Last year was difficult for both students and teachers at Mæla secondary school in Skien. The students were often reprimanded and were dissatisfied. The teachers were tired and couldn’t do their job, says environmental therapist Ida Vik. In the free minutes, ninth-graders Quasim Mohammed and Erlind Thaqi didn’t have much to do. They were bored. But then the school chose to listen to the students, and now the boys have been given a new lease of life. Has own safety managers One of the biggest changes is that students have been given more responsibility. 43 of the school’s 360 pupils have attended courses and been given their own areas of responsibility. They are now safety managers and active managers and will, among other things, organize activities in the free time. Qasim and Erlind appreciate the trust from the teachers. – It is much easier and more fun to come to school now, says Qasim. – Now things have changed and it is much better, adds Erlind. BETTER EVERYDAY: Qasim Mohammed (13) and Erlind Thaqi (14) have been given more responsibility and feel the school environment has improved. Photo: Bettina Olie Bjerkholdt / news New rules and measures The school also took a look at its own rules, and found that some of them were perhaps a little unnecessary and were many of the reasons for the conflict between student and teacher. Now the students are no longer pushed out the door during recess. They are allowed to stay inside, if they want. The students are also allowed to have their mobile phones, but they cannot take pictures and videos. The school has also purchased several games and table tennis tables. The students themselves are responsible for the loan. – We have noticed that those who think school can be boring and challenging, now feel more mastered. They have helped organize the school and have been given much more responsibility, says the environmental therapist. The changes the school has made are praised by the Parents’ Committee for Basic Education (FUG). – No hocus pocus Much of what Mæla junior high school has done is completely in line with the recommendations of FUG. They believe it is important that students and parents become involved in the work with the school environment. – Based on what we are informed, it seems that school democracy has been used and that it has yielded returns – at least in the short term, says head of FUG, Marius Chramer. HOPE THE SCHOOL IS ON THE RIGHT WAY: Head of FUG Marius Chramer believes it is positive to give students responsibility at their own school. There is a lot of learning in having trust and responsibility, he says. Photo: Marius Fiskum / Marius Fiskum At the same time, he makes a reservation that he is “expressing himself on a razor-thin basis in this case”. – If the pupils and the school report an improvement, then it is brilliant news. But going from a bad to a good school environment is no hocus pocus, so here it is important to follow up and follow up. In particular, the school should follow the initiative to allow phones during school hours, Chramer thinks. Conflicts can be moved into the digital world, he points out. – Taking it very seriously The headmaster at the school, Anne Ragnhild Kjær Sti, says that they notice a big change when it comes to safety and well-being at the school. The feedback she has received from the teachers is that this means a lot for the work with learning and the desire to learn in the classroom. – The Mæla security team is one of the finest projects I have ever been involved in and has become a catalyst in our preventive work. Environmental therapist Ida Vik believes the change has exceeded all expectations. She brags about the students. AN EXTREME YEAR: The school has put a difficult time behind it, and is now hoping for an improvement, says Ida Vik, who is an environmental therapist at Mæla secondary school. Photo: Bettina Olie Bjerkholdt / news – They are clever and have taken this very seriously. Vik has also noticed that the young people take better care of the equipment they have been given responsibility for. Qasim and Erlind recognize that. – We feel that we have something we can do. We have a responsibility to look after the equipment, but you feel that you are doing a lot more, says Erlind. news states that the case has been updated with quotes from the headmaster.
ttn-69
This is how Mæla secondary school managed to turn around the poor school environment – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
