Heinrich Ueckermann was a man of vision; and he realized the value of education. (Founder of Heidelberg) One of his first acts after settling down, was to make provision for the education of his children. There was a school of sorts, where the children of his neighbours were taught the rude elements of education raised the standard of the White Man above that of the raw savage; but they learned little more than reading and writing; and Ueckermann aimed at a higher standard for his family. When the governess he imported from Pietermaritzburg left to be married, a school was opened by a Mr. Bantjes in about 1859 or 1860.

In July 1868, with the appointment of the Rev. M.J. van Warmelo as resident Minister, a Mr. F.K. Mare as Landrost, the claim of Heidelberg to a place on the map of the Republic was completed by the establishment of a Government School; and a Hollander, Mr P.H. Huymer, was appointed as Principal. We are told that Huymer “instilled respect by his foreign language, his queer accent, his swallow-tail coat and his cane”, but he was not a success as a Schoolmaster. Nine months later, being guilty of serious misconduct, and fearful lest he should be brought to book for his misdeeds, he discreetly disappeared. 

His successor was a Mr. Bouwer; but he, too, was unfitted for the post. The school was a bare room next to the Landrost’s Kantoor, with a small room alongside in which the teacher lived. One day the children assembled for school at the usual time, but the Master did not appear. After some time the Landrost had the door forced, and Bouwer’s body was found hanging from a rafter, while, pinned to the door was a note in which certain folk were denounced in seething terms as “children of the Devil”.

In those days Heidelberg was still very much “in the wilds”. When the children from surrounding farms were returning to their homes after school in the late afternoon the roaring of lions could often be heard; and in the early morning Blesbok and Ostriches could be seen feeding on the ridge across the river where now the Railway Station stands.”

There was a succession of school-masters at the Government School until the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War in 1899. In the meanwhile a number of English-medium private schools were opened. During his visit in January 1874, the Rev. George Sharley wrote:- Had a long and interesting conversation with Laurie – a quiet, genial, intelligent Scotch school-master. The school contains 41 pupils.

At another time we hear of a school conducted by Mrs. Budgeon; and yet another in later years by Rev. F. Iliff in a small room now occupied by the caretaker of the Volkskool. On the appointment of the Rev. Frank Dowling as Rector of St. Ninians Anglican Church in 1888, a Church School was opened for English speaking children. Miss Collis had a school in Ueckermann Street and Mrs Appleton in Ueckermann house opposite the Post Office.

Even among Afrikaans-speaking residents there was evidently dis-satisfaction with the Government School since as late as 1893 (according to Ds. Louw) there were four or five private schools in Heidelberg. (Messrs. P. Moller and E.G. Landsberg each had private schools which they eventually decided to amalgamate.)
This was considered to be a dissipation of energy, so a School-committee was formed for the purpose of establishing a United School, and to erect a suitable building for the purpose. Landrost Mare presented an erf to the Rev. N.J. van Warmelo for the purpose, but made the stipulation that Dutch was to be the medium of instruction in the new school.

In 1897 President Kruger introduced legislation providing for the instruction of non-Dutch speaking children to be taught in their own languages; and Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Rowan from Stellenbosch was appointed to take charge of the parallel class, which was mostly English. This led to a division of the United School, and classes were held in separate buildings. Funds were quickly raised for building a school with three class-rooms, and Mr. Donges was appointed as Principal, with a couple of assistants. Further progress was brought to a standstill by the outbreak of War in 1899.

After Peace was declared, a Proclamation was issued by Sir Alfred Milner to the effect that all public buildings were taken over in the name of the British Government, and shortly afterwards the school was re-opened as a English-medium “Public School”.

(Source: “The story of Heidelberg” by Rev Noel Roberts)

SHORT HISTORY-HEIDELBERG PUBLIC SCHOOL
• During the Second War of Independence Heidelberg Public School was used as a hostel for English soldiers. After the war in 1901 the school was established with Mr E Stefan and five teachers. English was the medium of instruction. In 1903 Lord Milner visited Heidelberg Public followed by Lieut. Governor Lawley and Lady Lawley in 1904.
• In 1912 Sir John Adamson tried to amalgamate Laer Volkskool and Heidelberg Public but it was rejected by the greater community of Heidelberg.
• Sir John Adamson said that two separate schools will in the end promote racism.
• 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 Hoer Volkskool being a school with Christian values and Afrikaans as a medium of instruction.
• The Heidelberg Public School commission once more said that the refusal of English speaking pupils can be seen as racism.
• 1921 Mr S.H. Waldin appointed as principal.
• 1925 the children went to Germiston to welcome the Prince of Wales.
• 1936 the mayor of Heidelberg presented HPS with a photo of the National Convention.
• 1941 electricity was installed.
• 1945 the school closed for V.E. day.
• 1966 school burned down completely
• 1966 pupils attended class in prefabricated classes until that burned down in 1974.
• 1969 Mr Griffiths retired as principal.
• 1970 Mr Christie appointed as principal.
• 1973 new premises was set aside for a school in Jordaan Park.
• 1974 Opening of the school in Jordaan Park by Mr Calitz and Mrs Rossouw
• 1979 Mr JH Jooste, Director of Education opened the new school in Jordaan Park with Mr Calitz as principal.
• 1985 Mr Oswald was appointed a principal.
• 1995 Heidelberg Public School became a fully integrated school. The first in Heidelberg.
• In 1996 Mr PJJ Pretorius was appointed as principal.

 

(Source: Web Page of the Heidelberg Public School)
 

Comment by Tony: 
• Interesting that the Dutch spelling of school is spelt the same way in English.
• Debbie Louw, the current bookkeeper of “Heidelberg Public School” attended the school, when it was in Begeman Street. She told me she remembers the boy that burnt the school down. She said that he had also stolen her sister’s (Valarie) bicycle and Valarie had to go to the Police Station to identify and collect it.
• Two of the existing pillars had fallen down. One pushed over by a car hitting hit and the other by wear and tear. Myself and the 2020/21 Heidelberg Tourism Monitors repaired it.