– I became in a bad mood and showed signs of depression. Things just started going more and more westward when I started school, says Leander August Larsen Berg. The boy, who turns 11 next week, currently lives in Grimstad, but started in 1st grade at a school in Eastern Norway. At school he was bored, and eventually he couldn’t go to school anymore. Leander’s mother, Kikki Berg, says the first years at school were demanding. – He went from being a happy boy to being angry and frustrated almost all the time. The light in his eyes went out after only a few months at school, says Berg. Took the son out of school The son dreaded going to school every single day. The week before Norway shut down in March 2020, the parents chose to take him out of school because he was unhappy. They would rather teach the second graders at home. They did that until June of the same year. The same autumn, he changed schools and was allowed to go straight to the 4th grade. Berg sits on the board of the association Lykkelige barn, which works for the rights of gifted children, and says that what they have experienced is by no means unique. The association has approximately 500 members. It is estimated that between 2-5 percent are gifted and up to 15 percent of children in Norwegian schools have great learning potential, according to a research report. The parents chose to have a private WISC test taken when their son was six years old. This showed that he had a general ability – and knowledge level equivalent to a fourth grader. Dad Erlend Larsen and mum Kikki Berg have spent a lot of time in recent years giving their son a good everyday school life. It has been a tough fight. Photo: Kjetil Samuelsen / news Will change the education law Leander has an IQ of approximately 130. The average IQ for a 10-year-old child is 100. The mother says that her son knew the whole alphabet when he was two and could read when he was four. – “I have streptococci in my throat”, he told the public health nurse when he was two years old, his mother describes. Leander August should have started in the 6th grade this autumn, but was allowed to skip one more grade and therefore started in the 8th grade at Grimstad secondary school. Now he enjoys himself with classmates who are two and almost three years older. – Going to the 8th grade is only good. The subjects are more difficult and I feel good socially, says Leander August. He is now working to change the Education Act. It specifically states that gifted children do not have the right to individually adapted education. Many give up The 10-year-old believes that the Norwegian school is not adapted to children like himself. – The position of gifted children in school is not so good. Many people think that they just know things and learn quickly. The mother adds: – But for the children concerned, it is experienced as so frustrating that many give up. In addition to the desire to learn gradually disappearing, many develop school refusal. During Arendal Week, Leander worked as a children’s journalist for Childpress. He then met several politicians, including Conservative Party leader Erna Solberg, to spread his message. He told the politicians how especially gifted children feel at school and that there is far too little knowledge about this. During Arendal Week, Leander August got to interview several politicians about their thoughts on gifted children in school. Here with Conservative leader Erna Solberg. Photo: Anita Arnesen Solberg Never had so many friends After Leander was allowed to skip a grade in autumn 2020, things started to get better. This autumn, he was therefore given permission to force a full two steps. Mum Kikki Berg says the start of secondary school has gone very well. – He has been incredibly well received in the class and has never had so many friends before. He has fun and gets to talk about things he is interested in. At the same time, she realizes that they will probably face challenges in the future. The son will always be two years younger than his classmates. – We have talked a lot with him about the fact that he will always be younger and what challenges that will bring, but we think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, says Berg. Leander August plays a number of computer games with friends in his spare time. He also plays trombone in the school band. Photo: Kjetil Samuelsen / news Wants to meet the minister of knowledge Leander August will now together with the county mayor of Agder Arne Thomassen (H) send an e-mail to the minister of knowledge Tonje Brenna (Ap) and ask for a meeting. The hope is that she will take the initiative to change the Education Act. – Meeting her is great because then I can tell the person in charge. Those who are in the government now can take care of it, says the 10-year-old. The county mayor has been touched by hearing his story. – I hope we can get it lifted up so that there is more attention to it, says Thomassen. The Minister of Education says in an e-mail to news that she completely agrees with Leander August that the school must be adapted to all pupils, including those with great learning potential. – These students are just as different as other children and young people. That is why it is important for us to give school owners and the schools a lot of leeway to organize the training, says Brenna. She does not answer concretely to news’s question about what she can say to Leander August about the opportunities to improve children’s rights. Education Minister Tonje Brenna (Ap) tells news that she would like to meet Leander August if the chance presents itself. Photo: Amanda Iversen Orlich
ttn-69
Leander (10) wants more rights for gifted children – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
