Norway's Unteachables

A new application blank--a new attempt at corruption--went last week to the schoolteachers of Norway, inviting them to sign up with the Quisling Teachers Union, or Laerersamband. The Laerersamband has had everything but members. The new blanks were coaxers. "Providing political propaganda or similar work in conflict with my conscience is not prescribed." they read, "I may be regarded as a member. . . ." This was ingratiating, but Norway's teachers were unimpressed.

Like the unbreakable clergy of their country, they have earned a conspicuous place in the anti-Nazi Book of Martyrs. Three months later the fight began in earnest. Quisling ordered all pupils between ten and 16 to join the Nazi Youth Movement, all teachers to join the Laerersamband.

While their pupils were clubbed in schoolrooms by storm troopers, about 98% of Norway's teachers refused to sign up with the Quisling Union. Quisling closed the schools for a month. When that failed, he gave the go-ahead to the Gestapo. Arrests in Norway totaled around 2,000, and 1,000 teachers went to concentration camps. Remembering colleagues who had been herded off to the Kirkenes mines, above the Arctic Circle, Norwegian teachers last week were in no mood to be coaxed.

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