A history of the present absences

In this article, we examine the historical development and problematization of school absence in Denmark through a genealogical approach inspired by Foucault. We do so by tracing the shifting definitions and societal responses to absence and the discursive practices involved. The study identifies two dominant discourses of school absence – personal salvation and societal prosperity. These two discourses have shaped conceptions of and policies towards school attendance across Danish history. Together, they form the idea that school is the proper path towards a good life, which has since become the norm throughout Denmark. We end by arguing that history may help us gain a more reflexive approach to research questions and rethink absence as a problem.