– They feel that they are not allowed to sit in the canteen, for example, and that there is no room for them at the table, explains Victoria Aabol-Sundsbø. She is vice-chair of the student council and a teacher until spring at Ullern upper secondary school in Oslo. What she tells about are messages the student council has received from students who are not on the Russian bus. – We have also heard of people who want to change schools because they are not on this and that bus, she says. Victoria Aabol-Sundsbø in the student council is concerned that everyone should have a good Russian time. Photo: Usman Ali / news – Destroying the school environment Last year, headmaster Torill Røeggen sounded the alarm in VG about the Russian bus hierarchy at the school. She believes it goes beyond the social environment. According to the headmaster, one thing remains true of the Russians the school psychologist has spoken to: – A large majority of them say that they would have been much better off at upper secondary school if it hadn’t been for the Russian era, says Røeggen. – And it’s a big “wow” for me, that the students say so themselves. It is the Russian buses in particular that are the problem, Røeggen believes. – The root of much of this is the nagging about being on the bus. And there is a lot of money in the picture, which causes unrest. READ ALSO: Something has happened to Russians in Oslo Wants to regulate Russian time That’s exactly the kind of culture Oslo’s head of schools wants to live on. The government is now working on a declaration on how Russian time should be. And director of education Marte Gerhardsen wants the state on the field. Oslo’s director of education, Marte Gerhardsen, says that Oslo has begun work on looking at the Russian celebration of the future. Photo: Siw Pessar Among other things, with instructions for when the celebration will take place. And guidelines on how Russian time should be celebrated, so it is inclusive for everyone. In Oslo, a working group has been set up to look at exactly that. With pupils, teachers, principals and parents from all over the city. Russian party at Rådhusplassen? But if they want the bus culture to die, young people must have alternatives, says Gerhardsen. – They want places to be together to celebrate and party. So therefore we have to look at how we can create it. The Ullern Russians have a proposal: That the municipality set aside money to create a joint Russian celebration. – You could have had celebrations on Rådhusplassen a few times during Russian times, for example. Then you get the feeling that it’s a real party, says Hermine Dyrhaug Moe. She is finance manager on one of the Ullern buses and sits on the Russian board at the school. Hermine Dyrhaug Moe (in the middle) thinks it is a good idea to have joint Russian parties for everyone in Oslo. Photo: Usman Ali / news They work to make Russian time more inclusive, and get everyone involved. Regardless of who is on the bus. It can be things like a day of joint decorating of Russian clothes. And now the Ullern students can take part in, for example, a knitting club, sewing club or drawing club for free. – I am actually very proud of the school that has tackled this problem, says student council deputy Victoria Aabol-Sundsbø. Neither Victoria Aabol-Sundsbø (left) nor Caroline Revlem (right) are on Russian buses, but they have a concept and a Russian gang. Photo: Usman Ali / news Early out with Russian bus And it’s not just this year’s Russian that they want to reach out to. Many Ullern students think about russetida from the time they start school. And more people buy Russebuss in the autumn they start. Then the group of friends is “set” very early. – You don’t really know who you are, who your real friends are, or who you would rather hang out with for the rest of high school in October in first class, says Russian President Revlem. Russe president Caroline Revlem believes that parents should take a look at themselves before, for example, helping their children buy a Russe bus. Photo: Usman Ali / news It is far from just happening in Ullern, according to director of education Gerhardsen. – In some schools, gangs and concepts are already established at secondary school, and those who are supposed to be together during rush hour. Also outside Oslo. Asking parents to say no The parents have to be on the field, says Ullern principal Torill Røeggen. 16-year-olds cannot enter into a contract to buy a Russian bus themselves. Then the parents must sign. – I have been very clear that I believe that parents must learn to say no, says principal Torill Røeggen. Are stricter rules needed for the Russian celebration? But saying no can be difficult, if being on the bus is seen as a way of securing the children socially. – I don’t think it’s that easy for anyone. So I think it has to happen at a higher level. It must be the city council that does something about it, says student council deputy leader Victoria. Ready, done, party But the Ullern Russian is also a little fed up with the condemnation of Russebuss. – I feel it is very much judged in advance, says bus manager Madeleine Glov Møller. – If you’re on a bus, you’re exclusionary or you’re rude and mean. And that is not the case for the vast majority. But of course there is an important discussion to be had. Soon the Ullern Russians are done with the discussion – and ready to party. – It will be fun. I’m really looking forward to it, says Møller. Hermine Dyrhaug Moe and Madeleine Grov Møller are on different Russian buses, but still good friends. The bus will be an expensive affair, but the girls are looking forward to bus time. Photo: Usman Ali / news
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Oslo municipality wants stricter rules and more control over Russian time – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
