KRAFT I ARM OCH MOD I BARM. Fäktundervisning i skolan 1874-1920

Sammanfattning

The purpose of this paper is to provide clarity into the poorly understood topic of mandatory fencing in the Swedish education system. Sweden, like many other European nations, was subject to strong nationalistic winds during the 19th century, from which the idea of a citizen soldier arose. By making fencing part of the school curriculum the Swedish state hoped to invigorate its male population, with the ultimate goal of reclaiming the nation's status as a military superpower. This paper explores the topic by using qualitative research methods to observe the internal debate in the official journal for physical education teachers between the years 1874 and 1920. What status did fencing as a school subject have? How was it implemented and what was taught? What obstacles did it face? How did it vary between the bourgeoisie and the peasantry? How did it vary over time?The findings show a school subject that was heavily regulated and propped up by both the state and conservative gymnasts of the Swedish Ling tradition. Ultimately, neither the military nor the educators themselves could prove any real benefits of the Swedish fencing experiment, and it was silently declared a failure. The material shows a clear dissonance between state regulation and practical reality, where a period of nearly 40 years passed between fencing losing its hold over physical education and the state officially discarding it. What purpose our physical education serves is still a relevant topic today. In a time where traditional team games are being criticized for putting too much pressure on our youth, it is worth remembering that the same subject once served the purpose of preparing children for battlefield combat.