An Overture: A Historical Overview of Political and Cultural Antecedents of the Nordic School System and its Variety of Teacher Education Programmes

Abstract

AbstractTrade and contact between people in the northwest corner of Europe and other parts of the world can be traced far back in time. The attacks and raids of Vikings created terror in parts of Europe, but through Christianization, the people in the north gradually assimilated the values of the other European regions. The transnational Catholic church influenced the order of several societies. Schools in the Nordic region at first provided training for the priesthood. With the Reformation, the transnational influence of the Church was greatly weakened. In the 18th century, societal authorities introduced a new school model: mandatory public school for all. This public school helped spread literacy and more in-depth knowledge of Christianity. Over time, the idea emerged that schools should serve a broader purpose than spreading Christian knowledge; the need for teacher education was recognised as a logical consequence. Substantial improvements to the school system took place through trained teachers and the expansion of schools’ content. The changes in Nordic societies laid the foundation for and were influenced by improvements in the school system, indicating a renewal of the school systems. Teacher education evolved from a seminary-based education with many general education elements, to an extended education.