S rents municipal music school until May 1: "Limits to opinion registration"

When the Social Democrats in Borlänge celebrate the first of May on Sunday, they will traditionally be accompanied by the Borlänge Schools Music Corps (BSM).

The orchestra consists of students in the city's municipal music school and is taught by the school's music teacher.

DT's Jens Runnberg thinks it is problematic that a student orchestra under the auspices of the municipality is hired to play the International on the first of May.

That it is voluntary for the students to participate does not matter, he says.

- They are faced with the question: "Do you want to be involved in forming an opinion for the Social Democrats?".

This is a question that you should not have to answer, this is a municipal administration.

- It borders on opinion registration to find out whether the students should participate in a demonstration train for S or not.

"A diffuse level"

Borlänge Music School's principal Boo Egebjer says that it is BSM's parents' association that has chosen to rent out the orchestra to the Social Democrats.

- It does not happen within my decision-making.

The parents' association earns a living by renting out the orchestra.

The party politics is boiled down to a very diffuse level, except for the purely visual then.

But the orchestra is kept under your direction.

It's your students and your staff?

- It would be a problem if the gig was an assigned task on the part of the school.

Then it would be deeply problematic and definitely no.

But when it comes to the association, it ends up under the freedom of association.

Jens Runnberg does not buy principal Boo Egebjer's explanation.

He thinks that the municipal music school abdicates its responsibility.

- The music school does not have any integrity when they can be hired for this.

In the long run, it is open to any political forces willing to rent this music school for anything.

S: "Gets naughty"

The Social Democrats in Borlänge do not understand Jens Runnberg's criticism.

- Anyone can contact the municipal music school and offer a gig.

If they do not think this is right, they do not have to say yes.

There is absolutely no pressure from our side, says chairman Erik Nises.

How do you see that the students need to decide whether to play for S or not?

- No one is "forced" to take a stand.

It's going to be awkward.

No one is allowed to continue playing the trombone in music school if they do not play.

Orchestras have been playing on the first of May in Borlänge for over a hundred years.

No one has ever been forced.