Social educators relieve teachers at Gotland

Cristian Salas and Anders Jonsson are the ones there that everyone calls for in the general discussion about the school. That is to say more adults. Cristian is a social educator, and Anders is a student host. Their job is not done in the classroom, but outside.

- Sometimes you have to go in and "puncture" some students who have a little trouble, says Anders.

- We try to make the students feel good, that they attend their lessons and that they enjoy their everyday life here at school, says Cristian.

They work closely together but their roles also go a bit apart. Anders has a lot of focus on what happens in the corridors while Cristian also has a responsibility outside the school. There is much to do with supporting students with high absenteeism.

- Our most important task is to have a good cooperation with the parents, that is A and O. There are students who have a tendency not to come, they are called home sitters. Then you have to work with that problem, but always with a parent. Then there are students who may feel ill and find it difficult to come to school for other reasons. So it's always a craft to see what the problem is. And we work in teams all the time because in some cases there are very heavy things to find out and then it is very important that you have colleagues to work with, says Cristian Salas.

Gotland has five social educators who work primarily on the island's high schools. That there will be relief for the teachers is an appreciated consequence of their work. Especially working with absent students.

- Earlier, this was an assignment that lay with the teacher himself. That while having 25 students in the classroom one should go away and call and check "where did this student go?". It is clear that it is much better that we have a specially directed assignment on this for social educators, says Torsten Flemming, head of primary school in Region Gotland.

Cecilia Tofftén, assistant principal at the Södervärns School agrees.

- What I understand about the staff makes a difference. It's also about finding what something we can relieve teachers with. With teacher shortages and so on, it is important that we do not pack more work on the competent teachers we have, she says.

Cristian Salas and Anders Jonsson also notice that their jobs are appreciated. Both by colleagues, and by students.

- The most fun part of my job is seeing the development. They have had students who come in grade seven who have been tired of school. Then you work with them semester after semester. Then at nine, they notice that "I will enter high school". Some then come when they are a little older, 19 or 20, and say “Do you know what? You meant so much ”. It's fun to hear, says Cristian.