Grundtvig—the Key to Danish Education?

The aim of this article is to help clarify N. F. S. Grundtvig's influence on the history of education in Denmark, in particular the comprehensive school. Is this school a result of Grundtvig's achievements? Or is Grundtvig receiving credit due to a misinterpretation of the history of education of the twentieth century? We claim that the latter is the case, and we will show this by a comparison of the development of comprehensive schools throughout Scandinavia. Although Danish school history in general cannot be explained in reference to Grundtvig, he is nonetheless significant in the understanding of many of the particularities that characterise Danish history. A case based on the Free School Act and the rights of minorities will show this towards the end of the article.