Fredrik Glad Balchen
Encyclopedia
Fredrik Glad Balchen was a Norwegian
deaf teacher.
and studied Theology
at the University of Oslo
. In addition, Balchen taught at Broch
& Nissen
's public Latin- and grammar school
.
In 1846, the King of Norway announced state stipend
to a person educating for in turn to establish a school for the Deaf in South Norway
. The only school for the deaf in Norway at that time was located in Trondheim
. Balchen asked for the stipend, stating that he first wanted to study in Trondheim, and secondly in Germany
.
The executive board at the deaf school in Trondheim were sceptical towards Balchen, apparently because of his lack of religious education. However, Balchen gained in 1847 a half-a-year stay at the school. Here, he studied the French orthography
, which was taught and used at the school. The Norwegian Government granted him shortly thereafter a sum of 250 Norwegian speciedaler
for a three-months study trip to Germany.
Balchen visited some of the most important German deaf schools, and met among others the teacher and inspector Friedrich Moritz Hill at the deaf school in Weißenfels
. Balchen returned to Norway in 1847, and started teaching two deaf girls the following year. In 1849, he received state support for this practice.
There were in the beginning only three to five students at his school—which was named Christiania Døvstumme-Institut, but as time passed, more students came, and Balchen bought boarding rooms in the area for students hailing from the suburbs. Later, Balchens started a class for students he considered qualified fo studying. Two of the students—Lars Havstad
and Halvard Aschehoug—took examen artium with good grades in 1871. Balchen's school became very popular and well-reputated, and even students from far-abroad, travelled to Norway to become taught at his school.
In 1857, the school was moved from Karl Johans Street—approximately where Grand Hotel
is today—to Schafteløkken
at Elisenberg
, Frogner
. The school stayed here until 1891, when it was relocated to Vibes gate at Hegdehaugen
. Five years later, the school was nationalised.
granting the deaf, blind and mentally handicapped the right to compulsory education. A such law took effect for the deaf 1 July 1883, and later for the blind and mentally handicapped in 1885 and 1891, respectively. Balchen ceased being leader for the deaf school in 1891, and died 1899, 84 years old.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
deaf teacher.
Personal and early life
Balchen was born in Bergen, Norway to Johan Peter Balchen (1783–1827) and his wife Christiane Wilhelmine Gulbrandsen (1789–1819). His mother died when Fredrik was four years old, and his father when he was twelve. He married Benjamine Walgerda Heiberg (1845–1926) 16 September 1869, who was a daughter of Caspar Cappelen Heiberg (1814–1855) and Emilie Christine Hansine Bjertnæs (1824–1865).Career and education
Balchen took examen artiumExamen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
and studied Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
. In addition, Balchen taught at Broch
Ole Jacob Broch
Ole Jacob Broch was a Norwegian mathematician, physicist, economist and politician. Broch was born in Fredrikstad, the son of war commissary Johan Jørgen Broch and Jensine Laurentze Bentzen . He showed a talent for mathematics at an early age, and after studies in Christiania , he travelled abroad...
& Nissen
Hartvig Nissen
Hartvig Nissen was a Norwegian philologist and educator. He founded Nissens Pigeskole, a school specifically for girls, in Oslo in 1849. In 1955 the school was also opened for boys and in 1963 the name changed to Hartvig Nissens Skole....
's public Latin- and grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
.
In 1846, the King of Norway announced state stipend
Stipend
A stipend is a form of salary, such as for an internship or apprenticeship. It is often distinct from a wage or a salary because it does not necessarily represent payment for work performed, instead it represents a payment that enables somebody to be exempt partly or wholly from waged or salaried...
to a person educating for in turn to establish a school for the Deaf in South Norway
South Norway
South Norway is the southern third of Norway, consisting of the regions Vestlandet, Østlandet and Sørlandet. South Norway has no administrative functions, and does not constitute a cultural or linguistic region - as opposed to Central Norway/Trøndelag and particularly North Norway...
. The only school for the deaf in Norway at that time was located in Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
. Balchen asked for the stipend, stating that he first wanted to study in Trondheim, and secondly in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
The executive board at the deaf school in Trondheim were sceptical towards Balchen, apparently because of his lack of religious education. However, Balchen gained in 1847 a half-a-year stay at the school. Here, he studied the French orthography
French orthography
French orthography encompasses the spelling and punctuation of the French language. It is based on a combination of phonemic and historical principles. The spelling of words is largely based on the pronunciation of Old French c. 1100–1200 CE and has stayed more or less the same since then, despite...
, which was taught and used at the school. The Norwegian Government granted him shortly thereafter a sum of 250 Norwegian speciedaler
Norwegian speciedaler
The speciedaler was the currency of Norway between 1816 and 1875. It replaced the rigsdaler specie at par and was subdivided into 120 skilling . It was replaced by the Norwegian krone when Norway joined the Scandinavian Monetary Union...
for a three-months study trip to Germany.
Balchen visited some of the most important German deaf schools, and met among others the teacher and inspector Friedrich Moritz Hill at the deaf school in Weißenfels
Weißenfels (district)
Weißenfels was a district in the south of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Neighboring districts were Burgenlandkreis, Merseburg-Querfurt and the Saxon district Leipziger Land.- History :...
. Balchen returned to Norway in 1847, and started teaching two deaf girls the following year. In 1849, he received state support for this practice.
There were in the beginning only three to five students at his school—which was named Christiania Døvstumme-Institut, but as time passed, more students came, and Balchen bought boarding rooms in the area for students hailing from the suburbs. Later, Balchens started a class for students he considered qualified fo studying. Two of the students—Lars Havstad
Lars Havstad
Lars Aanonsen Havstad was a Norwegian statistician, writer, secretary in the Liberal Party, newspaper editor and activist...
and Halvard Aschehoug—took examen artium with good grades in 1871. Balchen's school became very popular and well-reputated, and even students from far-abroad, travelled to Norway to become taught at his school.
In 1857, the school was moved from Karl Johans Street—approximately where Grand Hotel
Grand Hotel (Oslo)
Grand Hotel is a hotel in Oslo, Norway. The hotel is best known as is the annual venue of the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.Grand Hotel is situated in a very central location on the main thoroughfare, the Karl Johans gate, between the Norwegian Parliament building and the Royal Palace. It is...
is today—to Schafteløkken
Schafteløkken
Schafteløkken is a building in the neighborhood Elisenberg in the Frogner borough in Oslo, Norway.It is one of the largest existing wooden building in Oslo, Norway's capital. It was built around 1807 for Andreas Schaft, who had bought the square in front of the building in 1799. He named the square...
at Elisenberg
Elisenberg
Elisenberg is a neighborhood in the Frogner borough in Oslo, Norway.It is defined as an area between the streets Elisenbergveien, Frognerveien, Bygdøy allé and Kristinelundveien. The borough grew up around the paddock manor Schafteløkken, divided from Frogner farm and bought by Andreas Schaft in...
, Frogner
Frogner
Frogner is a borough of the city of Oslo, Norway. In addition to traditional Frogner, the borough incorporates Bygdøy, Uranienborg and Majorstuen....
. The school stayed here until 1891, when it was relocated to Vibes gate at Hegdehaugen
Hegdehaugen
Hegdehaugen is a neighbourhood in the borough Frogner of Oslo, Norway. It is located in the West End between Homansbyen and Majorstuen. The name origins from the man's name Heide....
. Five years later, the school was nationalised.
Later life and death
In 1873, Balchen was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav for his efforts for the deaf. In 1877, he was appointed member of a committee that should prepare a lawLaw
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
granting the deaf, blind and mentally handicapped the right to compulsory education. A such law took effect for the deaf 1 July 1883, and later for the blind and mentally handicapped in 1885 and 1891, respectively. Balchen ceased being leader for the deaf school in 1891, and died 1899, 84 years old.