Steep fronts and volleys of force in the political debate about school closures – this is how the wounds can be healed

The case summarized In the wake of a heated school debate in the interior, where six schools were decided to be closed, there is concern about how the young people’s trust in democracy is safeguarded. Norunn Grande at Nansen Fredssenter, who has extensive experience with dialogue and conflict resolution, encourages continuing to listen to the young people, even after the decision has been made. Grande is concerned that the young people may be left with a bad experience with democracy and democratic processes, and wonders how many of these young people will go to the polls after experiencing getting involved and not being heard. In the debate leading up to the decision, there have been strong outcomes, including threats and personal attacks, which has led to the involvement of the Police’s security service. Grande praises the young people for their tone in the debate, and believes that the energy expressed through people’s involvement should be channeled into constructive processes. The municipal sector’s organization (KS) believes that political leaders must now invite dialogue about what kind of speech climate we want, and that it is important that the individual elected representative is aware of his responsibilities. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s ​​journalists before publication. – What kind of democratic experience are the young people left with? They have invested a lot, spent a lot of time and commitment to familiarize themselves with and be active participants in democracy. The question then becomes, how are they looked after, so that they do not lose faith in democracy? Norunn Grande at Nansen Fredssenter has for many years provided training in dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution, including in Afghanistan. When a majority of county politicians in the interior decided to close down six schools and school sites, it triggered tears and despairing looks from those present who fought for their schools. – I thought they would take the hint, said a tearful pupil from Lom, clearly expressing powerlessness. Grande sees similarities in the heated debate in Inlandet with deadlocked situations in divided societies and conflict zones. And now that the defeat of the young people who stood on the barricades for their schools is a fact, she is most concerned that the young should be taken care of. Six schools and school sites in Innlandet will be closed, the county council decided on 23 October. Student Anna Bøje Kvandalsvoll is strongly critical of the decision. – Continue to listen to the young Young people must still be listened to, Grande urges. – It is important that they are listened to, even after the decision has been made. Now that the young people have not gained traction in an issue that means a lot to them, Grande is concerned that they may be left with a bad experience with democracy and democratic processes. – The young people are one thing, but there are many others who see this as well. And if the school case is left as an example of people getting involved, and not being heard, it can mean that others don’t see the value of participating in democracy, she says. She wonders how many of these young people will go to the polls, when they have experienced getting involved and not being heard. – I would be interested in that type of question now. Because after a harrowing conflict, it will take a long time for the open wounds to heal again. Her advice here is that the adults still listen to the young people, and do not rush on now that the decision has been made. – That they get an opportunity to express themselves and find their way forward. Here, the adults must stand up and meet the young people on their needs. In “full war” In the heated debate ahead of the decision, Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl (Sp) came out and said that county mayor Thomas Breen (Ap) engaged in adultery to gain power. – That the Labor Party’s county mayor Thomas Breen wants to prostitute himself to gain power together with the Conservative Party in this way, I think it’s crazy, she said. The mayor of Lom declared “all-out war” on Monday evening, and encourages journalists and others to dig up “all sorts of crap” about the county politicians in Inlandet during a political meeting. A statement he later stood by. He has later said that he does not understand his statements can be seen as threats, and if someone were to interpret it that way, they have some bodies in the closet. and elaborated with the fact that it is “allowed to check whether people have clean flour in their bag” The use of words in the school debate has become so coarse that the police’s security service has been involved. What now? Norunn Grande says it is good that the mayor and the minister of justice face opposition to their statements, because it is about self-regulation. – The debate climate can also be regulated by having many people take the field with factual posts. The more factual posts, the more the debate climate will be neutralized. Photo: Nansen Fredssenter – A lot at stake – That someone chooses that type of expression is a sign of something that is about to be cut completely. It is important to take it seriously, says Norunn Grande. Grande emphasizes that it is not her role to interfere in political processes. But that in a heated conflict, where you experience threats and personal attacks, a break is advisable. – I would take a “time-out”, so that you had time to calm down the situation and create processes that make you listen to everyone. And this is exactly what they do: Helping people to talk together, even in tense situations. – There is a lot at stake here when it comes to trust in politicians and trust in each other. And to be sure that trust does not erode, you have to create the spaces that allow people to express their opinions and feelings. Five principles for dialogue The aim of a dialogue is to understand, not to win as in a debate. Both parts, dialogue and debate, are needed in a democracy. Dialogic skills can help to improve the climate of conversation and strengthen democracy. Listen with an open mind Ask open questions Be patient No hidden agenda Changing one’s mind is a sign of maturity Source: Nansen Fredssenter By taking the time to listen, also what lies beneath what is being said, one can better understand what feelings and need, the harsh statements are an expression of, she believes. – A core question is how to create space to talk about what is important to people, without it becoming attack and defense and an increasingly harsh debate climate. Threats and extreme expressions can scare others from participating. How much do politicians have to endure? A lot, as long as it is within the framework of the law. They have chosen the attention themselves! A lot, but politicians themselves should keep themselves too good to contribute… Politicians are people too. Treat others as you would be treated! Condescending characteristics do not belong in a good debate climate. Go after the ball, not the person! A lot, but not the conditions we see now… Show result Praise the young people – You see a big contrast to the students who have expressed themselves. It seems as if they have a completely different tone when they speak. They express how they experience the situation, and why it is important to them. The same with reader posts Grande has received. – Many of those who participate actively now have a fairly good understanding of avoiding personal attacks. She sees that, together with the opposing voices who actively distance themselves from the strongest wording, as a good sign of how to find solutions that perhaps no one has thought of. – In peace and dialogue work, we are concerned with how conflicts can be transformed into opportunities. All the energy that is expressed through people’s involvement should go into constructive processes. It is the same scheme in Norway as they have in Afghanistan – namely to create safe spaces for conversations. – It involves learning a culture where you listen to each other, ask questions and show respect for each other. Stine Bækkelien / news Dokka secondary school currently has 269 pupils. The school has six lines: * Study specialization * Building and construction engineering * Electrical and computer technology * Health and early childhood subjects * Technology and industrial subjects * Building up to general study skills Distance to nearest school: approx. 42 km to Gjøvik vgs. Ann-Kristin Mo / news Skarne’s secondary school Currently has 187 students The school has five lines: * Building and construction engineering * Electrical and computer technology * Hairdressing, flowers, interior design and exhibition design * Specialization in studies * Building on general study skills Distance to nearest school: approx. . 22 km to the city center in Kongsvinger. Even Lusæter / news Skulestad Lom One of three departments at Nord-Gudbrandsdal vgs. Skulestaden Lom currently has 94 students. Skulestaden has two lines: * Building and construction subjects * Study specialization Distance to the nearest school: approx. 62 kilometers to Nord-Gudbrandsdal vgs. Dept. Otta Even Lusæter Skulestad Dombås One of three departments at Nord-Gudbrandsdal vgs. Skulestaden Dombås currently has no students. Skulestaden has previously had offers for specialist studies. Distance to nearest public transport: approx. 47 km to Nord-Gudbrandsdal vgs. Dept. Otta Frode Meskau / news Skulestad Flisa One of three departments at Solør vgs. Currently has 110 students. Skulestaden has two lines: * Study specialization * Electrical and computer technology Distance to the nearest school: approx. 18.8 km to Solør vgs. Dept. Våler Stein Eide / news Skulestad Sønsterud One of three departments at Solør vgs. Currently has 70 students. The school has two lines: * Natural resource education * Building up to general study skills Distance to the nearest school: approx. 18.8 km to Solør vgs. Dept. Våler. KS: – Totally unacceptable Gunn Marit Helgesen, chairman of the Municipal Sector’s organization (KS) is clear that political leaders must now invite dialogue about what kind of speech climate we want. – There are tough and difficult debates going on about almost all services around the country. Then there is a great responsibility for us political leaders to show that leadership, and to contribute to a climate of debate that is factual and that does not contribute to incitement, harassment and personal attacks. – It is important to distance ourselves from this type of word use and personal attacks. We have to do that regardless of whether it is our own party, or other parties, and regardless of whether it is local or national elected officials who go down to that level, says Gunn Marit Helgesen in KS. For several years, KS has worked for a good culture of expression which is about good customs, conscious rhetoric and respect for dissenters. Here it is important that the individual elected representatives, whether they are local or national elected, are aware of their responsibilities. – We are role models, and must contribute to having a debate that is dignified, generous and that shows respect and tolerance. If not, it weakens trust in us elected representatives and in democratic bodies. We cannot sit idly by and watch that. Guidelines for speech culture Be aware of your own language and rhetoric Communicate about politics and not people Be critical of the sources before you make a statement about an issue Respond factually to heated comments Involve resource persons from the party or the municipality if necessary Do not be afraid to delete comments that are perceived as harassing or inciting Take responsibility to speak up if you see that others are experiencing harassment or harassment Report the person or profile that publishes online news on social media Avoid writing on social media when you yourself have drunk alcohol or when there is a high probability that others have it, such as Friday and Saturday evening Report to the police or take out a summons against the person who makes hate speech and threats Source: The municipal sector’s organization Published 24/10/2024, at 14.05



ttn-69