DISABLING SCHOOL - PROFESSIONALIZATION OF SPECIAL-EDUCATION AND STUDENT WELFARE IN THE FINNISH COMPULSORY SCHOOL

This article examines the birth and growth of the Finnish student welf are system and special education. The study takes a socio-historical a pproach and its theoretical point of departure lies in the concepts of the welfare state and professionalisation. The student welfare system and special education have grown enormously, especially after the Sec ond World War. Now this growth has reached its peak because of the eco nomic recession. The critical connection between professionalism and t he modem welfare state lies in the fact that the prerogative of expert s to identify, define and manage various human deficiencies and proble m is, to a great extent, manoeuvred and legitimated by the state. Alth ough the form and scope of the student welfare and special education h ave changed, one thing has remained the same; measures are still direc ted against the individual student.