– We have received information that not everyone who knows Nynorsk does so because it is a rich and beautiful language, says the principal at Fjelltun school, Gerd Næss Barka. Among those who know Bokmål, there are several students who have a multicultural background. That is not the case in the Nynorsk class, where everyone has Norwegian as their first language. – These are things parents say to us at school. It’s not something I dictated, says Barka. In Strandbuen, the headmaster asks questions about the reason why it is like this. Well someone Nynorsk, because they fear that there may be more problems with behavior in the Bokmål classes? Barka points out that this reason does not apply to all parents. Gerd Næss Barka, principal at Fjelltun school, wishes to change his major. Photo: Hanne Høyland / news Now the school wishes the Nynorsk classes away. The proposal Fjelltun school has submitted for consultation in Strand municipality is to change the main language from Nynorsk to Bokmål. Statistics from Statistics Norway tell us that 1 in 9 have Nynorsk as the main goal in school in 2021. Both the Education Association and Norges Mållag confirm that the challenges Fjelltun school faces are also a problem in several places in the country. – In some places we can see it, but that is not the main argument for or against Nynorsk, underlines Peder Loftnes Hauge, chairman of Norges Mållag. I think Nynorsk parents risk the racist label Lars Fossåskaret, leader of Strand mållag, believes that the argument Barka puts forward is to attach the racist label to Nynorsk parents and that Nynorsk is made the scapegoat. Barka understands the frustration Nynorsk supporters feel. Lars Fossåskaret, leader of Mållaget, believes that Nynorsk should remain the main goal in schools. Photo: Hanne Høyland / news Hauge in Norges Mållag, believes that it is important for New Norwegian’s position in the local environment that it is maintained as an educational goal. – By removing Nynorsk as the main target, it weakens Nynorsk’s position. It is also unfortunate for the individual student, says Hauge. Peder Loftnes Hauge, leader of Norges Mållag, is critical of Fjelltun’s proposal. Photo: Tuva Åserud / news Hauge and Fossåskaret believe the result of the lopsided distribution in the classes is a consequence of follow-up errors. Fossåskaret says that the solution is not to remove Nynorsk. Rather, he believes that Nynorsk should be introduced in the learning center so that adult students who are going to learn Norwegian can also learn Nynorsk. – I have spoken to several immigrants who wonder why they have to learn such a language as they speak in Oslo and not the way they speak here, says Fossåskaret. He then says that it is natural for immigrant parents to teach Bokmål to their children, as it is the only language the parents know. Students want to choose – I would like to have the choice between Nynorsk and Bokmål, says Benjamin Ulvestad Lendingen, a student at Fjellstad school. Benjamin Ulvestad Lendingen, a student at Fjelltun school, wants students to have the choice between Nynorsk and Bokmål. Photo: Hanne Høyland / news He thinks the school’s system of distributing Nynorsk students and Bokmål students in each class is fine. He himself, with his parents, chose Nynorsk because he grew up with it. Johanna Randås Aske, who is also a student at Fjelltun school, does not understand why the school wants to change the main goal. – I think the school is good as it is now. Furthermore, it is important to learn both target forms for later in life. In addition, it is much more difficult to switch from Bokmål to Nynorsk than vice versa, says Aske. Johanna Randås Aske, student at Fjelltun school, is positive about Nynorsk. Photo: Hanne Høyland / news Would like a better class mix Ibrahim Alishire says that it would have been much better to have a mix in the classes. – I have many friends in the Nynorsk class that I would like to go to class with, but that I don’t get the opportunity to as it is now, says Alishire. Gaute Garsjø, head of FAU, believes that the most important thing is that there are classes that represent the local community, not whether the class writes Nynorsk or Bokmål. – I think it is completely absurd that the classes are so different, says Garsjø. Gaute Garsjø, head of FAU, believes it is important to have a class that represents society. Photo: Hanne Høyland / news Garsjø thinks there is a clear problem. He points out that it affects class dynamics and that an unfortunate integration develops. Furthermore, Garsjø believes that there is something jarring when half switch from Nynorsk to Bokmål at the secondary school. Witness to a problem Now the case has ended up on the table of the politicians in the municipal council in Strand. – I would like a greater knowledge base in order to make a decision to improve this, says Randi Karlsen, leader of the living standards committee at Strand municipality. Randi Karlsen, leader of the standard of living committee, believes there is more to the problem than a target form. Photo: Hanne Høyland / news Karlsen believes that people are now witnessing a problem that is creating a social divide. Karlsen does not think that will change by changing the main goal. She thinks there is more to the problem than a target form. – Here I am talking about living standards challenges. It’s weird today. We therefore wish to take it up in budget cooperation. There is a desire to look at the problem in a larger setting, says Karlsen. Fight for inclusion – It is certainly not a fight against Nynorsk, says Barka. Rather, it is a fight for equal academic and social inclusion, he says. Barka is happy that it has now been passed on politically. She believes it is high time that there is a debate, and that the target form is chosen on the basis of the right premises. – It is extremely important, concludes Barka. Published 14.11.2024, at 05.45
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More people think Nynorsk for the wrong reason – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
