– I asked many times to join him when he was rehearsing. But I was never allowed to join, says “Christian”. The 14-year-old has dyslexia, and at primary school in Halden he was in the same class as Storm – the boy news told about earlier in January. Storm also has dyslexia, and went through almost all of primary school without getting the help he needed to learn to read. Only in the last months before secondary school did he receive close follow-up in the group room. It made great progress, according to the parents. Storm’s story has created a debate about reading education, especially in his home town of Halden. The hall was full when the public meeting was arranged. The topic has been discussed in political meetings, and in the local newspaper Halden Arbeiderblad, school staff have sounded the alarm because they believe they have too few resources. Halden Library was filled to the brim during the public meeting about the situation in the city’s schools. Editor Morten Ulekleiv in Halden Arbeiderblad was the debate leader. Photo: Petrit Prenaj / Halden Arbeiderblad Now news has also met one of Storm’s classmates from primary school. Since he is in a demanding school situation, we have chosen to change his real name. We call him “Christian” and the mother “Silje”. They are familiar with Storm’s history. Several people have dyslexia In “Christian’s” family, they knew a lot about dyslexia. Several in the family have the same. “Silje” told employees of the municipality while her son was at primary school. She thought “Christian” should also be investigated. The school saw that the student was struggling with the letters, and in the 3rd grade they decided that he should receive special education. In the 6th grade he was assessed for dyslexia, and the school increased the number of hours of special education. In the meantime, “Christian’s” challenges had become greater. Eventually he got an offer that differed from what his fellow students got. Among other things, he had various caretaker tasks at the school, was an “assistant” in first class and worked on other practical tasks. Although the school promised to give “Christian” special education at primary school, the help he received was not enough for him to master reading. The school told “Silje” that her son also received reading training, but she found it difficult to gain an insight into how much content there was in these lessons. However, the mother’s impression is that the special education was inadequate. – Walked in the hallway Towards the end of the 7th grade, the parents of Storm, the classmate news has written about previously, complained that their son did not get the special education he was promised. They were approved by the state administrator. In the last months of primary school, the school ensured that Storm was followed up by a special education teacher for many hours each week. The school had noted that “Christian” also liked being taught in a small group together with an adult. PPT had recommended that he should be in a small group part of the time. When “Christian” noticed that Storm often left the classroom to have such reading training, he asked several times to join. His friend Storm also confirms this. “Christian” says he didn’t get any explanation as to why he and Storm got different plans. – I thought I might be able to join in and work on assignments. When I didn’t get it, I went to the hallway and sat down instead, says “Christian”. news has asked the principal Siv Grete Stamnes at Os skole in Halden and acting director of education Karin Fredh Eliassen to explain why the two pupils received different offers. They don’t want to answer. This will involve going into individual cases where they are bound by the duty of confidentiality. Eliassen believes that it does not change anything that Storm and “Christian’s” families have canceled this. In a later letter to his mother “Silje”, Stamnes wrote that a resource teacher had been available ever since “Christian” was in the 3rd grade. She also writes that the school put in two new teachers at the level when the boys were in the 7th grade. “They have not only been reserved for one student, but have provided special education to students at the level with rights to special education,” wrote the headmaster. Was given up When “Christian” told what he had experienced, “Silje” was given up. She in no way blames Storm’s parents, but wonders if their nagging and complaining made the school invest the resources. – It cannot be the case that those who complain the most should get the most, she says with frustration. The same is said by Minister of Education Tonje Brenna (Ap). When news interviewed her after telling Storm’s story, she praised the boy’s parents for their efforts. Minister of Education Tonje Brenna (Ap). Photo: Anders Fehn / news – Not all parents are able to fight that way. That is why it is so important that this is the school’s task. It shouldn’t matter if you have parents who are able to keep up with these things, said Brenna. Education director Eliassen in Halden municipality writes on a general basis that complaints from parents do not influence the municipality’s decisions. Several had dyslexia In the same spring that Storm received the additional reading training the family perceived as effective, “Christian” gained access to the digital aids that are often useful for dyslexics. Then there were three weeks left of primary school. It had been more than four years since “Silje” expressed concern that her son might have dyslexia. The headmaster wrote that it was “regrettable” that this had not been put in place earlier. The mother decided to lodge a complaint about the special education her son had received at primary school. She was successful. The state administrator believed, among other things, that the plans and reports from the school did not show much of the training “Christian” had received. “Silje” tries as best she can to motivate “Christian” to go to school. Sometimes she manages it, other times he stays home. The state administrator also initiated an inspection of all special education at the school where the boys had attended. They found 13 offences. Halden municipality has been given until March to correct the errors. Eliassen in Halden municipality does not want to answer whether all the pupils who have received special education at Os school in recent years have received a good enough offer. She refers to the duty of confidentiality. – Missed a lot of primary school lessons A year and a half after “Christian” finished primary school, he is now in the middle of the 9th grade at another secondary school in his home town. “Silje” has a good dialogue with the school staff. At the same time, she sees that her son is away from school a lot. She fears he will drop out. “Christian” does not hide the fact that he still finds reading difficult. – It’s because I lost a lot of primary school lessons. If you don’t have them, there is no chance of you passing secondary school, he says. When “Christian” is home from school, he has plenty of time to do other things.
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Complaint about inadequate special education – upheld – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
