Aristotle said you can’t educate the mind without educating the heart. Yet in today’s increasingly competitive testing culture—where children in standard schools take an average of 122 tests a year—and with rising anxiety tied to performance, we have to ask: are we missing the point of education?
In my new book The Danish Way of Education: Life Lessons from the Happiest People in the World, I explore what Danes do differently—both at home and in school—and what we can learn from it.
One key difference: Danes prioritize wellbeing as the foundation for learning. One of the few national tests students and teachers take each year is a trivsels test, or “wellbeing test.” It’s completely separate from academics and focuses on whether students feel seen, heard, included, and able to support and be supported by others. Imagine that.
Another insight: in Danish, the word “teach” also means “learn.” Embedded in the language is the idea that teaching and learning are mutual—and that children are capable, active participants.
This inspired the acronym TEACH, following the model of PARENT in The Danish Way of Parenting.
So what do Danes “TEACH”?
Trust – Built through independence and respect. Danish children are given age-appropriate freedom early on, from walking to school to taking responsibility in the classroom. This signals, “we trust you,” and in turn, children learn to trust themselves and others.
Empathy – Children learn to “read people” as much as books. From an early age, they are taught to recognize, understand, and express emotions—foundational skills for both relationships and learning.
Authenticity – Real life is part of education. Topics like death and sex are openly discussed. Addressing “taboo” subjects builds resilience, strengthens communication, and deepens trust between children and adults.
Courage – Failure is part of learning. There’s no valedictorian culture; instead, students are encouraged to take risks and learn from mistakes. This mindset supports innovation and has helped reduce bullying through a strong focus on belonging and group dynamics.
Hygge – A sense of warmth, safety, and togetherness. Schools actively cultivate fællesskab (community), teaching children how to belong, collaborate, and prioritize the “we” over the “me.” This sense of connection is closely linked to both happiness and academic success.
In a world of constantly evolving technology and artificial intelligence, human values and emotional intelligence matter more than ever. The World Economic Forum has clearly stated that the skills for the future are drastically changing and creative thinking, resilience, flexibility and agility are more and more important. Has there ever been a better time to rethink education and what—and how—we teach?
