– So. What do you know about the Vietnam war? Lecturer Heidi Rosenlund listens enthusiastically to the answers from the students. “The USA would fight communism”, “They used napalm”, “The war had little support in Europe”. At first glance, it may seem that the topic of the school lesson is history. But there is English on the timetable. It’s just a slightly different content. The 16 students in the classroom sit like lit candles and follow along when the teacher – in English – talks about the Vietnam War. Kim Phuc (centre) became a symbol of the horrors of the Vietnam War. The photo was taken after the hiding place was bombed with napalm. Photo: Nick Ut / AP She talks about the weapon systems that were used. About the political consequences of the war. What tactics and military strategies were used. And what has happened since. We visit class 2G (the second-year students) at Baltorp Business Gymnasium in Copenhagen – what we in Norway would probably call a “business gymnasium”. Just over a year ago, the rector established a separate defense line here. First in Denmark It is not a military education. Shooting practice and long marches are not on the schedule. What the school has done is to integrate defense issues into the regular teaching. Therefore, the English lesson is about the Vietnam War. The economics class can use defense budgets or material investments as examples. In social studies, they discuss, for example, NATO’s decisions or rules for cyber warfare. Lecturer Heidi Rosenlund teaches English. but uses the Vietnam War as the frame story for this lesson. In the background are two Norwegian officers, who were in Denmark to learn about the defense line at the school. Photo: Joakim Reigstad / news – This is a line where we try to include in all subjects how they work in the Armed Forces. The pupils have a slightly different way of going to school, but it is not the case that everything is different, says Martin Kramer-Jørgensen, who is the headmaster. It was he who got the idea two years ago. The first batch of 16 students began last autumn. This school year started 15 more. – I want to try to do something about education in Denmark and then it’s about making them more realistic. I want to make sure that the students, after they have received theoretical instruction, will also learn something practical. Martin Kramer-Jørgensen is the principal at Baltorp Business Gymnasium and got the idea for the defense line two years ago. Photo: Joakim Reigstad / news Teacher of weapons and tactics So far he is satisfied. The school’s own surveys show that pupils on the defensive line have better well-being and a higher degree of learning than the other pupils at the school. Laura Karen Nielsen (17) sits on the windowsill in the classroom and takes notes eagerly. She had an internship in ninth grade at the naval base in Korsør. And there she was saved. Now the career path is set. She will become an officer. In the Navy. The first step was to search the defensive line. – I think one hundred percent that I have an advantage when I have to apply further. I have met people and made contacts. And I understand the Armed Forces in a completely different way. A good part of the teaching program is visits to various defense departments. A study trip to the NATO headquarters in Brussels is also on the plan. Laura has no doubts that this is the right line for her. Lecturer Rosenlund gives instructions to the students. The teaching is more adapted to knowledge about the Armed Forces on the defense line – but it is not a military education. They may have to take it after they have spent three years here. Photo: Joakim Reigstad / news – I think it’s fantastic. Defense and war interest me. Here I get to look a little deeper into it. Instead of the teacher saying “there was war there and there. It ended this way and that”, then we get to know which weapons were used. What tactics they had and how it played out, she says. Get a “student cap” The teaching program is still in the trial phase. But around 20 per cent must be aimed at or related to the Armed Forces. Isn’t there then a danger that the students will lose other knowledge they should have been taught? The principal is not entirely on board with that. – When you add so much, surely you also have to subtract something? – We comply with the syllabus we have to according to the curriculum. Here it is about what the teachers use of examples and cases in teaching. Yes, they spend some time visiting various departments. But they learn what they have to. They get the same skills, they just know the Armed Forces a little better afterwards. Danish students celebrate graduation in 2020. Notice the headgear – a “student cap” Photo: Henning Bagger / AP – And they get a “student cap” on the same level as all other classes. They can study further at university. Or they can join the Armed Forces. It’s fine, no matter what they do. Norwegian line on the steps Since May last year, a group of local politicians and school leaders in Finnmark have worked to get Norway’s first line of defense to Lakselv. The principal of the upper secondary school in the town, Sylvi Josefine Johnsen, visited Baltorp Business Gymnasium last week and is more optimistic now than before the visit. – We see that we have worked in the right direction. What remains is, among other things, a formal collaboration with the Norwegian Armed Forces. But I have the impression that they are positive. And we believe there should be a national line, so students from all over Norway can apply, she says. Sylvi Josefine Johnsen is the principal at Lakselv upper secondary school Photo: Joakim Reigstad / news The principal has ambitions to make it happen already next year, but it also depends on agreements and approvals being in place. Johnsen completely disagrees that it is too early to introduce 16-year-olds to military strategies and defense thinking. – No, this is a way of showing what the Armed Forces stand for. The armed forces are a huge workplace. This is not about graduating soldiers. This is about getting to know the Armed Forces, and the many job opportunities they have. Will make the Armed Forces less mysterious The Norwegian Armed Forces are facing major challenges on the personnel side in the coming years. The armed forces are to be significantly upgraded, which will mean increased demand or young people who can envision a career in the armed forces. Tomas Bakke is a lieutenant colonel and head of the Finnmark Home Guard District. Tomas Bakke works for the Armed Forces in Finnmark Photo: Joakim Reigstad / news – We can demystify the Armed Forces. The distance between society and the Armed Forces can be reduced and the social contract between the Armed Forces and the population developed, he says. – The breadth they have here in Denmark shows that we can reach out to young people in a different way. In the future, there will be a battle for young people with competence throughout society, so I think that if we reach out to more people, that’s only good. Laura, who dreams of a career on a frigate, has also reflected that the Armed Forces can be a workplace where war can come very close. This is Laura’s dream, to become an officer on a frigate. Here represented by Iver Huitfeldt (F361) photographed at the base in Korsør in Denmark. Photo: AFP – I know the consequences of being sent to war. But I’ve thought about it a lot. It is a dream of mine to become an officer or a naval captain, if I were to get there. It doesn’t scare me. I would like to help protect Denmark and … yes the world, she says and smiles a little cautiously. Published 18.11.2024, at 22.26
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Norway will establish a defense line at upper secondary school based on the Danish model – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
