ABSTRACT
In most countries such as Scandinavia, it is possible to trace the history of education and schooling. Our history reaches back a 1,000 years when the church was established. This event is worth mentioning because its history in many respects has paralleled that of education. We can see this correspondence to this day. Laws for elementary and secondary school still reflect the Christian-humanistic view, especially in the phrasing of educational goals for children and youth. From 1739 to the present, our school laws for compulsory elementary education express the unique worth of every child and student. As human beings, children and youngsters have rights and responsibilities, too. This recognition is consistent with our Constitution which dates back to 1814. Although it must be admitted that such concepts as individualization and equal rights came to the fore much later, they were still present in the philosophical background that influenced the first special schools for people with visual and hearing impairments established more than 150 years ago.
