Highlighting Finnishness ahead the needs of the Sámi people – education during and after the war years in northern Finland
PhD. Senior lecturer Merja Paksuniemi, University of Lapland, Faculty of Education
This paper is based on the research of impact the Second World War on education in primary schools and teacher training college in northern Finland. This historical research draws a picture of Finnishness as a theme in education, in the light of archival sources. Research was interested in to these questions:
1. How did Finnishness impact on education in primary schools and teacher training college?
2. What influence it had on the pupils?
The data provide the clues how Finnishness was highlighted ahead the needs of minorities and the Sámi people. According to the data education was provided for the pupils but war time brought some changes, highlighting Finnishness was seen in different subjects and teaching materials. The purpose of the school was to strengthen the feeling of Finnishness. Teacher training colleges were functioning during the war years and Finnishness was strongly present in both teaching and free time activities.
Highlighting Finnishness was impacting on education during the war years but also in the aftermath: the teachers who graduated from the teacher training colleges brought their knowledge to the schools. Therefore the theme was remaining for years to come and was affecting the teaching in primary schools long after the war years. It was not taken into consideration that among the pupils were also children with Sámi background. The Finnishness influenced on their lives as well which caused many problems like identity, language, and social impacts. Loosing the schooling was one of the themes. In Finland assimilation happened through and as a result of the ideology of Finnishness.
PhD. Senior lecturer Merja Paksuniemi, University of Lapland, Faculty of Education
This paper is based on the research of impact the Second World War on education in primary schools and teacher training college in northern Finland. This historical research draws a picture of Finnishness as a theme in education, in the light of archival sources. Research was interested in to these questions:
1. How did Finnishness impact on education in primary schools and teacher training college?
2. What influence it had on the pupils?
The data provide the clues how Finnishness was highlighted ahead the needs of minorities and the Sámi people. According to the data education was provided for the pupils but war time brought some changes, highlighting Finnishness was seen in different subjects and teaching materials. The purpose of the school was to strengthen the feeling of Finnishness. Teacher training colleges were functioning during the war years and Finnishness was strongly present in both teaching and free time activities.
Highlighting Finnishness was impacting on education during the war years but also in the aftermath: the teachers who graduated from the teacher training colleges brought their knowledge to the schools. Therefore the theme was remaining for years to come and was affecting the teaching in primary schools long after the war years. It was not taken into consideration that among the pupils were also children with Sámi background. The Finnishness influenced on their lives as well which caused many problems like identity, language, and social impacts. Loosing the schooling was one of the themes. In Finland assimilation happened through and as a result of the ideology of Finnishness.