Patriez van der Wens and son Imi, 10, are collecting names to stop the closure of Egalia. So far they have collected 300 signatures.
Victor Malmcrona
When Egalia opened the gates, their norm-breaking profile created headlines far beyond Sweden’s borders. Now it closes, without further ceremony, because the children are too few.
From the outside, Egalia looks like any other preschool. But their focus on gender and equality makes it unique. When Egalia opened in 2010, there was a lot of attention.
In addition to the national media, the British BBC and the American CNN reported on the ground-breaking, gender-neutral preschool.
Here, for example, words like “he” and “she” are removed in favor of “she” or the children’s first names. For Patriez van der Wens, who is queer himself, it was obvious to put his children here.
– They have a clear LGBTQ+-inclusive pedagogy. Many friends who are queer had children here. Here you are not questioned and that is a security, says Patriez.
“Not so divided”
In August, Egalia will close. It has caused several guardians to react. Also Patriez’s son Imi, 10 years old, who used to go here.
– It was not so divided between boys and girls. You could play with whoever you wanted. It hasn’t been like that at schools I’ve attended later, he says.
Patriez van der Wens and son Imi Mo Fox van der Wens Leitmann, 10, are critical of Egalia closing. Patriez also has a younger child who is now in preschool.
Victor Malmcrona
Wasn’t forced to choose
In Imi’s family, it has been important that the children decide their own gender. Imi was five years old when he said he wanted to be called “he”.
– I felt like “him”. Preschool was a good environment, they didn’t force me to choose something I didn’t want to be.
Fewer and fewer children
In 2017, 3,100 children were enrolled in Södermalm’s municipal preschools. Last year, the number was 2,500. It is a trend that is visible across the city and which has caused the district administration to review its stock.
Egalia has room for 60 children. Currently, 41 are enrolled.
– They have had many vacancies for a long time. We have to make sure that we have a reasonable balance of how many preschools we have and how many we need, says Anders Göransson (S), chairman of Södermalm’s district council.
“In a larger sense, that activity has won because it now characterizes larger parts of our society. Then I understand that it is a small consolation for those who wanted the children at Egalia,” says Anders Göransson (S), chairman of Södermalm’s district committee.
Pekka Pääkkö
Not needed
The district administration has investigated the matter and put forward the proposal to close Egalia, as well as another nearby preschool, as the number of children in the area is too small.
The children at Egalia have been offered a place at the adjacent Timmermansgården preschool, which will also be LGBTQ-certified in 2024.
– When Egalia opened, they were ground-breaking and led the way for standards awareness. The ideas that were then considered special are today much more established, says Anders Göransson.
Patriez van der Wens finds it a small consolation and says that Egalia’s pedagogy takes years to train.
– Closing Egalia is sending a signal that this type of business is no longer needed, but unfortunately that is not yet the case.
Focus on gender equality
Egalia opened in 2010 at Södermalmallén. It is a municipal preschool.
Gender and equality pervade the entire educational activity, which is LGBTQ-certified.
This is expressed in, among other things, treatment, language and the literature available at the preschool.
They have room for 60 children.
Egalia och Södermalms montessoriförskola stänger i augusti med angrund av att demanden på förskoleplatser i areat har minikat.
Source: City of Stockholm
Votes in support of Egalia
Now more than ever, when our times are so divided and politics exclusionary, a preschool that puts equality and inclusion first is needed.
Egalia is unique and needed to the highest degree in today’s harsh social climate. An absolutely necessary haven for rainbow children and families!
It is important that places like this exist and continue to be run.
There are so few queer-friendly preschools and those that exist should be allowed to remain!!
An incredibly well-functioning business with high quality is a huge waste of resources to shut down
It is vital to have a safe place for rainbow families. The pedagogy that is designed there can also inspire increased inclusion and reduced discrimination in other preschools.
Source: Comments from the petition to preserve the school.