The Danish Folk High School Adapts to a New World
Denmark s informal, residential schools provide practical work experiences ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————in humanistic, innovative settings. The Danish Folk High School Adapts to a New World merican observers of the Dan Grundtvig and Kold a new dignity ish folk high school movement SAMUEL S. CORL, III__ and pride of heritage. A have marveled at the human The early curriculum of the folk istic bent of these remarkable insti turmoil of the early years shaped high school reflected the nationalistic tutions, and their seemingly anti- these schools, and the ones to follow spirit of Grundtvig and Kold. Stu establishment romanticism. For more them, in natural harmony with both dents came for the winter to study than a century, these schools have the character of the rural Danes who Danish history, world history, geog been unique in their approach to began them, and the political and raphy, Danish language and litera preserving Danish culture, while religious radicalism of the inspirator ture, German, zoology, botany, furnishing a free and open oppor of the movement, Nikolaj Severin geometry, drafting, arithmetic, physi tunity for Danish youth to explore Frederik Gnmdtvig, pastor, poet, cal training, singing, and "intelligence national and world issues and prob and educator. training"—the analysis of moral, lems. Grundtvig railed at the "schools psychological, or statistical subjects. These are schools without credits, of death" which forced literate Danes At R0dding, much of that curriculum without examinations, without grades to abandon their language for the remains today. A typical folk high or certificates of attendance, and stuffy but prestigious Latin of the school, if there is one, offers world often, for Americans, characterized formal schools, and at the insistence and national issues, Swedish gym by a fluid, non-restricting curriculum.
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