Wendela Fredriksson attended Solvikskolan, a Waldorf school described as a sect in a documentary.
The episode begins with hosts Jenny Borg and Linn Ek introducing their guest, Wendela Fredriksson, who attended Solvikskolan in Hjärna during the 1980s. Solvikskolan was a Waldorf school heavily influenced by anthroposophy, a philosophy founded by Rudolf Steiner that views humans as spiritual beings. The school's pedagogy focused on creative activities like painting and shape drawing, with no traditional lessons in subjects like math or Swedish. Students were categorized into four temperaments—choleric, sanguine, phlegmatic, and melancholic—and teachers treated them differently based on these categories, with sanguine considered the best. Wendela recounts how the school had no textbooks, tests, or grades, and students often graduated without basic literacy skills. She describes a teacher who painted a green cross over her artwork without explanation, leaving her feeling embarrassed and confused. The school included risky activities, such as a 10-meter-high rope swing used as a pedagogical tool to build courage, which led to injuries. Wendela also details a violent teacher who physically abused children, including choking students' heads during a trust exercise, while other adults did not intervene. The episode references the SVT documentary 'De Utvalda Barnen,' which premiered in 2021 and exposed Solvikskolan's practices, with one founder admitting it was like a sect. Wendela reflects on the long-term consequences of her education, including feeling unprepared for society and struggling with relationships. The hosts note that Solvikskolan has since reformed and rejoined the Waldorf School Federation, with current leadership distancing the school from past events. The interview concludes with Wendela sharing both negative impacts, like anxiety, and positive takeaways, such as a deep connection to nature.
