High school students should not be required to come to school or participate in the 17th of May Barnetog (Children's parade).
"Skolen (som regel i samarbeid med foreldrene) kan organisere aktiviteter på 17.mai, men det er ikke obligatorisk å møte opp. Tidligere var deltakelse i 17.mai-toget obligatorisk for elever og klassestyrere i grunnskolen. Nå er deltakelse frivillig, og foreldre har delvis overtatt lærernes vaktrolle." (ung.no, cited Elev- og lærlingsombudet i Oslo)
English: The school (usually in cooperation with parents) can organize activities on May 17th, but participation in these is not compulsory. Participation in the May 17th parade used to be compulsory for students in elementary school. Now, participation is optional, and parents have partly taken over responsibility for overseeing activities.
We think that we should be exempt from participation in the parade because:
a. We are high school students (grades 9-12) and the parade is for students grades 1-7,
b. May 17th is the Norwegian Constitution Day; a public holiday,
c. Schools do not have the discretion to require participation in May 17th activities, as quoted above from the Student and Apprentice Ombudsman
d. We, Norwegian students especially, want to celebrate our constitution day with friends and family, not in a compulsory parade which may occur in a different city from where we live (i.e. if the student lives in Sandnes)
