Høyre Pushes Classroom Greeting Routines to Boost Discipline

Peter Frølich, a member of Norway's Conservative Party (Høyre), is advocating for formal greeting routines in classrooms to reinforce teacher authority and improve classroom calm. Speaking ahead of Høyre’s national meeting at Thon Hotel Gardermoen, Frølich emphasized that basic respect for teachers—such as acknowledging their role as the leader in the classroom—is essential. He noted that while schools must retain autonomy, some structure helps prevent disorder from taking hold. Frølich submitted an amendment to Høyre’s school resolution calling on schools to adopt greeting rituals. These could include students standing until they have greeted the teacher, setting clear expectations from the start of class. During the party’s national meeting, he demonstrated the practice with a group of Young Conservatives delegates seated in the front row. Frølich said such routines teach children fundamental social conduct and respect, which he considers vital life skills. The idea came from personal experience: his son, a sixth grader, reported that the class became less chaotic and students learned more effectively. While he stressed that teachers should choose their own methods, he urged school leaders to consider examples where these practices have received strong positive feedback across all grade levels, from first grade through upper secondary. Frølich acknowledged that discipline alone won’t fix Norway’s education challenges but argued that focus and order are prerequisites for learning. He also confirmed Høyre has dropped its earlier proposal to add an extra school hour for first graders, citing public feedback.