Högre lärarinneseminariet

Exterior, c. 1910

Högre lärarinneseminariet (The Women's Teacher Seminar) was an institution for the education of female teachers, a female seminary, in Stockholm in Sweden. It was active from 1861 until 1943. It was the first public educational institution of higher academic learning open to women in Sweden.

History

Högre lärarinneseminariet was founded after the so-called Hertha debate, a debate about women's rights caused by the novel Hertha by Fredrika Bremer in 1856. The novel spoke for the legal majority for unmarried women and for the foundation of a school for higher learning for women. The first demand was met in 1858, and Högre lärarinneseminariet was the answer to the second. From 1859, a course for women was held in the capital called Lärokursen för fruntimmer (The Learning Course For Women) which became highly popular and which were to be incorporated in the institution upon its foundation.

Högre lärarinneseminariet was inaugurated in Stockholm 1 October 1861. The first head of the institution was Hilda Elfving, governess of Princess Louise of Sweden. It was organized according to the rules set by Jane Miller Thengberg in 1864, which was regarded as an innovation and made it the place for study trips from schools all over nationwide.[1]

The foremost purpose of the seminary was the academic education of female teachers for the public elementary schools and girls schools. The study period was three years with a voluntary additional year. In 1873, the universities in Sweden were opened to females, but the female students were initially rare, and during the 1880s, Högre lärarinneseminariet was still described as the foremost center for the female academics.[2] As academic education to females became more accessible, however, the institution eventually became considered unnecessary, and it was finally closed in 1943.

Statens normalskola för flickor

In addition to the female seminary, a middle school was founded in 1864, called Statens normalskola för flickor. It was the first governmental girl school in the country. The students could apply to it after four years elementary education and graduate after seven years. It was intended to be a test school for the Högre lärarinneseminariet, had the same principal and was overseen by the same governmental direction, and regarded as the role model for the modern, academic type of girl school.

Notable students

Högre lärarinneseminariet counted many notable students, such as Emilia Fogelklou, Selma Lagerlöf, Valborg Olander, Jeanna Oterdahl, Anna Maria Roos, Anna Sandström, Alice Tegnér and Anna Whitlock.

References

  1. ↑ Jane Miller Thengberg, urn:sbl:9352, Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (art av Gunilla Karlsson), hämtad 2015-01-03.
  2. ↑ A Gurli Linder, urn:sbl:10521, Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (art av Lena Kåreland), hämtad 2015-01-03.

Coordinates: 59°20′05″N 18°04′34″E / 59.3348°N 18.0760°E