Technology as the language of schooling: utopian visions of technology in Swedish general education in the 1960s

The interviewees were Sten Bülow (the national authority on the subject before Skoglund. After Skoglund took over, he became a local authority on the subject in Stockholm), Bertil Forsberg (an engineer who wrote one of the first textbooks on the subject of Technological orientation in the mid-1960s), Barbro Granlind (a teacher who participated in one of the development projects of the 1960s), Bertil Lydén (a teacher who worked together with Skoglund to develop technology education during the 1960s), Ulf Sellergren (who was deeply involved in the curriculum reform studied, mostly engaged in the science subjects), and Gösta Skoglund (national authority for technology education in Sweden in the mid-1960s and the individual who headed the work with the new technology syllabus). These interviews were conducted with Skoglund several times, Lydén a couple of times, and the rest once. Most interviews lasted about half an hour, but the ones with Skoglund up to 2 h.

Such as the making of educational programs for the radio in the areas of laundry, aviation, and mass production in late 1960s. In the area of laundry, the pupils were introduced to the history of laundry, some basic principles of laundry, how these principles had been transformed by new technology, and some basics about modern washing machines, including safety (Granlind et al. 1967). Skoglund was responsible for the educational programs for the radio on the subjects of laundry and aviation, these were made in 1968; that is, after the project and the syllabus. Regarding mass production, a Christmas Goat was to be produced from iron plate and the idea was that this would illustrate some principles of mass production. It became widely used in schools. Interview with Lydén on 20th October, 2008 and 13th October, 2010 (telephone). Interview with Sten Bülow, 4th February, 2009 (telephone). There were also efforts from employers’ associations such as Svensk Verkstadsförening (Swedish Engineering Employers’ Association) who suggested the construction of a plummet, which at the same time would illustrate principles of rationalization and cost effectiveness. Interview with Lydén on 13th October, 2010 (telephone).

Interview with Skoglund on 17th January 2009. According to Skoglund, the glass industry provided the school with a glass oven suited for work in the classroom.

One can read about the making of the film in the local newspaper Barometern (See Skolfilm… 1966). The film was released in March, 1967, according to the newspaper Barometern (Emmabodafilm… 1967).

Interview with Lydén on 20th October, 2008 (telephone).

See footnote 7.

As Genmarker and Forsberg’s textbooks were phased out and only approach the idea of spheres of work from a very narrow and engineering-focused perspective, I focus on the idea as developed by Skoglund and Lydén.

Interview with Lydén on 20th October, 2008 (telephone); Interview with Forsberg on 29th January, 2009 (telephone).

Interview with Lydén on 4th December, 2008 (telephone).

Interview with Skoglund on 3rd December, 2008 (telephone).

All other main actors of that time that I managed to contact and that are still alive all stressed in some way the utopian character of Skoglund’s ideas independent of each other: Interview with Bert Forsberg on 29th January, 2009 (telephone); Interview with Sten Bülow on 4th February, 2009 (telephone); Interview with Bertil Lydén on 20th October 2008 (telephone); Interview with Barbro Granlind on 12th February, 2009 (telephone).

Interview with Bertil Lydén on 20th October, 2008 (telephone).

Interview with Skoglund on 28th November 2008.

Interview with Bertil Lydén on 13th October 2010 (telephone).