Stovner is a district in the Northeast of Oslo. There is a secondary school where teachers were recently delegated to attend an atypical course in which they learned self-defense techniques. This was preceded by the decision of the headmaster of this institution to impose on teachers the obligation to patrol and supervise the school grounds.
The problem with violence
Teachers at the Stovner school in Oslo have long struggled with the problem of violence among students. Their pupils and themselves are often victims of threats or fights, and school walls are victims of acts of vandalism. According to the Dagsavisen newspaper, the situation is so critical that security guards, who until recently kept order, no longer appear in it. Therefore, the head of the institution decided to impose on teachers the obligation to patrol and supervise the school grounds.
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An hour and a half self-defense course
However, it was not decided to leave the employees on their own. In order to solve potentially dangerous situations, they were delegated to an hour and a half self-defense course. The teachers were to learn, inter alia, defense techniques with the use of hands, keeping on one's feet as a result of attempts to throw off balance or freeing oneself from established grips. According to the management, teachers will be better prepared for possible confrontations with aggressive students.
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An hour and a half is definitely not enough
Odd Erling Olsen for the Norwegian Union of Teachers (Norwegian Utdanningsforbundet) believes that the headmaster's decision could have serious consequences for teachers. In his opinion, an hour and a half of a self-defense course is definitely not enough for employees to protect themselves from potentially dangerous situations. In addition, Olsen points out that under applicable law, a teacher abusing a student may be disciplinarily dismissed.
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- If the teacher is forced to use force, it can be very embarrassing for him. Not only for moral reasons, but also for legal reasons. Section 9A of the Education Act expressly guarantees the student the right not to violate his personal integrity, says Odd Erling Olsen in an interview with Dagsavisen.
Is that enough?
As a result of the school in Stovner's problems with violence and aggression among students, the school's principal decided to send teachers to a one and a half hour self-defense course. Employees are supposed to patrol and supervise the school premises, so knowledge of self-defense techniques may be necessary for them to deal with possible confrontations. However, according to Odd Erling Olsen, the school management's actions expose employees to dangerous situations in which they will not be able to cope. Additionally, violating a student's physical integrity may result in disciplinary action dismissal from work.
