They were out early in front of the Parliament on Friday, and some had camped overnight. As thousands also gathered all over the country for Norway’s biggest school strikes for the climate so far, they faced both ridicule and scoldings from an elder generation of politicians and other adults who still support the country’s oil […]
Violence rising at primary schools
March 20, 2019
Armed police and emergency health care personnel responded swiftly to calls of a “threatening situation” involving a knife at a primary school in Oslo this week. Eight minutes later they had control of the suspect, a little boy who apparently was angry with his teacher. It was just the latest example of violence at Norwegian […]
School climate strikes spread
March 1, 2019
Elementary, high school and college students in Norway are joining their counterparts abroad in shirking school on Fridays, to rally for the climate and against politicians who they don’t think are doing enough to halt climate change. Thousands were out protesting again this week in front of local City Halls and government buildings, from Kristiansand […]
Teens suspected of vandalism in Trondheim
March 1, 2019
Four Trondheim teenagers, two boys and two girls aged 14 and 15, are suspected of being behind a wave of extensive vandalism at local schools. Some schools have had to close, with damage estimates climbing into the millions. Police confirmed on Thursday that the four minors have been called in for questioning and “conversations” at […]
‘No discrimination’ of Muslim teacher
December 3, 2018
Norway’s state anti-discrimination board has ruled that an Oslo school did not discriminate against a Muslim man when it refused to renew his substitute teaching contract. He had refused to shake hands with female colleagues or parents, but the board ruled that his refusal in turn threatened gender equality. “If we are to make conservative […]
More heads may roll in the Oslo schools
November 16, 2018
Terje Moen, deputy leader of the Norwegian labour organization representing school employees, thinks more top city employees in charge of education in Oslo should consider resigning. Those who worked closely with outgoing schools director Astrid Søgnen, who was forced to resign this week, are at the top of Moen’s list. He argues that the conflict […]
Boycott threatened youths’ fundraiser
November 1, 2018
Thousands of Norwegian junior high- and high school students were taking part once again on Thursday in the annual fundraiser called Operasjon Dagsverk (OD), billed as Norway’s largest solidarity event. It was clouded, however, by calls for a boycott from pro-Israeli groups that object mightily to this year’s OD beneficiary: The international YMCA/YWCA campaign for […]
Oslo schools caught in power struggle
September 19, 2018
An unusually nasty power struggle over control of Norway’s largest school district now threatens to topple Oslo’s entire city government. The struggle pits longtime Oslo school administrators against their new political leader Inga Marte Thorkildsen, leaving her boss, city government leader Raymond Johansen, to resolve the conflict or face a lack of confidence vote himself. […]
‘Russ’ culture taken over by business
August 9, 2018
Horror stories about Norwegian high school seniors called “russ” going amok in southern climes this summer have been dominating local media. Calls are now going out for their schools to take control of Norway’s rowdy russ culture, and out of the hands of commercial business interests. “It’s very easy to sell to this group of […]
Muslim teacher claims discrimination
August 8, 2018
A Muslim man who lost his job as a substitute teacher at an Oslo elementary school has filed a discrimination complaint with state authorities. He claims his contract wasn’t renewed on religious grounds, because of his refusal to greet women with a handshake. “Folks think that’s because I look down on women,” the man, who’s […]
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