Den højere Dannelsesanstalt for Damer founded in Copenhagen

Background. In 1845, the Copenhagen educational direction established a new authority to control qualifications for professional private school teachers. Most private schools in Copenhagen were managed by women, but they lacked formal training because no secondary schools were open to them. This prevented women from passing the new regulations, creating a need for a dedicated institution to provide academic learning and teacher training.

Founding. To solve the issue of unqualified female teachers, Annestine Beyer and Emil Bojsen founded Den højere Dannelsesanstalt for Damer in 1846. It was the first secondary educational institution for women in Denmark. Initially, the school shared its localities with the Døtreskolen af 1791, a prestigious girls' school where many women teachers had previously practiced as assistant teachers.

Significance. The institution provided the necessary formal training for women to meet the new local regulations in Copenhagen. It served as a crucial step in women's rights in Denmark, addressing the gap between the demand for qualified female teachers and the absence of secondary education for women. The school laid the groundwork for future reforms in women's education.