Bengt Gottfried Forselius facts for kids
Bengt Gottfried Forselius (born around 1660 in Harju-Madise, Estonia, died November 16, 1688, in the Baltic Sea) was a very important person for education in Estonia. He is known as the founder of public schools there. He also wrote the very first ABC-book in the Estonian language. Forselius created a new way to spell Estonian words, which made it much easier for people to learn and read. Along with Johann Hornung, he helped change how the Estonian language was written in the late 1600s. They made the spelling simpler and more consistent.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Bengt Gottfried Forselius was a Swede who was born in Estonia. His father, Johann Forselius, was a pastor from Finland. This meant his family knew about Finnic languages, which are similar to Estonian.
Language Skills
Bengt spoke Estonian very well, along with Swedish and German. He first went to school at the Tallinn (Reval) Gymnasium. Later, he earned a law degree from the University of Wittenberg in Germany.
Starting Public Education
After finishing his studies, Forselius returned to Estonia in 1684. He had a big idea: to create public schools for everyone.
Founding the Teachers' College
Forselius started the first teachers' college in Estonia. It was located at Piiskopi manor (Bishop's Manor) near Tartu. This college was special because it trained Estonian schoolteachers and parish clerks. The course lasted two years. Students learned to read well, studied religion, German, and math. They even learned bookbinding!
New Teaching Methods
Forselius introduced a new and active way of teaching. Instead of just listening, one student would read aloud while the others followed along. This made learning more engaging. In 1686, he created an ABC-book that was used in Estonian schools. This book was a big step in making education available to more people.
Facing Challenges
Not everyone was happy about Forselius's ideas. Some rich Baltic German landowners did not like the idea of peasants getting an education. They complained that students were being taken by the Swedish army or that school fees were too high.
Impressing the King
Forselius decided to show the importance of his schools. He took two of his best students, Ignati Jaak and Pakri Hansu Jüri, to Stockholm. There, they met King Charles XI of Sweden. The King was very impressed by the students' abilities. This helped Forselius gain support for his mission.
Legacy and Impact
Bengt Gottfried Forselius made a huge difference in Estonian education before his early death.
Expanding Schools
By the time he died in 1688, Forselius had founded many schools. He started 38 schools with 800 students in the Estonian parts of Swedish Livonia. He also opened 8 schools with 200 students in Swedish Estonia.
Tragic End
Forselius drowned in a storm on November 16, 1688, in the Baltic Sea. He was returning from Stockholm, where he had just been given an important job. He was appointed inspector of Livonian peasant schools. This new role gave him the power to create as many schools as he thought were needed.
Lasting Influence
After Forselius's death, the Swedish state continued his work. Between 1687 and 1695, they ordered that schools be set up in every Estonian parish. His efforts had a lasting impact. By 1898, a remarkable 97 percent of the Estonian population could read and write. This shows how important Forselius's work was for the future of Estonia.
