There has been an uproar among the parents of the children at Giella’s Sami preschool in Jokkmokk.
This after a letter from 30 parents who do not want their children to be mixed up with those who are worse at Sami.
Two of those who were behind the letter are also elected Sámi politicians, one of them Lars-Miguel Utsi, party leader in Guovssonásti and member of the committee for the Sámi School Board.
– That’s fine, I left it directly to the chairman of the committee. I don’t know if it was a matter of ignorance or not, but it’s unfortunate because the board’s trust is getting a thorn, says the Sami School Board’s head of school Anna-Karin Länta, to NSD.
“Not a strange thing”
Parents the newspaper has spoken to call it a scandal.
Utsi himself admits that he was aware that a standoff would arise, but still chose to be part of the letter.
– I don’t see it as strange. Children have their rights and I must be allowed to privately express my child’s needs. Then there will be a situation in the committee where I am, of course, rude, but I was clear about that to the chairman and have not been involved in the consideration of the case, he tells NSD.
Refers to research
When asked whether trust in him or the committee may have been damaged:
– I don’t know how people take it, but maybe my confidence is affected. In this particular case, I chose to put my child’s needs first.
He further says that those who are behind the letter want to see a change where they lean towards research.
– Just like the research we point to, children must be taught at their own level in order to develop and take an interest in the language. Challenged without it being too difficult, he says.