The Thirst for Learning, or Protecting One's Niche? The shaping of teacher training in Finland during the 19th and 20th centuries

The expansion in the scale and duration of education, and it overall growth, is one of the striking characteristics of the 20th century. More and more occupational groups have distanced themselves from the leaming‐on‐the‐job tradition in favour of a professional graduate training of many years’ duration. The article examines the historical development of teacher training in Finland against the context of the professionalization tendencies so characteristic of modern society. This examination is focused on teacher training in Finland from its origins in the 1860s to the present day, and explores the perspective of professionalization theory, before studying in greater detail the historical evolution of teacher training in Finland, with especial reference to academic drift. Also the present state of teacher training in Finland, and its future prospects, is analyzed.