At the Roots of Finnish Elementary Education –How Were Children Raised in the First Finnish Elementary Schools?

• Main Authors: Satu UUSIAUTTI, Merja PAKSUNIEMI, Kaarina MÄÄTTÄ
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kura Publishing 2013-03-01
• Series: International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education
• Subjects: Education; History of Education; Finnish Educational System; Child Raising; Elementary Education.IntroductionNowadays; in developed countries such as Finland; both parents of the vast majority of families with children under school age are in full-time employment. Along with the changes in working life; the role of day-care centers and schools in rearing has strengthened (Määttä & Uusiautti; 2012). Professionals define what is good child rearing and what kind of rearing should be implemented inside citizens’ homes. The rearing task has become professionalized Satu Uusiautti; P. O. Box 122; 96101 Rovaniemi; Finland; Elementary Education
• Online Access: https://iejee.com/index.php/IEJEE/article/view/19/17

This study dissects the history of Finnish elementary education and the way children were raised during the initial phase of Finnish education in the 18th century. The development of Finnish education was studied through contemporary decrees and laws and studies of Finnish school history. The preliminary aim was to focus on the principles and practices of raising children in Finnish schools. This study focuses on (1) describing the birth, goals, and practices of Finnish elementary education and development toward compulsory education, (2) describing the way children were raised toward the contemporary goals, and (3) dissecting the connection between teacher training and the goals of raising children in Finnish schools. All these viewpoints are discussed from the viewpoint of how the aspirations and objectives were realized and implemented in practice in raising children. As a conclusion, we discuss the influence of the past in today’s educational practices.