Students are no longer allowed to pray inside school

A group of middle school students at Sagaton School in Balestrand met in recent years for Christian devotion and fellowship during their lunch break on Wednesday.

Now the school principal has put an end to the meetings with reference to the school’s presence neutral look And that there should be no religious gatherings during school hours.

– Eva Bint Uma, who has two daughters on the Christian school team, says I am frustrated with the school management.

The case was first mentioned in Diocese newspaper.

NRK has been in contact with the principal of the school, which refers to the mayor in Sogndal municipality.

The rationale for the decision Type He said Christian meetings at school can be “noisy and offensive to those from other religious communities”.

– Here the municipality has a barrier

based on Education Law (paragraphs 2-3, 2-4 and 9-6) Type The principal added that religious gatherings at the school “can lead to a discriminatory school environment and impede play and social learning through religious orientations.”

The letter is addressed to the head of the group at Sogndal KrF, Frode Bøthun, who has complained about the decision.

– Here the municipality has a barrier. Norway should be a society open to life views where people with different opinions can practice their faith side by side, he says.

“Open Society” is the title of the report Steel group selection, which were subject to Norwegian threat policy and expectations. Work culminated in a new antitrust law, which came into force last year.

in his recommendations Type Stålsett’s choice that schools should show “roomliness with regard to the voluntary organization of schoolchildren for religious or philosophical groups and gatherings”.

This is a type of steel group selected

The Committee stresses that the public school educates all, regardless of their religious or belief affiliations. The school should take care of the freedom of religion and outlook on life and that one of its ideals, set forth in the purpose clause, is to work for the freedom of spirit.

School isn’t a place for preaching, but it shouldn’t be a religion-free space either. Freedom of religion and belief also applies to schoolchildren, who must have the right to express and also exercise their religious or belief affiliation within the school setting.

School children should be met with respect for their religion and outlook on life, and flexibility should be shown with regard to the need for religious practice, including the possibility of using clothing and symbols based on outlook on life and the possibility of a student starting gatherings, eg during recess, unless this is possible in addition to Education, peace and order. This comes from the committee’s principle that freedom of religion and belief is protected for all and that everyone must accept exposure to the practices of the religion and beliefs of others in public.

The Committee will also refer to the principle of equal treatment. This should also mean that religions and views of life other than the majority religion are given an equal footing. Choice requires flexibility with regard to the voluntary organization of schoolchildren for religious or belief groups and assemblies and with regard to the desire to have access to prayer rooms and other gatherings.

The chair of the committee, Sturla Stålsett, told NRK that the decision at Sagatun School was “not only unnecessarily restrictive”, but also “directly inconsistent” with the principle of openness of life in the new antitrust law.

– Student access to self-started activity rooms in the school is regulated by the individual municipality, says Minister for Children and Families Kjersti Toppe (Sp).

And she adds:

Having said that, I would encourage the municipalities to listen to the Stålsett Committee. eA neutral society is not the same as a society without ideology. I hope the manager and the others understand the difference.

Here’s what the Minister for Children and Families Kjersti Toby (SP) says

The government wants a society with an open view of life, where everyone is respected and a knowledgeable view of the lives of others. School is the most important common space in Norwegian society and helps to lay the foundations for peaceful coexistence through beliefs and expectations. Schoolchildren have the right to monitor and exercise their religious affiliation. At the same time, there is a balance between the school as a common arena where everyone must be able to participate, regardless of belief or outlook, respecting the freedom of belief and individual expectations of the student.

The extent to which pupils have access to rooms for self-activities in the school is regulated by the individual municipality. When activities are carried out during school hours, schools and their owners have an obligation to ensure that all students enjoy a safe and good school environment. Gathering around social activities organized by the students themselves or by different teams, groups or organizations can contribute to a good school environment, but should not conflict with the overall activity of the school or the rights and interests of other students. The individual school knows the situation better and can balance different needs with each other.

Having said that, I would encourage the municipalities to listen to the Stålsett Committee, which wrote in its report that it “recommends a broad approach with regard to the voluntary organization of schoolchildren for religious or outlook-based groups and assemblies and with regard to the desire to have access to a prayer room and other gatherings” .

– School should be a place of spiritual freedom

In 2018, the Minister of Knowledge sent Jean-Ture Sanner (H). message For all municipalities where schools are encouraged to open classes for Student starts meeting at school.

The message was sent after a agreed Parliament asked the government to guarantee Children and youth organizations have access to schools and other public buildings.

– That’s never heard of before

Karl-Johan Kjøde, General Secretary of the team (Norwegian Student Christian Association and Youth School)

In his concern for a “neutral point of view” school, the mayor forgets that every student and employee of Sogndal – including himself – has a view of life, and that the Christian and human heritage is the basis of the Education Act. This is why you do not find the term “neutral point of view” either in the Education Act or in the various circulars from the Ministry of Education. Young Christians who are called to a meeting, among other things, to speak of the Bible and the Christian faith are not only sent into the parlour, but are actually sent out into the square entirely—for someone who might be “offended” by their faith—unheard of. In turn, it is great for pupils who turn the other cheek to take an umbrella to the school and have a team meeting on the outside lawn.

Margrethe Björg Katanacho, National Council of Norwegian Children and Youth Organizations (LNU)

Children and young people should come together about what they believe in and be passionate about. The municipality’s intervention in this way is unfortunate. Figures from the Ungdata survey show that every year since 2015 there has been a decrease in the number of people enjoying school. The same survey also found that there are more and more people bored at school, and that more people are now absent than before. Obviously the reasons are complex, but against this background, schools must in any case make arrangements for children and young people to organize themselves in school. Children and youth have freedom of association. There is a good reason for this: through organizational life, children and young people get the opportunity to develop and challenge themselves, in society with others, and at the same time learn that their voice matters. Therefore, schools should also open up to democratic and voluntary activity of children and youth, not close the doors to it.

Aslak Berntsen Husby, student organization

– If someone offended by this incident, then it was the students who organized a religious gathering during the holiday. The school, as an institution, should be neutral, but by forbidding the voluntary exercise of one’s outlook on life one has not created a safer day of study for any religious pupil. Yes, not all students may have been part of the prayer circle, but this is a great opportunity to create a good discussion among students about the practice of religion in everyday life. It is simply disappointing to see that the school resorts in the first place to prohibition before engaging in dialogue with the pupils. I hope the municipality and the school will reconsider their decision, and make it a safer school day, and also for pupils who want to practice their religion one day a week.

Kjell Ingolf Robstad, KRV

The mayor’s practice results in less diversity and a less open society – contrary to what Parliament and government alike have said. I want a school that dares to show what a life oriented society is. A school that teaches pupils to live in a plurality of opinions and expressions of faith. A school based on the voluntary participation of students. A school that promotes freedom of belief, freedom of assembly and freedom of expression. Not a jerky, jerky secular school trying to clean up all the panty liner expressions under the rug.

A similar signal came from Kristin Halvorsen (SV), when she was Minister of Education. In response to a written question from MP Djörn Eriksen (KrF), she indicated that the school should be “Spiritual Freedom City” And that “there should be an opportunity for schoolchildren to organize their religious activities, for example during a break.”

The bishop in Bjørgvin, Halvor Nordhog, says he is “very disappointed and surprised” by the decision he made at Sagaton School. He is not familiar with other schools that practice an equally strict streak.

– This line contributes to the promotion of a situation in which faith and outlook on life are considered harmful to young people, because people think and believe differently. She does not want to promote a society in which we can live together in openness and tolerance.

– There must be some limits

The leader of the Ethical Humane Society, Christian Lumsdalen, fully agrees with the bishop:

– It cannot be the case that the school permits sports, political, literary or democratic activities and then rejects students who wish to engage in religious or ideological activities during the same period. As long as the initiative comes from the pupils, we should allow the pupils to gather in groups during certain breaks.

However, it takes a small step back:

– There should be some restrictions on these meeting activities. It is important not to be a nuisance to the other disciples.