8,000 teachers are on strike and even more have been notified. In recent days, parents, school principals and health personnel have raised the alarm about pupils who are struggling hard. Several actors have asked the government to intervene with a forced wage commission to end the strike. Now teachers are rebutting and saying they cannot take responsibility for the mental health of pupils without a school offer. – During the strike, we meet a wave of people who want to impose everything possible on us. You cannot impose heavy, serious tasks on the school that the health care system must take care of, says leader of the Education Association in Ålesund, Ina Margrethe Enoksen. – The school is not a psychiatric institution Several posts are circulating on Facebook from teachers who dislike the focus on the students’ mental health during the strike: “The school is not a psychiatric institution. If a child can get psychotic from having time off while we set “the record straight” and fight for a better school for them, there is no treatment at school!” – We are teachers, not training health personnel. It is precisely the misconception that teachers should solve all the world’s problems that is the cause of the strike, writes Stavanger teacher Helena da Silva-Tønessen on Facebook. Author and former teacher Guro Jabulisile Sibeko has also written an article in which, among other things, she writes “It is not the teachers’ strike that affects life and health”. The post has been shared almost 6,000 times in the last 24 hours. Underneath the post there is a shower of emojis with hearts, flowers and applause. Screenshot from the Facebook post of a teacher in Stavanger. It is diligently shared and commented on. Photo: Screenshot from Facebook Criticism from their own But now the teachers are being rebuffed by their own. Gerd Botn Brattli is leader of the Education Association in Møre og Romsdal. She has little left for the post. – We cannot doubt that parents and others are concerned about their own children or that employers are concerned about the school. It’s not nice to do. We share the unrest, says Botn Bratteli. She believes that the school is very important for the pupils as a meeting place, and says she hopes that the strike will soon be over. Gerd Botn Brattli is leader of the Education Association in Møre og Romsdal. She has nothing left to post on Facebook. Photo: Roar Strøm / news Support from professionals Professionals also believe there is reason to be concerned about the situation of children and young people. On Monday, the head of the department for children and young people’s mental health (ABUP) at Telemark Hospital, Ove Kleppa, came out and said that the strike is affecting mentally ill children and young people. He is particularly concerned because the strike comes in the aftermath of the corona pandemic, which had major consequences for many children and young people. – The timing is unfortunate. We are worried that it will get worse. A good contact teacher at the school is important for the pupils. Although both environmental therapists and health nurses are there, teachers play an important role, says Kleppa. He is striking because he supports the teachers’ right to strike, but that he is concerned about the situation of the students. Head of department Ove Kleppa says the timing of the teachers’ strike is unfortunate because it comes shortly after the corona pandemic. As a result, many children and young people are victimized again. Photo: VIGDIS HELLA / news Asks colleagues to stop writing articles There is also Gerd Botn Brattli, who is the leader of the Education Association in Møre og Romsdal. She believes that frustrated Facebook posts from striking teachers are not the way to go to focus on the matter. – I get a little sad and tired. It’s not the right way to express yourself. You can keep your word, because we are neither one nor the other, but we play an incredibly important role in your child’s everyday life. I think we should put an end to posts like this, she says. At the weekend, both the National Association of Schools, the Norwegian Association of Lecturers and the Education Association broke with KS and announced a further escalation.
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The teachers do not want to be blamed for children laughing during the strike – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
