Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1951-06-18
Norway
About the People

VA ally WISH " d new idIlo 10 liS
folk who live there, not just where
they live and how they live, but
the people themselves. Getting
acquainted in Norway is no prob
lem, where youngsters begin to
learn English at about 10 years Of
age. Language barriers are few.
Hospitable, open and friendly, the
Norwegian welcomes a chat with
the visitor be it at a country
crossroad, or in a busting Oslo
cafe. And there will be few dull
moments, for opinions and char
acteristics vary widely, even in
country as small as this one.
The land of geographic con-
trasts has done much to shape a
people who at one and the same
time are highly individualistic and
cooperative = homogeneous and
contrasting. Cultural variations
within a country as small as Nor
way provide rich and exciting side
lights for the visitor interested in
moving off the beaten path. Here
is land where life in one valley
may differ from that in another as
night differs from day. But one
of the first things you will prob.
ably notice is sort of overall I'M
ity that transcends varying local
traits. Whatever may be their diff
ferences, Norwegians are joined
in defense of right to this in
dividuality and the freedom which
it implies. This too has its explain
atoms. Following a long history
as a free and independent land,
Norway from about 1900 has join
ed with first one and then another
of its two Scandinavian neighbors
BY 1914 the drive for national in
dependence and self expression
forced through a constitution, and
in 1905 Norway won complete in
dependence from Sweden. Norwe-
gians chose to retain their con-
stitutional hereditary monarchy.
and elected the Danish Prince Carl
to the Norwegian throne in the
same year. He assumed the name
CT Haakon VII.
Though the Constitution envis-
Toned a clear separation of powers,
, between legislative, administrative
and judicial, the government ad-
ministration is actually subservi-
ent to the legislature and parlia-
mentarism has evolved, with
strong powers centered in the
150-man Storting. This develop
ment appears very much in keep
ing with Norwegian traditions of
government going back to the an
cient practice of placing control
in the hands of the governed. A
strong and independent judiciary
serves as a further protection.
Though nature and geography
have done their best to raise bar
riers between people here, import
ant factors - other than this
common history - have helped to
weld them together. There have
been no religious conflicts. Since
1886, when the Lutheran faith re-
placed the church of Rome, the
vast majority of the populace
(979e at presently has adhered to
the Evangelical Lutheran Church
the State Church, as established
in the Constitution. Complete free
dom of worship. however, is ex-
tended to all faiths.
A wen-deveioped scnooI system,
resulting in a high educational
standard and the complete eradi-
cation of iliteracy, has also been
a unifying factor Of great import
ance. Since 1860, elementary ed
ucation has been free and compul-
sorry for all children from Z to IA.
Today. free medical and dental
care. and in many schools free
meals (Oslo Breakfasts) are pro-
vided. After their elementary
schooling. many youngsters enter
continuation schools for practical
training, or may enroll in Real
skole" or Gymnasium" in prepa--
alton for advanced study at va-i-
Gus specialized institutions of the
Universities at Oslo and Bergen.
Most higher education in Norway
is free. Particularly in recent
years, this Norwegian school sys-