We manage to connect with Svein Harberg, Vice President of the Parliament, who also has several years of experience as the Mayor of Grimstad, where Leander is about to start at the junior high school.
We engage in a lengthy and insightful conversation with Harberg. Here, they both agree that there should be a maximum number of weeks between applying for support and receiving a response. Waiting a year for a child of school age is far too long, and none of us can afford to wait for this. These children need help promptly.
Svein Harberg generously provides us with Henrik Aasheim’s private mobile number, a move that Leander appreciates, although he’s still not entirely convinced that he is being heard.
8. Svein Harberg
6. Leander’s Quest to Be Heard by the Adults
The day is still young, and our journey continues:
We have a scheduled meeting with TV 2 and Elevkanalen, where we meet Fiona Sand right after our interview with UNICEF.
Leander is deep in thought today and is starting to feel a bit frustrated that the people we meet aren’t truly listening to him. The responses we receive from those on the street and in our conversations are empty and unsatisfying.
We decide to grab a bite to eat and sit down for a delicious Chinese buffet with Frida, Amalie, and Fiona.
Around the table, we engage in a lively discussion, during which Fiona shares insights about Elevkanalen.
Leander’s frustration is growing, and it’s evident that this issue deeply affects him; he wants to be taken seriously. Before our next interview with Health Minister Kjerkol, we must sit down and have a chat.
This conversation is crucial; while we are scheduled to meet Health Minister Kjerkol, the discussion we need to have now takes precedence.
Leander offers me a glimpse into his world, a world where he feels older in his thoughts and ideas than he appears on the surface. He is angry because he feels that adults talk over him. “Talk to us, children; not about us!” he passionately asserts.
We decide to take a more systematic approach.
We settle in at Kanalplassen and begin making calls. We try to reach the Minister of Education, but she is unavailable. We are informed that there is someone who knows a great deal about this issue. Henrik Aasheim is the right person to discuss this with, according to Brenna’s advisor, in an SMS to us.
Fun time!
As the evening draws near, we gather for a meal at a restaurant, joining several other members of the ChildPress team. Leander is eager to recharge, for he has an exciting plan ahead—he’s heading to the cinema to watch “Oppenheimer” (an impressive feat for a 10-year-old). It’s a well-deserved break for him, and we’re all looking forward to some quality relaxation! 😊
4. Leander and Amalie’s Viral Interview with Norway’s Chief of Defense at Ukraine Event
We took a brief break from our project to attend the “Ukraine: The Road out of War” event. Here, Leander and Amalie had the opportunity to conduct an exceptional interview with Norway’s Chief of Defense, Eirik Kristoffersen. Their video quickly went viral, garnering thousands of views.
A former editor and senior executive at NRK commented on Chief of Defense Kristoffersen’s Facebook page, stating, “These were the best questions posed by a Norwegian journalist since the Ukraine War began!”
Additionally, we managed to secure a brief interview with Anniken Huitfeldt, which, though concise, offered some valuable insights.
3. Former Minister’s Encounter with Leander Highlights Urgent Issues in Education
We commence our search for potential allies and receive a tip that former Minister of Education, Jan Tore Sanner, will be at Sam Eydes Square in a few minutes. We decide to head there.
Upon arriving, we manage to catch him for a brief moment, though he’s clearly in a hurry.
Leander becomes somewhat upset by his responses, feeling that he wasn’t speaking with him but merely at him, sensing a lack of willingness to truly listen. “Take it up with your teacher,” Sanner told Leander. This remark provokes Leander, and we delve deeper into his thoughts and emotions.
Here, we gain a more comprehensive understanding of how deeply this issue affects him. We sit down for a conversation. “Talk to us kids. If it were that easy to address with the teacher, I wouldn’t have to be here, shedding light on what I’m doing so openly. No, this man was completely out of touch,” Leander expressed.
2. We are meeting the mayoral candidates for a debate at the Library, organized by ChildPress
Leander introduces his thoughts to Arendal’s mayoral candidates.
During this exchange, certain ideas come to life among the politicians, and they realize that they need to delve deeper into these matters with Leander!
So, right here, an overwhelming show of support for Leander’s cause begins to emerge.
ChildPress Ordførerdebatt from ChildPress on Vimeo.
1. Introduction
Leander has committed himself as a journalist for ChildPress for the second consecutive year. He is what we commonly refer to as gifted, possessing an above-average IQ, a quick learner, and often displaying a greater social understanding than his peers.
Leander believes that the conditions for gifted children in Norway are unacceptable, and he is determined to take action. Monday morning marks the beginning of our quest to find individuals who can assist Leander in raising awareness of these issues.
According to the Education Act (insert link to the legislation), it is explicitly stated that gifted children who learn quickly do NOT have the right to special education.
In addition to seeking out the right decision-makers, we will also investigate what politicians know about gifted children and whether they are aware of this provision in the legislation. The results may surprise you.
The hunt is now underway!