The School's Lost Children

Louise Gielov and Jens Langhorn, creators of the documentary series "The School's Lost Children", visit Frejlev Kirkecenter in October with the lecture "When School Becomes Too Hard: A Talk About Community, Hope and Moving Forward". Over the past decade, the number of children who fall completely out of school community has nearly doubled.

Louise and Jens speak openly about their own experiences: two of their three sons ended up in prolonged, involuntary school absence, and the family navigated years of school absence and uncertainty. Louise was a department head in Copenhagen Municipality but had to leave her position when the family crisis became too overwhelming. They discuss what serious distress does to the parental role and how to find ways forward amid powerlessness.

The documentary series, available on dr.dk, was nominated for the Cavling Prize and won the People's Journalism Prize. Louise and Jens also talk about the Parents' Commission, which in one week grew larger than 98% of the country's other associations, and how collaboration with municipalities and the health system can improve conditions for children.

The lecture is aimed at parents, educators, teachers, leaders and others with an interest in the subject.