From the fear of God to morals : The transition from the school curriculum of 1900 to the curriculum of 1919 as it relates to the professionalization of the teaching profession

This study compares the curriculum for public school from 1900 with the curriculum from 1919 in Sweden. From the second half of the nineteenth century, teaching as a new profession took form. Reforms within and between the Swedish government and the Church of Sweden collaborated to turn school as an institution into a governmental concern rather than a church matter, as it was before. The teachers' new professionalism in turn affected the idea of what school should contain. New reforms resulted in a new curriculum, established in 1919. The new curriculum presented a different view on the teacher's role than before. Earlier, the individual teacher chose more freely exactly what subject matters were to be taught. Democratic and industrial revolutions also changed the focus and purpose of education. Instead of putting the fear of God in the pupils, which the catechism stood for, the life and teachings of Jesus became the new form of Christian moral code taught in schools. The teacher was not above all else a representative of God, but instead a competent leader who raised and socialized a new generation of industry workers