The new initiative will prevent students from dropping out. And already after a few weeks, the school notices the effect of the appointment. – I can work, but those who have what used to be called school refusal. It is not like you can push them into a situation. You have to take it step by step, and that’s what I’m working on here, says Olsen. On paper, Olsen is employed as a so-called measures coordinator. The tasks can vary from picking up pupils in the morning, to having an extra chat with pupils who are having a hard time. Oda Elise Strandås understands that the students’ mental health weighed heavily in the rationale for the compulsory salary board. At the same time, she finds it difficult to understand that the strike was stopped because of that. Photo: private Headmaster Ketil Monssen took a risk and sacrificed a teaching position to achieve the new function at the school, but even believes it is worth it. – We see that we have more students who need help, and we feel we are not reaching out well enough. It is the teacher’s curse, says Monsen. But so far he says hiring Olsen looks like a successful move. Responding to areas of responsibility Oda Elise Strandås is a teacher at Hauknes primary school in Mo i Rana. She is one of several teachers who have felt what Monssen is talking about and reacts to the responsibility she believes society places on teachers. In addition to being a teacher, she is responsible for the children’s mental health and child-rearing, she feels. Strandås published a post on Facebook last week to express his frustration. And many teachers supported her statements. Felt a lot of the pressure after the strike On Tuesday last week, the teachers’ strike ended, having lasted since before the summer holidays. The Minister for Employment and Inclusion, Marte Mjøs Persen, highlighted the individual student’s mental health in particular in the justification for the compulsory salary board. Strandås is left with one question after the decision. – Should the pupils’ mental health rest on the teachers’ shoulders? She believes that the teachers do not have the skills to do so. – We teachers understand how important we are to the students, but it is still not our responsibility, she says. She is calling for the other agencies to also take care of the children. – It seems as if the whole society collapses when the children are not at school, says Strandås. More people with mental health problems In the last two years, there have been more and more serious calls to the support system. This is shown in a report that came out earlier this year from the National Commission of Inquiry for the Health and Care Service. It shows that even younger children have mental health problems. More and more young people are reporting mental health problems. But why? Andreas looks for the cause and looks at what offers are available for those who become mentally ill. Serious burden to place on teachers Education policy spokesperson in SV, Freddy André Øvstegård, agrees with Strandås. – It is a serious burden to place on the teachers, he says. The counties, the municipalities, the Storting and the government believe he is responsible for ensuring that children and young people receive proper mental health services. – It is not the teachers’ responsibility, and we fully understand that it is frustrating, he says. Connecting other agencies State Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Halvard Hølleland (Ap), recognizes that many teachers feel cross-pressure from both the state, the municipality and the parents. The government will do something about that. Halvard Hølleland (Ap) is state secretary in the Ministry of Knowledge. Photo: Ministry of Education / Ilja C. Hendel – In 2022, we have greatly strengthened the municipal budgets, and we have initiated both a trust reform in schools and cleaning up reporting and documentation requirements. He believes that school is the best arena for catching young people who are struggling. – The schools have an important role in seeing the students and connecting with other agencies when there is a need for it. – Teachers are not trained for or have responsibility for health-related follow-up of the pupils, but as long as the pupils are not at school, it is more difficult to pick up and follow up the pupils’ health challenges. – Should not treat Central board member of the Education Association, Marit Himle Pedersen, believes that teachers alone should not be responsible for securing the environment around students. Photo: Press image Central board member of the Education Association, Marit Himle Pedersen, says that many teachers recognize the statements made by Strandås. She believes that teachers should catch those students with difficulties, in order to send them to professionals with the right skills. – We should not treat children with challenges, she says. It is the individual municipalities that have resources such as health nurses, psychologists and the educational-psychological service (PTT). – Is it easy for you to get the right help for students with difficulties? – We don’t always find it easy. Schools are often faced with challenges such as school refusal. School refusal/involuntary school absence When a child or teenager really wants to go to school, but cannot because of fear/dread of being at school, this is termed school refusal or involuntary school absence. Bullying is a frequent cause of school refusal or involuntary absence from school. Other reasons can be a lack of friends, loneliness, insecurity, learning difficulties or mental illness. Source: NHI She expects that measures will now be put in place to help children and young people. – It takes a village to raise a child. One agency cannot do this all alone, she says. – Had to take reports of concern seriously In an e-mail to news, the education policy spokesperson for the Labor Party, Elise Waagen, defends the forced wage board. – The consequences would have been more serious the longer the strike had lasted. We had reached a point where the overall social consequences became serious. Waagen says this shows how important the teachers, the school and the team around the students are.
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Rognan secondary school dropped a teaching position, employed a measure coordinator – news Nordland
