Justice for teachers

Discussions regarding legal aid in Finnish teachers’ periodicals, ca. 1890–1920

Authors

• Marianne Vasara-Aaltonen Helsingin yliopisto

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33350/ka.109138

Keywords:

legal aid, elementary school teachers, teachers' association, teachers' periodicals, legal history

Abstract

In the early twentieth century, the Finnish elementary school teachers’ association decided to offer legal assistance to its members. If teachers faced legal troubles they could turn to the association and get financial aid to cover their legal costs. Later, the association expanded its legal aid programme as it began offering legal advice to teachers. This article investigates the beginning of teachers’ legal aid in light of articles published in two teachers’ periodicals. Firstly, legal aid for teachers is discussed as part of a more general development of professional organization around the fin de siècle. Secondly, the question is connected to the legal modernization that took place in Finland around the same time. Moreover, the political and societal turmoil of the early twentieth century played a part in the teachers’ growing need for legal assistance. Finnish teachers were also influenced by foreign examples of providing legal assistance. This article positions the question of teachers’ legal aid at the crossing of professional, societal, legal and international perspectives.