Danish folk high schools

The ideas end practice of Nordfyns folk high schools

By Mogens Godballe
Principal of Nordfyns folk high schools
History of Danish folk high schools:

 175 years old, transition from rule of the king to democracy, farmers
excluded,elite and people, world market changes, cultivation of goods, new
technology and the need for new knowledge
Grundtvig’s learning ideas

 Enliven and educate

 Living interaction between teacher and student
 Life story and experience
 Love and learning
 Dust and spirit
 Enligthenment
The national issue

In 1864 Denmark was reduced with 1/3, survival of the country important
National identity: Mother tongue, history and emotional relation
Build national identity into the breats of the people
The peoples: Population who live in an area and share common identity
The coopeatives and democracy

 One man one vote

 Learning to run own association
 No profit and shareholders
 Cooperatives vs communism
 Value-oriented – profit-oriented
 Participatory democracy
 Democratical practice and skills
 Empowerment
The law of folk high schools

Folk high schools overall agenda:
Enligthenment
Democratic mind ( social and personal
development, German “building”
Peoples mind
Support according to students per week
Boarding school
Formal and informal learning
Students at folk high schools today

 Alternative and holistic learning: Head, heart, body and hands

 To gain the desire to learn
 To socialize and experience community
 To find out of future/life
 To develop own identity
Nordfyns Højskole

 Founded by a Japanese
 Diversity of students: Handicapped, Asians ( Japanese and Chinese)
 A- and B-subjects
 Optional subjects
A day at Nordfyns Højskole

 A permanent structure:
 Morning assembly
 Subjects
 Meals
 Activities
SLUT