“School for life” was the idea of the Danish poet, priest and politician, N.F.S. Grundtvig (1783-1872).

He was the ideoligical founder of folk high schools. He treated his students as independent persons with whom he could have mutually fruitful conversations. In his opinion the exchange of ideas that takes place during a conversation was the most important principle of education.

Grundtvig’s thoughts have had a great influence on the Danish language, society and culture, on the Danish protestant church and the Danish school system.

Inspired by Grundtvig the first folk high school was founded in Rødding in Southern Jutland in 1844. Vallekilde was founded in 1865 and is one of Denmark’s oldest folk high schools. Today there are around 80 folk high schools in Denmark.