Elevrådslederes Phoenix Wells og engasjerte demonstranter i Bergen.
Folkehøgskolen betyr mye, både for enkeltmennesker og for samfunnet. Derfor samlet elever fra ni folkehøgskoler på Vestlandet seg i Bergen 26. oktober for å demonstrere mot de foreslåtte kuttene i statsbudsjettet.
Initiativet kom fra våre egne elever, Ylva og Phoenix, som bidro til å samle et sterkt engasjement på tvers av skolene. Nedenfor kan du lese appellen som ble holdt av elevrådsleder Phoenix under demonstrasjonen.
Democracy is not the law of the majority, but the protection of the minority.
Every year, around 10% of Norway’s youth, along with hundreds of international students like myself, have the privilege of attending Folkehøgskule. Though we have only been at Folkehøgskule for two months, the impact of its unique environment has been huge. Folkehøgskule allows us to slow down, to simply live for once; it allows us to discover ourselves and who we wish to be. It allows us to be passionate, to grow, and to get outside of our comfort zones.
At Fana Folkehøgskule, we read global politics every morning. Recently, there seems to be a common theme of disconnect between nations’ governments and their youth. The youth do not feel heard. We do not feel heard. We are here today in response to the politicians who seek to destroy the institutions that we love. We will not allow that. We will not allow this budget to steal the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that Folkehøgskule brings. We will not allow for Folkehøgskule to only be reserved for the wealthy.
There are politicians who argue that Folkehøgskule is similar to a one year university program. As someone who attended university for one year, I can confidently say that there is no equivalent to Folkehøgskule.
My parents hardly recognize the person who I’ve become since coming to Fana. Folkehøgskule makes us all better by bringing us together, whether we can afford it or not, whether we choose university or not, whether we would normally spend time in the same places or not.
“Norge er dere. Norge er oss,” the great late King Harald famously spoke of a Norway that is inclusive, one that is fair. That is the Norway that I envisioned when I chose to come here from the United States. The proposed budget poses a direct attack on this promised Norway. It is a threat against the livelihood of Norway’s youth; which is why it warms my heart to see so many faces in front of me today who oppose such a ridiculous, and out of touch, proposal.
It is estimated that the budget could bankrupt 25 Folkehøgskules, but it is impossible to fully predict the consequences of these funding cuts. Who knows just how much of the love, passion, creativity, and innovation that we see today is a result of Folkehøgskule. Folkehøgskule does not only change its students’ lives, but their communities, cities, and Norway as a whole.
Folkehøgskule er for alle, en utdanning for livet.
Ylva Sande Gunnarson, Phoenix Wells, Agnes Tvinnereim frå Fana folkehøgskole