[1][4] He later worked as a teacher at the civil high school in Trondheim,[1] and at the same time had religious oversight of the hospital and prison.

[5] Despite holding a doctorate in theology, he was not a great theologian or scientist, but he was enthusiastic about schooling and public education.

He authored a number of works on pedagogy, including En dydig Opdragelse, betragtet som Grunden til Staters sande Vel (A Virtuous Upbringing, Considered the Reason for the True Good of States, 1786) and Er det ligegyldigt hvorledes de ringere Stænder opdrage sine Børn?

His work Veiledning til at opdrage en sund, fornuftig, duelig og lykkelig Afkom (Manual on How to Raise Healthy, Reasonable, Sound, and Happy Children, 1792) was the first guide to sexual education in Denmark–Norway.

[7] He was, however, opposed to using police force against the Haugeans, and he typically believed that the movement could best be countered by increased public education.

[8] In the fall of the same year, he was described as "the Union's and the Swedes' voluble attorney at the extraordinary parliament and Carl John's apparent fervent admirer" (Unionens og Svenskernes frasefyldte Advokat paa det overordentlige Storting og Karl Johan’s tilsyneladende varme Beundrer).

[4] Bech was the first vice-chancellor of the University of Oslo, and also led the Education Committee (Oplysningscomitéen), the first independent administrative body for cultural affairs.