something's rotten

I have been walking a lot during this year's first month. It's nothing revolutionary, nothing new. It gives me time to listen to great music - and space and time to think. Recently I've been thinking about my profession.

I'm a teacher. Norway's prime minister, Jens Stoltenberg, announced in his New Years speech that Norway has to put more emphasize on education since Norwegian students and pupils alike are falling behind in European tests like PISA. Media goes bananas and tells us that our kids are lazy, dumb and not motivated for school. Furthermore, school is a joke, a playground, a place to keep our children when we work and make our way up the career ladder. And even more importantly, society blames the politicians and politicians blame schools and their teachers. There is no more discipline, teachers are not well educated and they cannot handle our children in a responsible way... Reform panic has created mayhem, it's all chaos. Doom's day is here.

I agree, something IS definitely rotten in Norway.

We're too well off. We're a playground. We're the laughing stock of the new century. And why? We have the fatal impression that we're all well off because of our newfound wealth. This leads to the ill conclusion among many that they'll be okay whatever work they put into school. Look at our university system, it's easy to sleep through it and get by, and if you flunk? Well, you'll be okay. Of course, a handsome few make the best out of it and excel within their fields. It's not all bleak. But many, many kids lack motivation, they see the world of consumerism around them and they are fed up on new iPods and flatscreens every Christmas. What's the point of learning about history and science when you'll be a real estate agent like your father? Next, parents are shying away from their real responsibility here. Unfortunately, it's often the men. 3 out of 4 parents who are involved in their kids school are mothers... Where are the damn fathers? Are they really too busy for their own kids' education?

The responsibility is shared for the situation. It's society's problem, it's my problem and it's your problem. We're all in it knee deep. The irony is, we live in high times, salary is good and there's cash flow for most people - and when a country runs well, especially in Norway we doze off in the global race of educational excellence. Look at India and China, there it is a matter of life and death. A matter of happiness and desperation. If you don't succeed in your field you're out of the game.

In Norway, we have the impression that we're all in the game. Problem is, we're stuck on level 1 for now. And who will suffer? Our kids, and then our society.

I'll try to do my best, try a little harder everyday, teach our kids to excel, to be good citizens and above all - good human beings. And I'll keep on walking.

in the press

Artikkelen Åpenbaringer i Transkaukasia kom på trykk i Dagsavisens søndagsutgave sist helg og ligger nå ute på nett.

Det er akkurat ganske nøyaktig ett år siden planleggingen av fjorårets tourcaucasus begynte og det er moro å se at artikkelen endelig fant et hjem. Sysler med noen nye idéer til andre reisereportasjer - jeg har funnet gleden i å skrive igjen ved siden av å ta bilder. Det er en fin kombinasjon og ikke minst... en åpenbaring.

God tur!

white spaces

winter's first alpine adventure in åre, sweden, tastes good - finding peace and enjoying life's good gifts

Pressemelding

... two days to go
Originally uploaded by mortsan.

Look Up, Look Out - en fotoutstilling om å løfte blikket
Fotografier av fotografene David Shanks og Morten Oddvik

Bakklandet Skydstasjon
Åpner Lørdag 19.01.2008


Utstillingen fokuserer på arbeidene til to Trondheimstilhørende herrer med fotografi som et stort kreativt fokus. Utstillingen inneholder fotografier fra Japan, Kina, Georgia, Egypt, Skottland, Frankrike og Trondheimsprovinsen Svartlamon samt andre Trondheimsbydeler.

Fotografiene er i hovedsak i svart-hvitt og utstillingens tittel henspiller på å løfte blikket for den observante vandrer, den som reiser i gjennom, den stundesløse, den rastløse, øyet bak kameraet. For den som evner å se forbi hverdagens og stereotypenes slør kan se de små glipene, hakkene, imperfeksjonene og alt det iboende vakre i nettopp det som unnslipper.

Samtidig har fotografiene en løs referanseramme rundt forholdet mellom subjekt og objekt, hvordan påvirker fotografens inntreden i scenen? I hvor stor grad forandres motivet med fotografens blikk og den som etterpå studerer fotografiet?

Fotografiske åpenbaringer på Baklandet Skydstasjon fra lørdag 19.01.2008.

Happy New Year!

Goodbye 2007, welcome 2008! Feeling good. :-)