Das kleine rote schülerbuch

by Søren Hansen, Jesper Jensen

When it first appeared in the 1970s, The Little Red Schoolbook was banned by the UK authorities, which confiscated copies and prosecuted the publisher under the Obscene Publications Act. Why? Because this little book aimed to educate teenagers about democracy, sex and drugs – in frank, simple language – and encouraged them to view adults as “paper tigers”.

The Little Red Schoolbook has been unavailable for more than 40 years, but it remains surprisingly relevant for young people today. Reissued here in its original and uncensored format, with informative footnotes and a new foreword by the surviving author Søren Hansen, it encourages teenagers to have the confidence to seek information for themselves, challenge authority and question the status quo.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Sociology, Philosophy, Childrens

138 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[Paul (Life In The Slow Lane) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My search for a controversial book has reached its peak.

This book is radical even today. Back in the 60s and 70s when I went to school, it would have been considered "dangerous". I attended a Christian Brothers College who had pathetic teachers (for the most part), vicious corporal punishment, a preoccupation with sports over academic achievement, and a rigid teaching structure with a narrow curriculum. I think if this book was even found in the possession of a student back then, he would have been expelled. Wow! Could we have done with some of the ideas in this book - to help expel that draconian education system.

Did you feel that so much of what you learned was boring and useless to you in "real life"? I sure did. I don't think I've used calculus at all since I left school. What mathematics I needed at university was taught to us there - I could see a use for it. The overall theme of this book is to promote change to make learning more enjoyable and practical. School should be about learning, not learning to pass exams.

I would give this little book 5 stars for just bringing Ken Robinson and his brilliant Ted Talk to my attention. What a genius. www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_how_to...

[notgettingenough · Rating 1 out of 5]

Evidently nobody has heard of this any more.





From wiki:

The Little Red Schoolbook (Danish: Den Lille Røde Bog For Skoleelever [English: The Little Red Book For Students]) is a book written by two Danish schoolteachers, Søren Hansen (b. 28 Mar 1940) and Jesper Jensen in 1969, which was controversial upon its publication. The book was translated into many languages in the early 1970s.

The book encourages young people to question societal norms and instructs them in how to do this. Out of 200 pages, it includes 20 pages on sex and 30 on drugs, including alcohol and tobacco. Other topics included adults as "paper tigers", the duties of teachers, discipline, examinations, intelligence, and different schools.

As a result of its subject matter and its targeted audience of schoolchildren, a number of politicians in many countries criticised the book, fearing that the book would erode the moral fabric of society and be an invitation for anarchy in schools. The LRSB was banned in France and Italy.

In the UK, the book was the subject of a successful prosecution under the Obscene Publications Act, a decision that was upheld by the Appeal Court and subsequently the European Court of Human Rights. The government however allowed a second, censored edition to be published, in which some of the passages criticised in court were amended or cut.


In Australia, the Libs (ie conservatives) were in power.

The Little Red School Book (banned in Queensland and Victoria, 1972)

Two Danish educators, Soren Hansen and Jesper Jensen, wrote The Little Red School Book as a subversive reference text for teenagers. Controversy surrounded the book from its first publication in Danish in 1969. It was critical of institutional politics and religion and used explicit language to discuss sexuality and drug use.

Alerted to the fuss in Europe, the Minister for Customs and Excise, Don Chipp, ordered his department to examine the book before it arrived in Australia. Customs advised that any ban would be readily challenged in court and that radical publishers and student organisations had already received copies of the text and begun preparing local editions, which Customs could not touch.
Chipp announced that the book would be allowed into Australia. In the ensuing furore, Christian groups lobbied MPs and ministers to ban the book. The Catholic Weekly attacked the book as ‘a nasty, shoddy publication which should never have been allowed into Australia’ and Senator Kane of the pro-Catholic Democratic Labor Party described Chipp as playing ‘a major role in eroding the moral basis on which Australia’s society stands’.

Chipp’s file on the subject contains more than 400 items, most — though not all — from vehement opponents of The Little Red School Book. A representative letter reads: ‘Ban the “Red book” and make it clear you are not a moral coward bent on making our young folk a bunch of moral savages.’
The controversy divided the conservative McMahon government, with Chipp’s ministerial colleague Kevin Cairns supporting the Queensland government’s decision to ban the book. In Victoria, vice squad detectives seized copies from 150 Victorian shops.

There were fears that Chipp’s stance would cost the liberals the 1972 election, which the PM intended to fight on a law and order platform. An organisation calling itself Keep Pornography Out of Our Schools threatened to copy extracts from the book and distribute them in Chipp’s electorate during the coming campaign. Describing this behaviour as ‘pure pornography’, Chipp commented: ‘It’s amazing how dirty pure-minded people can get.’ http://www.lib.unimelb.edu.au/collect...

So in my home town, Adelaide, that year, a day of school strike was organised where kids throughout the city were encouraged by subversive perverts to leave school and come to a big rally in support of the book. I, on the other hand, was already at a school run by subversive perverts, Marbury, which was a school based on Bertrand Russell’s Summerhill. So while others daringly skipped school to go, at my school, although going to school was not compulsory, nor attending classes if one bothered to turn up, going to the rally was official school policy complete with bus hired to take us there. Isn't that hilarious?

You can see it online here: http://www.nla.gov.au/apps/cdview?pi=...

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the book as a Christmas gift from my father. The first time I saw it, I thought it was some communist propaganda (even though neither my dad, nor I am a communist, he knows I'm interested in politics, so it wasn't completely out of question). Reading the description on the back cover really piqued my interested though, so I started reading immediately. (P.S. I was very wrong about the communist propaganda.) I just finished the book and, honestly, I am amazed.

This, in my opinion, is a MUST read for all teenagers (and everyone who takes some part in the education process). As the authors themselves say, this is not a book you read from cover to cover (although that's exactly what I did), this is a guidebook. It comprises of roughly four sections (the titles are my own):

1. Education: What it means to be properly taught and what to do if you're not.
Everything I read in this section coresponds 100% with my personal experience (I am a very disappointed 11th grader from Bulgaria). What I loved about it is that it also gave advice as to what action can be taken if you're dissatisfied with the education you are receiving. There is a step-by-step explanation, which I might be using later this year. If anyone's interested, I could share if it worked.

2. Sex, and 3. Drugs
Here you can find basic information about said topics. The information gathered here is not too detailed, but as said previously, this is a guidebook. There are several books (and other sources) mentioned where you can find further information, as well as the adresses and telephone numbers of different institutions and organisations, which also offer help for different problems you might experience. My edition is from 2014, so all contact information and statistics are updated.

The fourth and last section is once again about education: the system, choosing a career, the relationship between school and society. I won't go into details.

What made me respect and love this book so much is that it is unbiased and unprejudiced. The authors are open-minded and tolerant, taking their time to explain that different sexualities are completely normal and that young women should fight for equal rights in both school and work. Perhaps I am too unfamiliar with that age, but to be honest, I did not expect such topics to be discussed in a book from 1969.

Yet another reason for giving this book the ultimate five-star rating is the tone in which it was written. If I had to categorise "The Little Red Schoolbook", I would classify it as a "self-help book" (this is the term I use for a particular type of literature, which includes "know yourself" books and conspiracy theories. Not the best term, I know.) I generally hate those books because of the condescending tone they're written in (i.e. "you know nothing, so let me share with you this great secret, which will change your life completely and which only I know because I'm so wise and almighty"). Hanses and Jensen, on the other hand, wrote with the thought that this was a discussion between equals. The book is aimed mainly at students (to my view those between the ages of 13-16 would find it most helpful), so the simple yet honest and direct language they used is perfect for being comprehensible yet not condescending. I regret not having this book two or three years ago. When I read it now, I already knew about 80% of the information (I was unfamiliar with some drugs and the educational system in the UK), yet I greatly appreciate having all that useful information synthesised and gathered in one place.

In conclusion, as I already said, this is a book I believe every student should own (and preferably read). Although there are a few pargrpahs which are a bit outdated, here you can find all the basic information you need to be a well-informed and thinking individual.

[Carlos Natálio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Que significa estarmo-nos marimbando?
"Estarmo-nos marimbando" é outra forma de evasão. Marimbamo-nos quando estamos chateados.

"Estarmo-nos marimbando" é não nos interessarmos mesmo nada por um professor que não consegue se minimamente interessante. Com frequência, "estamo-nos marimbando" porque passámos mal preparados do ano anterior, porque há regras demasiado estúpidas, ou simplesmente porque nos queremos evadir. É uma reacção normal.

Muitos estudantes "estão-se marimbando" sempre que têm um professor novo ou um professor substituto. Mas, é bom que tenham isto presente: eles podem não parecer muito bons ao princípio apenas, porque, por um lado, não estão muito seguros de si, e por outro lado, não vos conhecem. É melhor dar-lhes uma oportunidade."

(...) Mas sobretudo, lembrem-se: mesmo que o professor sejam realmente chato, "estarmo-nos marimbando" não resolve o problema. Para isso, temos de recorrer a uma atitude mais positiva.”

E depois não diz qual é... Talvez seja para relacionar com outro capítulo mais à frente intitulado "O que é o "pifão?" Querem saber o que é, não é? Leiam o livro, ora.

[Alicia Verstraeten · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5
Enjoyed reading this one a lot even though Im not part of the target audience in a direct sense

[Poncho González · Rating 2 out of 5]

presenta unas ideas buenas y el inicio es muy bueno, pero despues se vuelve un folletin informativo que no tenia que venir y su "progresismo" se vuelve de derecha, super conservador y con miedo de defender lo que propone en un principio y eso me decepciono bastante, su frialdad de defender sus puntos, libro escrito por pseudo-libertarios, lo cual resulta una ofensa.

[Judith Johnson]

I remember having a copy of this when I was at school, but virtually no memory of its contents! I probably just felt supercool having the book displayed on my desk during lessons!😂

I was probably too busy playing Incredible String Band and Doors records, going to village hops, and trying to keep up with my older siblings when I wasn't dodging my homework!

[Pranusha Kulkarni · Rating 5 out of 5]

My childhood would have been so radically different (in a positive way, I believe!) if I had read this book back then!! I was very curious as to why this book was banned by the UK, hence read it now, and found it very informative for teens.. According to me, every teen in the world needs to read this. Even at the doctoral stage, I found many things relevant to me - how a university functions - which is very unfortunate, if not shocking!

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought this for a friend's sister when she started secondary school, so thought I'd read it properly to check the content. A lot is obviously dated (especially the section on sex - this is quite obviously written pre-AIDS). The rest of it gives some decent advice on making changes (like get your facts straight before making complaints, how to persuade people etc.) but also a lot of what I see as quite moralising advice. I would rather it present a few issues with the facts (which would still be dated) and give arguments for both sides, teaching how to construct an argument, about logical fallacies, that kind of thing. The explanations for how people are motivated were quite good, but too simplistic. Honestly I would rather give some Krishnamurti, J., some basic philosophy texts, and some more informative factual books (for sex education).

The section on drugs I did like, as it explains various reasons why people take them, what (realistically) is likely to happen, and how they affect your life. They're clear that alcohol and cigarettes are dangerous, and give evidence. They're clear that getting intoxicated solves no problems but can feel nice for a while. Since the book is old it is missing a few drugs (e.g. ketamine) that are in more common use now, but I thought it was surprisingly comprehensive for a tiny section of a small book.

My problems with the sex education section are: saying that all STIs are curable (even at time of writing, I assume herpes existed, which is treatable but not curable). The implication that sex is a need is not useful, as young people are likely to be pressured into unwanted sex. The terrible section on pornography, which needs to be updated and expanded given how influential it is now and the many documented harms (this section particularly had a strong pro-porn agenda). The information about sexuality is quite good, I imagine, for its time. There is no condemnation of masturbation (quite the opposite) or homosexuality. The idea that, should an adult tell you not to masturbate "too much", you should ask "what's the right amount then?" did make me laugh.

The parts about how to get the best out of your education was good. Information about teaching methods, and letting kids know that teachers have very little control so it's more like students+teachers vs educational authorities (and business interests) rather than students vs teachers... I think that could be really useful for kids to read. The way it talks about not letting teachers pick on you or tell you you're stupid is great. It really encourages the reader to take active control of their education and life, and to take an interest in politics and making change.

I bought it because of a glowing review in Brainpickings and a little further reading I'd done online. It sounded incredible from the reviews, but I've come away less impressed than I expected. I've tried not to judge it too much by modern standards, but I would be interested to see an updated version with a bit more focus on evidence. It's definitely gotten me interested in the idea of more democratic learning. As a book to spark some inspiration, I would recommend it.

[Felix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eignet sich heute wahrscheinlich mehr als Zeitdokument, weniger als Handbuch. Die Haltung sagt mir zu, aber leider passt sie wenig in unsere Zeit; was nicht heißt dass alle Inhalte überholt sind: Manche schon, andere Dinge sind genauso prekär wie vor 60 Jahren. Das Buch hat eine einfache bestechende Argumentation und die konsequente Kleinschreibung & lower difficulty Orthografie könnten Vorurteile über Internettrolle revolutionieren.
In meiner eigenen Schulzeit hätte dieses Buch sehr gutes Mutprobenmaterial geliefert. Schade nur dass mein Umfeld inkl. mir Lichtjahre davon entfernt gewesen ist sowas zu lesen.

Die zweitwichtigste These: Die Schule ist politisch, aber die Lehrer glauben unpolitisch zu sein.
Die wichtigste These: Alle Erwachsenen sind Papiertiger. Das ist nur zu wahr.

[zynphull · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I'd read this when I was in school. Though most of what is said does apply to college, by now I've come to find out about it all through (somewhat painful) experience.

We need a Brazilian version of this.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two decades or more ago, I found this book in the discard box of a used bookstore in Boulder, CO. Written to empower UK students against perceived and real oppression by school systems, the book wasn't entirely applicable in specifics to US school systems. The basic premises, however, held useful. Scarfing up copies wherever I found them (long pre-ebay or internet in general), this was one of the books I always gifted to my student teachers. (Another was Education and Ecstasy) I chanced into this ebook version and was entertained with the rereading. Outside of the University of the Philippines, Dilliman campus, Pinoy students are a mostly passive lot. Beyond the au courant topic, and the usual high school poster projects, there is little real student activism here, secondary school or college. Considering that the scion boob of one of the world's biggest criminals just got elected President here, it remains to be seen if activists at any level will rise to challenge the upcoming oppressions.

[Strong Extraordinary Dreams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this when I was 12 and just thought "oh, yeah, ok".

My real appreciation came later when I realized the unbelievably fucked decay of most state-appointed care-givers' scraps of knowledge and common sense. And they are looking after children?! This book would have been a life saving road map for many victims of terrible parenting and angry, foolish teacher-ing.

This book gives a not-very-extreme once over of the kind of shit each of use will go (have gone) through as a teenager. Mild sexual advice, the state's standard 'say No' line on drugs, warnings about the police and the hopelessness of grownups. Its benefit is that it opens these discussions, says "Hey, there is this thing" "That is over there", so that kids can start to think through things themselves, in their own environments.

Another classic.

[Nancy Thormann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given this book by my father some 45 years ago. I set it aside thinking that I know all of this already - typical teenager attitude. I found it again recently and decided to re-read it. I should have paid more attention to this book 45 years ago. My life might have turned out much differently. Not to worry - it's never too late to change.

[amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

read for one of my university modules.. although intended for students of the 1970s it’s incredible how much of its content is still applicable to the modern student. the content regarding sex and drugs was something i found quite surprising, especially seeing these subjects attempting to move away from being considered taboo.

[iretorta · Rating 3 out of 5]

no dudo de que esto en su día fuese innovador, pero ahora se ha quedado un poco anticuado (que es normal, el panorama educativo ha cambiado un poquito desde la LGE), y aunque tenga ideas interesantes, a veces cae en un pensamiento un tanto ingenuo, contradictorio y simplista (sin hablar de los errores de redacción, pero eso ya es cosa mía...)

el último punto ha estado bien tho

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was little. it was red. it was about school. can't fault them for false advertising. it wasn't as proactive as chairman mao's little red book but it was more so than "the little red ice fishing book."

[Gabriela Petrakova · Rating 2 out of 5]

Може би аз имах по-високи очаквания от книгата, тъй като я купих по препоръка на приятел, а също така и някак си се случи, че книгата беше изчерпана в почти всички книжарници и сайтове, а аз грабнах предпоследната. Честно казано, редакторите подготвят читателя, че някои идеи в книгата са породени от различна историческа, социална и културна ера, което прави голяма част от съветите в нея неприложими. Доста от разгледаните теми са интересни за учениците обаче.

[Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is an attempt to communicate to teens advice that they are unlikely to hear from other sources. The topics include education, sex, drugs, and careers. It is a good idea, and most of the material is presented in a dispassionate, simply-phrased manner. At least as interesting as the content, however, were the implicit comments on the era when it was written. A few examples are (i) limits on tobacco advertising are spoken of either as new or else as soon-to-be introduced, (ii) the right to purchase soft drinks in the cafeteria is something students should demand for themselves, as opposed to an opportunity for the school to bolster funds, (iii) the comment that no venereal disease is incurable clearly predates AIDS, and (iv) just about every issue a person will face can be solved by organizing and protesting. In a similar fashion, there were a number of topics that were addressed in a manner I would have thought post-dated the beginning of the seventies; these include (i) much of the slang, (ii) advice for careers in computer programing, and (iii) complaints about an under-financed, under-staffed educational system that only teaches to the test. Overall, I liked the book, even as I disagreed with a number of its points, until I reached the last fiftyish pages. Here it departs from its stated goal into preaching and moralizing about the overall state of society; this, I felt, cheapened the advice it had presented before.

my favorite quote: "Relationships between grown-ups are in many ways similar to relationships between children. They may hate one another or they may be good friends. They often get together in groups that quarrel among themselves."

[Miguel Soto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Conocí unos fragmentos de este libro en la secundaria, en una traducción menos españolada, llamada "El pequeño libro rojo de la escuela". Siempre me pareció algo mítico. Luego, en la preparatoria, encontré en la biblioteca un ejemplar que vi pero nunca leí. Hace poco recordé todo esto y también me decidí a buscarlo digitalmente, y con fortuna lo encontré.

Se trata de una especie de manual de la adolescencia, escrito para los adolescentes, sin puntos de vista morales ni socialmente aprobados. De alguna manera me refleja lo que aprendí durante la prepa fuera de clases, en la convivencia y en las lecturas que hacía por mi cuenta: eres libre de hacer lo que quieras, puedes experimentar y no debes sentir culpa por ello. Las dos secciones más cercanas a esto son las de drogas y sexualidad. Por otra parte, tiene largos tramos dedicados a asuntos "escolares", con recomendaciones a los chavos sobre cómo orgnizarse, ser propositivos y críticos ante sus profesores, etc. Esto me causó una doble impresión: por una parte creo que algunas cosas que están expresadas aquí las intenté y no me resultaron, por otro lado, ahora que soy también parte del grupo de los "enseñantes", me identifiqué con algunos señalamientos que se hacen y me parecen dignos de tomarse en cuenta para mejorar una práctica muchas veces anquilosada y comodina.

En general, creo que vale la pena dedicarle las 2 o 3 horitas que puede tomar la lectura, o si estás en la edad a la que se supone va dirigido, bien puede ser un libro de cabecera, al menos para algunas cosas.

[Veronica Molina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uf.
Libro que necesita una fuerte mediación. Me gusta porque defiende tanto al alumno como al profesor en la primera sección, que viene siendo la escuela. Establece que si algo no está bien, se debe pelear por ello, así como por los derechos de los alumnos. Pero al mismo tiempo, no todos los profesores son malos, y se puede trabajar en conjunto.
Toca temas tipo revolución, sexualidad y drogas de una manera muy neutral. No hay dioses ni moral de por medio. Lo resumo con la aproximación que ofrece respecto a las drogas (en mis palabras): "Tú eres libre de tomar las elecciones que quieras, pero antes de consumir [drogas]. Una vez que entras en el círculo, pierdes tu posibilidad de elegir, y por ende, gran parte de tu libertad".

Me gustó. Aunque lo trabajaría por temas.
Creo que los capítulos de drogas y sexualidad deberían leerlo todos los jóvenes. Es todo objetivo y simple.

[Kate Morgan]

Some very excellent passages, some passages entirely outdated even in update. I would still place it on a light reading list for an educator, or a tool that could be used in places where foundational literature like Pedagogy of the Oppressed is not welcome or too cumbersome.

Sections might be useful as a primer to promote the organization of students.

[Geoffrey Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

For my students:

A collection of advice that, I hope, will get you thinking. It maybe old, but it is still relevant.