VOKT programme trains conscientious objectors to prevent school violence

print this

By Pauliina Grönholm
     
      In the teachers’ lounge of the Töyrynummi elementary school in Helsinki, Antto Sierla prepares for recess by putting on a reflector vest. The bright-coloured vests make it easy to see the supervisors in the crowd of children.
      Sierla, a student of data processing at the University of Tampere, began his alternative service as a conscientious objector on Monday.
      "I wanted some variation, and an alternative to working with machines. Instead I wanted to help people on a concrete level."
     
Sierla is one of 17 COs to get the so-called VOKT training.
      The purpose of the programme is to train those doing alternative service to work at schools to help prevent bullying and violence.
      Initiated by the National Council for Crime Prevention, the VOKT project is modelled on a Norwegian idea, adapted to Finnish conditions together with the Non Fighting Generation organisation.
      The COs serve as a link between teachers and the pupils. In the schools they have an office - a so-called cool down room - where pupils can come either on their own initiative, or at the urging of a teacher.
      "The COs do not replace the network of professional educators. They are there when the teachers do not have enough time", says Timo Purjo, the executive director of the organisation.
      Violent crime has been increasing in Finland for ten years running. Purjo feels that it is unfortunate that violence is also increasingly common in the lower grades of school.
     
Taking part in the first course a year ago were ten men, one of whom completed his alternative service in a school in Pihlajamäki in Helsinki, which had an experimental VOKT programme.
      Timo Virtala, head of training at the training centre for conscientious objectors in Lapinjärvi, says that the experiences of VOKT training have been so positive that the programme was continued this year as well.
      One problem has been finding spots for the COs to work. The schools have to pay for the men’s per diem, living, health care, and transport.
      "Depending on the living arrangements, it adds up to between 3,000 and 10,000 euros a year."
      Virtala hopes that schools could get outside financing for the activity.
      Jaana Heporauta, a teacher at the Töyrynummi school, says that a cool down room would make a teacher’s work easier.
     
However, schools can rarely afford to pay for a full-time employee to watch over the room. Sierla’s role at the school is that of an ordinary teaching aide.
      "I appreciate VOKT training, and it certainly helps in the work of a teaching aid", Heporauta says.
      She is not afraid that the school might be labelled as violent. In the lower grades conflicts are mainly minor scuffles during recess, but even those are dealt with immediately.
      "If anything, school is the right place to prevent violence later in life."
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 12.8.2004

More on this subject:
 FACTFILE: What is VOKT?

Links:
  Non Fighting Generation web site
  Educational and Civilian Service Centre in Lapinjärvi

PAULIINA GRÖNHOLM / Helsingin Sanomat
pauliina.gronholm@hs.fi