”When it's difficult, that's when it's fun”

Lingenässkolan was to be the new school in the middle of Näsby, for all the children in the area. The district that includes the new baths, where many more houses and flats are planned.

In the entrance to the school it says on the wall. ”Lingenässkolan – where you can be who you are and become who you want to be”.

– These are my pupils, although now I mostly have a class 6 in English and Swedish, John Rönn says when Kb Mosaik walks with him along the corridor leading to the art room, where class 4a is having a lesson.

John is what is called a combi-teacher, that is, a person who is studying at Högskolan Kristianstad to become a teacher, and who works as a teacher at Lingenässkolan at the same time.

He has done so since the school opened in August 2019. He spends three days a week in the school.

– It's always terrific to drive here on a Tuesday morning.

Does it work well?

– Yes, very well indeed. You learn such a lot. If you like lazing around and don't enjoy studying, then this isn't the programme for you. Here you study and work at the same time. I' m going to be a middle-school teacher.

John used to be an assistant caretaker at Charlottesborg, but chose to go in for a career in teaching instead.

– Being here is meaningful, these children need us. It's the same at Charlottesborg, the children are important, you must put all your energy into it. I've never encountered teachers who are so committed, and that's something you must be.

In class 4 he has taught Swedish and run a chess school. Chess is one of his great interests. He is chairman of the club that arranges the Schackfyran tournament.

– Chess developes you. I bring it into my teaching. We've seen the effect in other subjects such as maths. It's such fun. A lot of girls are good, we've seen that over the years.

Now he teaches a class 6 in English and Swedish.

What pupils are the most fun to teach?

– I don't know, it's very hard to say. My class 4 are easy to teach, they're very smart. Now I have class 6 who are at very different levels in what they know, that's more difficult, and it spurs me on. It's fun when there is a challenge.

Art teacher Staffan Andreasson has given his pupils sticky tape to put up trunks and branches. Some pupils have started to paint sky and earth.

– Here's a tip for you, listen, when you paint trunks, use a broader brush, use the fine one for the details, the fiddly bits.

– Get busy, friends!

– Staffan is very creative, says Johan.

– What fascinated me is that it isn't just the pupils who are good who get the chance to shine, the ones who draw well. You don't have to be good at drawing to get a good report if you can follow instructions, make use of what you have already learnt and use it when you are creating something..

More and more trees are beginning to take shape, skies and suns, green, yellow and brown colours.

– There's nothing that is wrong. Three trees, sky and earth. These were the instructions. What they look like is up to the individual, Staffan says.

– I love teaching art! I think it's important to enjoy what you're doing, I do a bit of painting at home. I teach music as well, it's just the same there, says Staffan,.who has been an art teacher for two years.

– It's such fun, really inspiring.

A few boys wander round disturbing the others.

– Boys! You've all got your places, I don't want to see any more of this, Staffan warns them severely.

Shortly afterwards:

– Yes! Look at that! Exactly as it should be. Very good! Wow! Nobody has ever done anything like that before, you're first in the world, terrific! Write your name on it and put it on the table.

Earth and sky meet. The lesson runs on int. break.The paints must be put on the table, the water must be poured away in the sink. Outside the art room there is a display case with several big pictures of houses and cats in silhouette. They seem to be contented.