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Historisk tidskrift 132:4 • 2012

Innehåll (Contents) 2012:4

Uppsatser (Articles)

Folkskoleinspektionen och moderniseringen av folkskolan i Sverige 1860–1910

Jakob Evertsson

Fulltext (pdf)

Summary

School inspection and the modernization of the elementary school in Sweden 1860–1910

The elementary school has often been ascribed a decisive role in the modernization process that took place in Sweden from the middle of the nineteenth century. The school inspection that was instituted in 1861, and whose purpose was to improve and harmonize teaching, had an important role in this development. International research has pointed to a connection between school inspection and modernization of school teaching in many countries. In Sweden, however, the practice of inspection has not been explored at any length related to the educational changes. This article investigates the role of the school inspection in the modernization of the elementary school in Sweden during the period 1860–1910 through the inspection reports from the diocese of Uppsala.

The investigation shows that school inspectors performed an important function in the development towards a broadened citizen education when the number of pupils taught in history and geography grew while religious catechism teaching was reduced in favour of biblical history. Another finding is that the inspectors contributed significantly to the professionalization and strengthening of the professionalization of elementary school teachers. This took place through regular evaluations of teaching and the encouragement of teachers to participate in elementary school teaching seminars.

Keywords

Sweden, nineteenth century, history of education, elementary school inspection, elementary school teachers, modernization, nation build

ing, professionalization.