– I don’t think there will be lasting change just with this measure here, but I think it’s a good start. That’s what student council leader at Eiker upper secondary school, Selma Austdal-Guneriussen (18), says. Just over a week ago, it became known that the school is closing the canteen. Headmaster Jan Helge Russnes described everyday life in the canteen as follows: Glancing. Freezing. Separate places for the cool ones in the canteen. Bullying and hanging out on social media. – It won’t open until the students have sharpened their skills, the headmaster said at the time. The canteen at Eiker upper secondary school is once again full of hungry students. They have got the canteen back because they have understood the seriousness, says the headmaster. Photo: Eirik Leivestad Hall The response has been enormous, according to Russnes: – When that news was broadcast to the whole of Norway, I received a lot of feedback from parents and principals around the country, who are experiencing similar challenges. The students must now have sharpened their skills. At least that’s what the principal thinks. Today, the canteen was once again packed with students, news’s seconded reporter was able to state. But has the measure served its purpose? – Don’t want to lose the canteen Tobias Engelien (17), who is in his second year at the school, doesn’t think so. He believes that closing the canteen has done nothing in the world for the school environment. – It’s just a “random” consequence that makes people stop bullying because they like the canteen. Second-grader Tobias Engelien does not believe that the measure has worked to improve the school environment at Eiker upper secondary school. Photo: Eirik Leivestad Hall – Have people just played nice to get the canteen back? – We are always kind, Engelien laughs as he looks at his friends next to him, before he answers seriously: – You can put it that way, yes. We want to keep the canteen open. – What could have been a better measure? – I don’t know, that’s a task for the student council. But closing the canteen only makes us afraid of being mean to each other, because we could lose the canteen, he believes. – Shouldn’t be the police The pupils have now been given six “rules of the game” which they must adhere to, drawn up by the school’s management and the student council. The six “rules of the game” that students must adhere to: You must only take photos and videos of those who have given permission to do so. It is not allowed to reserve a table in the canteen. Everyone can sit where they want. Everyone should be able to feel welcome everywhere in the school. Include those who want to be included. The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. In addition, the teachers must be more present in the canteen. – They are not there to be police, but to build a good and pleasant environment, says principal Jan Helge Russnes. Principal Jan Helge Russnes is not afraid to take similar measures again if he does not see a lasting change in attitude. Photo: Eirik Leivestad hall Regardless, both Russnes and student council leader Selma Austdal-Guneriussen believe that the students have learned a lot in the past week. – People at school have become much more aware of the problem we have with bullying and exclusion. This makes it easier to bring about a culture change that lasts, believes the student council leader. Student council leader Selma Austdal-Guneriussen believes that the canteen closure could be the start of a major cultural change at the school. Photo: Eirik Leivestad Hall And if you don’t get the culture change you want, the rector is no stranger to taking a similar measure again. – I don’t know, but we have to do something to ensure a good school environment for the students. We’ll see if that means closing the canteen again, if it becomes necessary then, principal Russnes concludes hopefully. Hi! Do you recognize yourself in this case? Or do you have tips for something else I should write about? Send me an email, I’d love to hear from you!
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– People stop bullying just because they like the canteen – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
