Agenda spreads myths about independent schools

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In an article in Aftenposten on 12 November, I called for a more knowledge-based independent school debate.

Axel Fjeldavli in the think tank Agenda, who has replied to me, makes no attempt to contribute to such a debate in his post on 17 November.

He continues to spread myths and contributes to the same confusion as the government does, by not distinguishing between publicly funded independent schools and privately funded private schools.

He then spreads myths about the school system in other countries, about the consequences for society of students going to independent schools, about what Norwegian political parties think about independent schools, and about how the independent school students, if there are too many, can “undermine” the public school “community-building function”.

But Fjeldavli knows what kind of independent schools Norway needs. He sees and builds society from above.

The independent schools, on the other hand, grow from below. They come because students, parents, teachers and other zealots have ideas on how they can contribute to creating good schools for even more people.

If everyone is to participate, there must also be schools that are suitable for everyone.

Kristin Clemet, manager, Civita