OVERWHELMED: Tia Dilara Lona Altinpinar (15) is overwhelmed by everything that has happened after she appeared in the media and told about the school visit on Osterøy. – I had not thought it would be so big. Photo: Private / screenshot Tiktok
––
Tia (15) received several provocative messages after she announced whether the presentation armed police held for her school class. Now she is praised by the Minister of Education and the mayor.
“Take the 200 bus to Kvist and hop thank you”
“Attention Deficit Disorder”
«(…) then you come and make a big case out of it because you just want attention. Idiotic.”
“You’re so late”
These excerpts are taken from the comment field of Tia Dilara Lona Altinpinar (15) on TikTok. They have come after she chose to talk to VG and other media about the armed police showing up at her school and misinforming about both punishment and drugs.
Just three days after she reported the incident, this has happened:
– There have been moments where I have thought that “the case is not that big” and felt stupid. But then I remember everyone who supports me, and everything that has happened since I said no, says Lona Altinpinar to VG three days after she first appeared.
—-ALSO ON FACEBOOK: It’s not just young people who have incited on TikTok and other social media. These comments are written by adults in VG’s comment field on Facebook. Photo: Screenshot, Facebook
––
However, it has not only been easy for the 15-year-old to be a “front figure” in a nationwide media case with a high temperament.
– The worst was when someone at school wrote that I had to take a bus to the Osterøy bridge and jump, she says.
Melby: – They should be ashamed
From Lona Altinpinar to ut a video on TikTok, the comments flowed in. While some were nice and supportive, many were hateful.
Nevertheless, she has taken the time to answer them all, in an attempt to build a bridge with dissidents.
– I have answered them in a nice way. If I answer them badly, I’m just as bad as they are.
– But it can not be just easy to get so many ugly messages?
– I was bullied from first grade to 8th grade, so I have learned not to care about that.
The 15-year-old receives full support from Minister of Education Guri Melby, as before has described the school visit as “outdated and backward”.
– We should be happy that we have students like Tia, who report when there is something they react to and experience that it is not okay.
—-FULL SUPPORT: Minister of Education Guri Melby became heavily involved in the debate on armaments at the school. Now she also strikes a blow for the 15-year-old who dared to speak out. Photo: Xueqi Pang
––
She believes that it is completely unacceptable that Lona Altinpinar is exposed to provocation and threats.
– Those who do it should simply be ashamed. This is not how we should feel.
The 15-year-old thinks the statement of support from Melby makes it easier to stand in the heat.
– I hear that I shit myself out, but now I can point out that Melby agrees with me.
– Felt like school was trying to hang me out
The principal has previously stated to VG that they has received exclusively positive feedback after the police lecture.
Lona Altinpinar is not impressed with how the school has handled the situation. She feels that there is no room for expression in cases that can be perceived as critical of the school.
The 15-year-old says that the teacher, the day after the VG article, started the class with what was perceived as a direct stab at her.
– The principal had obviously asked all the teachers to say that it is illegal to take pictures in the classroom. It felt like they were trying to hang me out.
The principal at the school denies in an email that she has not instructed teachers to warn against taking pictures. She says “teachers at the school have on their own initiative reflected together with the students on current issues”.
Despite a lot of opposition: One teacher took Tia aside, she says.
– He told me how proud he was of me.
Principal: She has our full support
I completely distance myself from the neatness that our student is now exposed to, says principal Hjørdis Østerbø in a written response.
– The student has our full support and knows that our doors are always open. I am sorry for this strain the student has received, and the municipality encourages to report such harassment to the police.
The principal emphasizes that she cannot comment on individual students. On a general basis, she says that the school immediately initiates investigations if they become aware that students feel violated at school.
– If the investigation shows that the student has been violated, we implement measures in collaboration with the student and the home in accordance with current regulations.
—-
Østerbø adds that the school should be a space for expression and reflection together, in a safe environment characterized by mutual respect.
The school will continue to co-operate with local police on crime prevention work, but will henceforth ensure the quality of the content to be presented in advance.
– I have already started discussing the routines for how such visits should take place with the head of the police station on Osterøy. They must be ready before school starts in August, says the principal.
See more of the slides in the photo gallery. The presentation also contained information on traffic safety.
Mayor distances himself – promises to follow up
That is absolutely terrible, says mayor of Osterøy, Lars Fjeldstad (Sp), when he hears about what the 15-year-old has been up to in the last couple of days.
– No matter how much you disagree or agree, there is no excuse for personal attacks, threats or incitement. Of course I distance myself from that.
When VG contacted Fjeldstad on Thursday about the incitement, he promised to take up the matter with the person responsible for growing up in the municipality.
—-DISTANCE: Mayor of Osterøy, Lars Fjeldstad (Sp), distances himself from the incitement that has been fired at one of the students in his municipality. He trusts that the school takes responsibility for handling the situation. Photo: Osterøy municipality
––
– I have had a conversation with the councilor and responsible for growing up. But I follow up again now, he says on Friday.
He does not want to comment on the school’s handling of the case, but says he has full confidence in the school management.
Lona Altinpinar says that this case has made her more eager to get involved in society.
Her best advice to other young people who are incited to speak out:
– Life is too short to listen to idiots. You can not go around worrying about what others think.
–
