Constructing vocational education capital: An analysis of symbolic values in the Swedish VET system of 1918

Åsa Broberg

doi:10.3384/njvet.2242-458X.20102129

Authors

Åsa Broberg Department of Education, Stockholm University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3384/njvet.2242-458X.20102129

Keywords:

history of vocational education, symbolic capital, educational capital, field of vocational education, sociology of education

Abstract

This article explores ways of creating educational capital in vocational education and training in Sweden during a period in the early 20^th century when vocational learning was first institutionalised as education. As such, at the same time it had to create itself and submit to the established educational system. This process is the focus of the article; it is examined by using concepts from Bourdieu’s capital-theory. In this perspective, vocational education and training as an educational form is considered part of the field of education. However, the main focus of the analysis is the newly formed education for vocational learning as a field of vocational education where a particular vocational educational capital was created. The aim is to illuminate ways of creating vocational education capital by borrowings, crossovers and reinventions of values from two traditions of learning and knowledge production: apprenticeship in the guilds and education in academia. The symbols from both crafts and academia were passed on into the early VET system through its institutions and actors. It materialised in titles, artefacts and rituals that that are presented in archives, journals and school memorial books.

References

Source material (Unpublished)

Source material (Published)

Articles in Tidskrift för praktiska ungdomsskolor (TPU) [Journal of Youth Vocational Schools]

Gesällprovet i verkstadsskolan [The apprenticeship test in vocational schools] 1:1945.

Ett genmäle: Yrkesläraren och teoriundervisningen [A reply: The vocational teacher and theoretical education] 3:1945.

Minnen från gesäll- och vandringsår [Memories from apprentice and wandering years] 9:1946.

Yrkesskoleelever på vansinnesfärd [Vocational school students on a mad journey 5:1955.

Yrkesskolvärlden säger nej [The vocational school says no] 2:1956.

O.W. Andersson – åskans broder – en av de stora i yrkesskolvärlden [O.W. Andersson – the brother of thunder – one of the great men in the vocational school world] 1:1957.

Synpunkter [Opinions] 9:1959.

Hel avslutningsklass klarade gesällprov [Entire class qualified in journeyman’s test] 7:1962.

Yrkesskoledirektör säger ifrån om kränkande rubriker [Vocational school principal refutes offensive headlines] 7:1962.

En fin julklapp [A lovely Christmas present] 9:1962.

Byggnadsutbildning i Hälsingland [Construction education in Hälsingland] 4:1967.

Memory books

Henriksén, J-E. (2008). ESABs Verkstadsskola i Laxå 1949–1971: En historisk återblick på skolan, eleverna och företaget [ESAB’s workshop school in Laxå 1949–1971: A history of the school, the students and the company]. Mjölby: Atremi.

Larsson, S-A. (Ed.) (1991). Från yrkesskola till S:t Eriks Gymnasium [From vocational School to S:t Erik’s Gymnasium]. Stockholm: S:t Eriks Gymnasium.

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