Heidelberg Public School (Gauteng)

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AKA: Sometimes refered to as 'Dorpskool' during ZAR period (pre-2nd Boer War)

Built: 1890 : 1973-74

Architects: Unidentified

Original School. n.d.

This was the main government/public school in the town during Superintendent H. Mansvelt’s period of educational reform. The school was founded by magistrate F.K. Maré. A key condition of its establishment was that the medium of instruction would be Hollands (Dutch/Afrikaans). It was the town’s main government school in the late 19th/early 20th century.
  • Frederik (Frikkie) Korsten Maré (1821 Uitenhage - 1895 Heidelberg) became the first magistrate of Heidelberg in 1866.

Op 27 Desember 1888 is die volgende besluit geneem in sake die nuwe gebou wat opgerig sou word: "Het schoolgebouw moet ingericht worden voor zeventig kinderen; er moet ruimte zijn voor twaalf kostleerlingen, die twee slaapkamers nodig hebben, zes voor iedere slaapvertrek." Die koste moet nie meer as £1400 bedra nie. Die gebou sou op erf nr. 61 opgerig word. Dit is die erf waar die huidige publieke skoal vandag (1952) staan. Op 14 November 1890 is die nuwe skoolgebou deur die kommissie in ontvangs geneem.¹

In 1891, P.J. Möller (who ran a school in the town since 1889) was appointed the first principal.¹ In 1894, Möller moved to Pretoria, and T.A. Donges became principal until the outbreak of the second Anglo Boer War in 1899.

During the Anglo-Boer War the school building was used as a hostel for English soldiers. When the war ended in 1901, the school reopened. After the British victory, under Lord Milner’s administration, all public school commissions and properties in the Transvaal were taken over. The Heidelberg Public School was re-opened as an English-medium, fee-paying school. This sudden switch to English (and the introduction of fees) was deeply unpopular with the local Afrikaans-speaking community and parents. This was the spark that led to the founding of the Volkskool in 1903. The Public School continued to exist alongside the Volkskool.

"In 1912 Sir John Adamson tried to amalgamate Laer Volkskool and Heidelberg Public but it was rejected by the greater community of Heidelberg. In 1913 the School Commission of Heidelberg Public School applied to the Volkskool Commission for English speaking pupils to be admitted to Hoer Volkskool and that English should be used as an alternative medium of instruction. They were denied on the grounds of the Volkskool being a school with Christian values and Afrikaans as a medium of instruction."²

  • Sir John Ernest Adamson (1857 England - 1950 Muizenberg) was director of education in Transvaal from 1905 to 1924 and played an important role in developing the education system.⁴

In 1941 electricity was installed. The school burned down in 1966 and 1974. It was then relocated to Jordaan Park in Gemsbok Street (built 1973-74).

The original school site received a Blue Plaque in 2022.

New school (completed 1974)

New school (completed 1974)

Locality maps

 Position of original school.

 Position of new school.

Sources
  1. Geskiedenis van die Ontwikkeling van die Onderwys aan Blankes in die Distrik Heidelberg, Transvaal van 1839 to 1950. 1952. Lotz, P.W. (thesis)
  2. Heidelberg Public School
  3. The Citizen: Blue plaque status for Heidelberg Public School. February 22, 2022. Viljoen, E.
  4. John Ernest Adamson

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