 0. grade will be received in that way, and it’s the children in 5th grade who are responsible for the flags. We call them 5th friends, because they are the ones who will be looking after the little ones, right until the day they graduate from 9th grade. At that point the 0. graders have become 5th graders, after which it’s their turn to be the big ones. And that way bullying and teasing is taken care of, the big look after the small, which is also well in tune with Crown Princess Mary’s Free From Bullying project”, says the school principal and adds that when the children have entered the greats hall the 0. graders will one by one be called up to greet him, before going down to see their classroom.
- “That’s how we do it here and when the children have met their class-teacher (**) it’s the parents turn to se where their child will sit. Prince Christian is number 25 in his class”, says Torben Lind.
The CP couple put a lot of emphasis on not giving Christian and Isabella any special treatment when they started in kindergarten in Fredensborg. No Prince and Princess and that’s how Torben Lind expects it will be at Tranegård.
- “However, it isn’t something I’ve discussed with the Crown Prince when he was here, but as he and Crown Princess Mary have selected an ordinary public school (***) I presume it’s because they wish their boy also should have a quite ordinary public school-day and in that respect there is no difference between Peter or Søren or Christian”, he says.
One thing will however distinguish Prince Christian from his schoolmates, as he – probably – is the only one in the class who will bring a bodyguard to school. Where he will be placed Torben Lind doesn’t know “but I’ve always had the impression that these PET guards certainly do not wish to disrupt the general picture, so we’ll probably figure it out”.
Christian will be taught four hours each day and the classes will be Danish, math, athletics and music. There is no cafeteria at the school, so the children will bring their own lunch. When the last class has finished at 12.00, Christian will take part in the SFO (****). It’s open until 17.00, but he is hardly likely to stay for that long. Most children from 0-3. grade use the SFO for a couple of hours in the afternoon, before being picked up by their parents. In Christian’s case probably sometimes by a driver.
The Tranegårds School has 34 teachers and around 508 pupils. When school has ended after 9. grade many of them will continue at Øregård Gymnasium (high school), which is located just across the road. From here Crown Prince Frederik graduated, so he does know the Trangårds School very well, from the outside.
With the choice of an ordinary municipal school Mary and Frederik have once again shown that they wish to be “in pact with the people”. To let their children associate other children in a natural and informal way. That they think is both sensible and beneficial for the lives of the children in the future. These are new ways in the royal family. Both Frederik and Joachim attended the private Kreb’s School, just as the Queen attended N. Zahles Private School.
Who Christian will be classmate with is not yet known, but one little (girl)friend he will have. The friends Caroline and Peter Heering’s daughter, Rosemarie, who is about the same age as Christian, will also start in 0. grade after the summer holiday. Her older sister, Emmilie is already a pupil at the school.
(*) Mandatory Pre School. Christian will start in 1. grade in August 2012.
(**) Class-teacher. A teacher who is designated a particular class and who will, as far as it is at all possible, follow that class from grade 0 to graduation.
The class-teacher is also the primary contact between the school and parents. (And certainly in my school days, the class teacher will also crack the whip in regards to other teachers who go out of line. My class-teacher did that a number of times, where she for example felt, we rascals had been slapped unnecessary, or if a teacher was a bit too left wing, or when a male substitute decided to shower with the girls after calisthenics. She was a formidable lady!)
(***) One of the very best public schools in DK, mind you.
(****) SFO = Skole-fritids-ordning = School-spare time-arrangement. Which the younger children can attend after classes until they are picked up by their parents or go home. Apart from doing homework they can take part in various activities or just play under close supervision of teachers.
Apart from that, Lene Balleby’s two children also attend this school, as does the children of a number of well-known Danes. Among them a very pleased Jes Dorph Pedersen aka Mr. News and Mr. Nice and he has this comment:
- “Then hopefully more traffic police will patrol the area, in order to crack down hard on the busy parents who each morning come rushing in their big four-wheel-drives, while they talk on the mobile and park in no-stop-zones. – And you are more than welcome to quote me on that”. http://www.billedbladet.dk/Kendte/Nyheder/2011/5/Jes%20Dorph%20Petersen%20advarer%20kronprinsparret%20om%20ny%20skole.aspx