If all indices work well for one of IHEYO member organizations, the Norwegian Humanist Youths, school worship, a popular tradition in Norwegian schools, might be on its way into the dustbin of history.
Last year December, the group initiated a project under the slogan “Do not preach in my school and I won’t think in your church” to campaign against school worship.
It was however not a loud action, but a silent protest action which really achieved a lot as it sets the stage for many productive discourses on the place of school worship in the Norwegian education institutions.
The purpose of this campaign, according to Siri Engen, the Deputy Leader of the Norwegian Humanist Youths, was intended to make young people aware that they are not obliged to attend school worship.
The project is not meant to be against religion as some have defined it to mean but rather to highlight the need for the school to be neutral and make everyone welcome regardless of their beliefs; and endeavour to ensure that no one feels excluded, even though the majority are members of the state church.
All members of the Humanistic Youth, most especially members between 15 and 19 years in the parent organization Norwegian Humanist Association got ear plugs and information about the action.
While some youth participants hanged up posters in schools within their local environment, others simply shared the ear plug at schools.
Not minding the level of controversies that it generated, the significance of the campaign is that people became aware that they have a choice when it comes to school church service.