The future of the Norwegian school..

After the resignation of the former Minister of Knowledge, Øystein Djupedal, his fellow party member, Bård Vegard Solhjell, has become the new wise man of education and knowledge in Norway. New minister, new policies - one of mr. Solhjell`s policies is to make the Norwegian primary and secondary school less theoretical.

The criticism from the Right is that SV (the Socialist Left Pary) and the rest of the Left is hysterically afraid of differences in the school. They want to make everything the same for everybody, not offering the more theory-hungry pupils what they want.

I agree in the criticism of the Right Party, but at the same time I realise that it is immensely hard for a lot of schools to offer adapted programs for all students. From my own experience as a teacher, I know that students are very different. And I know that it is really hard, to make the classes suit everybody`s learning style. And it is certainly true, as SV claims (and it is something that a lot of pupils, teachers, parents, politicians, and other realise, too), that a lot of students find a lot of theory boring.

At the same time, there are some students that find theory interesting and stimulating. These pupils should have the possibility of delving into theoretic subjects. In my opinion, these students should be viewed and appreciated as an asset for Norway. Of course we need the children that will go on to become construction workers, truck drivers, hairdressers, bakers, and plumbers. But we also need the more theoretically gifted pupils, and should nurture their talents. To do otherwise would be a grave mistake.