Lars Havstad
Encyclopedia
Lars Aanonsen Havstad was a Norwegian statistician, writer, secretary in the Liberal Party, newspaper editor and activist. He was deaf as well as blind in one eye, and was the first (along with Halvard Aschehoug) deaf person to pass the examen artium
in Norway.
as a son of customs officer Aanon Larssen (1820–1863) and Christine Christophersen (1824–1895). He grew up in Tønsberg
, but following scarlet fever
and meningitis
at the age of five, he became deaf as well as blind in one eye. He read for himself until enrolling in school in 1860, at Christiania Døvstumme-Institut in Christiania
. His teacher Fredrik Glad Balchen
created a class for special talented students, who he and external teachers tutored to reach the level of normal students. Two of four students in the talent class, one of them being Havstad, managed to pass the examen artium
in 1871. Havstad and Halvard Aschehoug were the first two deaf people who passed the Norwegian examen artium, at that time regarded as a sensation. The examen artium was the final examination
in Norwegian secondary school
s until 1974.
After three years of working at the institute, Havstad was hired in Det statistiske kontor in 1874, a statistical office within the Norwegian Ministry of the Interior. He later worked in the Office of the Auditor General of Norway
, and a number of his statistical analyses were published.
. In 1882 Havstad published Sverdrup's parliamentary speeches from 1851 to 1881. He also wrote for liberal newspaper Dagbladet
and was the political editor and editor-in-chief of Eidsvold from 1894 to 1897. In 1875 he published Forholdet mellom Kongen, Statsraadet og Storthinget together with J. F. Heiberg, and also wrote articles in liberal historian Ernst Sars
' journal.
Historian Jens Arup Seip
noted that Havstad had racist tendencies in describing the civil servants' and bourgeoisie
's role in Norwegian history. Analyzing the Norwegian parliamentary election, 1882
, Havstad claimed that the conservative voters (the voters for the candidates who in 1884 formed the Conservative Party
) consisted of foreigners, descendants of foreigners as well as "people of real Norwegian heritage", but who had become assimilated because of "repeated contact with the immigrated". The district Viken was described as "[t]his dead belt which must first be permeated by the national spirit before the alien elements can be devoured by the body of society".
. Schooling for both deaf, blind and mentally disabled people was introduced in 1883, and Havstad was given much of the credit. He co-founded the interest society De Norske Døvstummes Forening in 1878, and was vice chairman until 1891 and chairman from 1891 to 1894. He was decorated with an honorary
Master's degree
at the National Deaf-Mute College
in Washington, DC.
Examen 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...
in Norway.
Professional career
He was born as Lars Aanonsen Larssen in ArendalArendal
is a town and municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. Arendal belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet.The town of Arendal is the administrative center the municipality and also of Aust-Agder county...
as a son of customs officer Aanon Larssen (1820–1863) and Christine Christophersen (1824–1895). He grew up in Tønsberg
Tønsberg
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, southern Norway, located around north-east of Sandefjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tønsberg....
, but following scarlet fever
Scarlet fever
Scarlet fever is a disease caused by exotoxin released by Streptococcus pyogenes. Once a major cause of death, it is now effectively treated with antibiotics...
and meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
at the age of five, he became deaf as well as blind in one eye. He read for himself until enrolling in school in 1860, at Christiania Døvstumme-Institut in Christiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. His teacher Fredrik Glad Balchen
Fredrik Glad Balchen
Fredrik Glad Balchen was a Norwegian deaf teacher.-Personal and early life:Balchen was born in Bergen, Norway to Johan Peter Balchen and his wife Christiane Wilhelmine Gulbrandsen . His mother died when Fredrik was four years old, and his father when he was twelve...
created a class for special talented students, who he and external teachers tutored to reach the level of normal students. Two of four students in the talent class, one of them being Havstad, managed to pass the examen artium
Examen 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...
in 1871. Havstad and Halvard Aschehoug were the first two deaf people who passed the Norwegian examen artium, at that time regarded as a sensation. The examen artium was the final examination
Final examination
A final examination is a test given to students at the end of a course of study or training. Although the term can be used in the context of physical training, it most often occurs in the academic world...
in Norwegian secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
s until 1974.
After three years of working at the institute, Havstad was hired in Det statistiske kontor in 1874, a statistical office within the Norwegian Ministry of the Interior. He later worked in the Office of the Auditor General of Norway
Office of the Auditor General of Norway
The Office of the Auditor General of Norway is the state auditor of the Government of Norway and directly subordinate of the Parliament of Norway. It is responsible for auditing, monitoring and advising all state economic activities, including financial audits, performance audits and corporate...
, and a number of his statistical analyses were published.
Political career
Havstad is also known as the private secretary of liberal politician Johan SverdrupJohan Sverdrup
Johan Sverdrup was a Norwegian politician from the Liberal Party. He was the first Prime Minister of Norway after the introduction of parliamentarism. Sverdrup was Prime Minister from 1884 to 1889.- Early years :...
. In 1882 Havstad published Sverdrup's parliamentary speeches from 1851 to 1881. He also wrote for liberal newspaper Dagbladet
Dagbladet
Dagbladet is Norway's second largest tabloid newspaper, and the third largest newspaper overall with a circulation of 105,255 copies in 2009, 18,128 papers less than in 2008. The editor in chief is Lars Helle....
and was the political editor and editor-in-chief of Eidsvold from 1894 to 1897. In 1875 he published Forholdet mellom Kongen, Statsraadet og Storthinget together with J. F. Heiberg, and also wrote articles in liberal historian Ernst Sars
Ernst Sars
Johan Ernst Welhaven Sars was a Norwegian historian, publicist and editor. His main work was Udsigt over den norske Historie, four volumes issued from 1873 to 1891. He co-edited the magazines Nyt norsk Tidskrift from 1877 to 1878, and Nyt Tidsskrift from 1882 to 1887...
' journal.
Historian Jens Arup Seip
Jens Arup Seip
Jens Lauritz Arup Seip was a Norwegian historian. A professor at the University of Oslo from 1952 to 1975, he specialized in political history and the history of ideas. He was married to fellow historian Anne-Lise Seip....
noted that Havstad had racist tendencies in describing the civil servants' and bourgeoisie
Bourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
's role in Norwegian history. Analyzing the Norwegian parliamentary election, 1882
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1882
A national election was held in Norway in 1882. The first political party in Norway, the Liberal Party were established ahead of the next election. This led to MPs joining the party and forming a government led by Johan Sverdrup which introduced parliamentarism to Norway in 26 June...
, Havstad claimed that the conservative voters (the voters for the candidates who in 1884 formed the Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Norway
The Conservative Party is a Norwegian political party. The current leader is Erna Solberg. The party was since the 1920s consistently the second largest party in Norway, but has been surpassed by the growth of the Progress Party in the late 1990s and 2000s...
) consisted of foreigners, descendants of foreigners as well as "people of real Norwegian heritage", but who had become assimilated because of "repeated contact with the immigrated". The district Viken was described as "[t]his dead belt which must first be permeated by the national spirit before the alien elements can be devoured by the body of society".
Activism for the deaf
In 1876 he published the article Skoletvang for Døvstumme in Aftenbladet, which was about compulsory schooling for the deaf-muteDeaf-mute
For "deafness", see hearing impairment. For "Deaf" as a cultural term, see Deaf culture. For "inability to speak", see muteness.Deaf-mute is a term which was used historically to identify a person who was both deaf and could not speak...
. Schooling for both deaf, blind and mentally disabled people was introduced in 1883, and Havstad was given much of the credit. He co-founded the interest society De Norske Døvstummes Forening in 1878, and was vice chairman until 1891 and chairman from 1891 to 1894. He was decorated with an honorary
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
at the National Deaf-Mute College
Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...
in Washington, DC.