At most schools, the parents have agreed on rules for how much the children should give each other as a birthday present. At Grønli primary school in Porsgrunn, the parents have decided to lower this amount this year. The aim is for all children to be able to participate in their classmates’ birthdays, says Susanne Nergård, FAU head of 4th grade at the school. – Choose not to send the children on their birthdays In the past, students have given each other NOK 50 as a monetary gift, or NOK 100 if they have bought a present. Now the limit is set at NOK 30 for monetary gifts, or NOK 50 if they buy a gift. – Many parents choose not to send their children for their birthday, because you don’t have a financial situation that suggests you should be able to come, says Nergård. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL: FAU leader for 4th grade at Grønli primary school in Porsgrunn, Susanne Nergård, hopes more schools will follow their example. Photo: Privat According to the FAU leader, the parent group was positive about the proposal. Now she encourages more schools to do the same. – I hope more people hang on, and think about what amount you should have for the classes. – Parental cooperation at its best The action taken by the parents at Grønli School is applauded by the Parents’ Committee for Basic Education (FUG). – We are of course very positive about this, and we see this as parental cooperation at its best, says manager Marius Chramer of FUG. CHEERS THE MEASURE: Leader of the Parents’ Committee for basic education, Marius Chramer, is positive that parents are taking action to include more people in birthday celebrations. Photo: Marius Fiskum / Marius Fiskum Children’s birthdays are an important arena for inclusion and socialization, according to Chramer. – But we know that the pressure to donate can mean that many people do not come forward. Not just in the time we are in now, but in general as well. A three-crown for some can be a lot. He encourages more parents to do the same as the parent group at Grønli school. – We must remember that the school has a free principle. And that is something we parents should take with us into the socialization arenas we have, also outside school. Other solutions to release the gift pressure could be for the parents to tip a symbolic amount to the guardian, who arranges the gift. That the parents of the birthday child buy a present from the whole group, or that it is decided that presents are not necessary.
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