Reform Pedagogy Meets History Education in the Writings of Four Norwegian Gymnasium Teachers (1917–1954)

Abstract

This article explores relationships between ideas of reform pedagogy and conceptions of history education in the writings of four Norwegian upper secondary school history teachers who worked at the same rural gymnasium, Eidsvoll landsgymnas (ELG), between 1936 and 1939. While expressing support for certain principles of reform pedagogy, their ideas of purposes, content, and methods of history education varied considerably. This article demonstrates diversity within Norwegian reform pedagogy. Although these teachers could agree in criticism of the “old school” and in support of more student-centred and active education, their conceptions of history, as well as their goals for societal development, differed greatly. While one of the teachers saw strengthening national identity as the main goal of history education, others emphasised history education’s role in education for democracy.