Uno Cygnaeus
Uno Cygnaeus, born in 1810, holds a revered position in Finnish education as the father of the country's public school system. Cygnaeus' lasting impact includes advocating for the separation of schools from church supervision, founding a teacher training college, and introducing crafts (sloyd or veisto in Finnish) as a mandatory subject in schools.
Cygnaeus' innovative approach emphasized the significance of women's education, high-class teacher training, and the mandatory inclusion of crafts in the curriculum. His plan laid the foundation for the 1866 folk school regulation, which made the sloyd system compulsory for boys in rural schools and male teachers in training institutions. This approach, focusing on practical skills such as working with metals and wood, has endured in Finnish education, with the continuation of educative handicrafts as compulsory subjects like textile work and technical work in the present day.
Original Photograph
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Restored Photograph
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Photo Information
Original photo courtesy of the Finnish Heritage Agency
Photographer: Unknown
Year: 1850s
Link to original photo here
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