THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OF NORWAY
DAVID ALLEN ANDERSON, Ph.D.
RICHARD G. BADGER
THE GORHAM PRESS
BOSTON
Copyright, 1913, by Richard G. Badger
All rights reserved
The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A.
AUTHOR'S PREFACE
This account is a descriptive statement ofthe organization, management, operation,and efficiency of the public school system ofNorway. The intent has been to consideronly the more vital features, those essentials whichdefinitely shape the products of educational endeavor.Many topics of interest have been touched but brieflywhile others have been omitted altogether. Someattention has been given to pointing out good qualitiesof the Norwegian schools and to indicating wherein wemight improve our own.
The materials entering into the make-up of thisdissertation were gathered during a summer andautumn devoted to travel and study in Norway. Muchtime was spent in study at the University Library inChristiania and still more in the visitation of schools.It was with pleasure that I availed myself of the opportunityto see the schools in operation. I observedrecitations throughout the entire program of study inevery grade from the kindergarten to the University.I also visited many special schools and other educationalinstitutions both public and private. Further thanthis, I was benefited by frequent conferences with theleading educators of the country and by almost constantassociations with schoolmen, patrons, and students.[Pg 4]These personal investigations enabled me tobecome familiar with the spirit and work of the schools,and they furnish background for a large part of thecontent of this treatise. Since no adequate account ofthe schools of Norway is in print, the authority for thiswork has been gained chiefly from school laws, annualreports from the Department of Ecclesiastical andEducational Affairs (chiefly statistical), and the individualresearch referred to above.
It was my good fortune to be provided with officialcredentials as holder of a Traveling Fellowship forstudy in Norway from the State University of Iowa; acommission to study the school system of Norwayfrom His Excellency, B. F. Carroll, the Governor ofthe State of Iowa; and a letter of introduction to Norway'seducational executives from Hon. Elmer EllsworthBrown, at that time Commissioner of Educationfor the United States. These credentials had theeffect of intensifying the already superior courtesy andobliging disposition of the Norwegian officials andschoolmen, who gave me free access to every facilityfor the pursuance of my work within the state andvoluntarily offered their cooperation whenever I mightdesire it. Their gracious exemplification of the spiritof brotherly kindness made my work among them aconstant delight. I desire to express my gratitude tothe Norwegians wherever I traveled for the rare cordialitycharacterizing my reception among them and toacknowledge my obligations to J. K. Qvigstad, chef forKirk-og Undervisningsdepartmentet; Knut JohannesHougen, byraachef for Undervisningsvaesen; A. H. Raeder,[Pg 5]Undervisningsraadets formand; Johan AndreasJohnsen, Skoledirektoren i Kristiania stift; Otto AndreasAnd