00:00This is Olaf. He spends only a few hours a week at school.
00:03He has autism and school is very stressful for him.
00:07Sometimes I can handle school, but not always.
00:11In Denmark, a growing number of parents are allowing their children to opt out of compulsory schooling
00:16and creating alternative support systems.
00:20It's 11 a.m. on a Thursday.
00:22Olaf should be in school.
00:23But today, the 12-year-old is helping collect eggs at an organic farm in Fjæretslu in western Denmark.
00:31His mother, Mette, is there to offer support.
00:36He likes working with his hands, and he likes being outdoors.
00:40He has a knack for doing practical work and excels in hands-on subjects.
00:46Unfortunately, those have largely been cut from the curriculum.
00:51Right now, Olaf isn't as interested in math or Danish as he is in agriculture.
00:56I think cows are the best. Really cool.
01:03Because of his autism and attention disorder, Olaf can't follow regular classes for very long.
01:09Yet he's eager to learn.
01:12With his parents' help, he taught himself English and math.
01:15I think it's 30 kroner for a pack of 10 eggs.
01:20And then you can say, how many packs did I pack?
01:24And then figure out how many eggs did I pack, and then how much money it is.
01:28On this particular morning, families in similar situations are meeting up for what they call Sanctuary Club.
01:34Many of the children are neurodivergent, like Olaf.
01:38All across Denmark, worried parents and children are coming together in self-help groups like these.
01:44Technically, school attendance is mandatory in Denmark.
01:48Normally children need a doctor's note to get excused from school.
01:51The problem is a lack of alternatives and official support, leaving parents to deal with the problem on their own.
01:58Our school system is essentially the same as it was 200 years ago, with a fixed schedule, fixed classrooms and
02:06fixed classes.
02:08But our children have long since become accustomed to a world of diverse possibilities.
02:14Meanwhile, the club has given Olaf a whole new world to explore beyond just farming, like boatbuilding and fishing.
02:22It means he's still learning, both in school and out in the world.
