1879 to 2011

At Easter 1879, the school building on Schulstrasse was opened. At that time, the middle section was not yet three stories high, but only the two side wings. There were four classrooms on both the ground floor and the first floor. Around 400 students were accommodated in what was “quite decent” conditions for the time. Until 1954, some teachers and caretakers also lived in the school building.

By 1914 there was already a shortage of school rooms again. A new school building in the Amtfeld area could not be built because the First World War ruined all plans. In the post-war period, building a new school was not financially feasible. Poverty was too great. So in the 1920s four classes were taught in the town hall.

It was not until 1937 that funds were available to slightly renovate the school building, which was now over 50 years old. Now there were 16 classrooms, a cinema room and a kitchen available.

Towards the end of the Second World War, the school building served as accommodation for German and foreign troops. As a result, all school records were lost. After the troops withdrew, the school offered initial shelter to displaced new citizens.

School operations resumed in the 1945/46 school year. 798 students, 19 classes, 9 teachers, which meant an average of 88 students per teacher.

In 1947/48 the number of students grew to 929.

There was a huge shortage of teachers, as many older teachers were still prisoners of war or their denazification process had not yet been completed. In 1947, the school building was renovated for the first time.

In 1948/49, the number of pupils continued to rise. A new residential area was built west of the town centre.

In 1960, the local council decided to build a second school building with a gymnasium and teaching pool in the “Hänfig” area, which was inaugurated at Easter 1964. The new school was named Hans-Thoma-Schule, and the “old” school was named Johann-Peter-Hebel-Schule.

Renovation work continued over the next few years.

In 1961, the wooden staircase in the stairwell of the Johann-Peter-Hebel School was replaced by a stone staircase.

In 1965/66, an extension was built over all three floors, in which the student toilets were installed. The dry toilets for students were finally demolished. The covered bicycle racks are now located in this place.

Not only did the facade get a new coat of paint, the school development plan ensured that the secondary school students from Sulzbach were integrated into the Hebel School in 1965.

In 1967, the school building received new plaster on the outside and new floors, ceilings, windows and doors on the inside. During this time, lessons were held in various rooms throughout the town. This included an adjoining room in the “Zum Lamm” inn, as well as rooms in the Theresienhaus and the youth room in the Bernhardusheim.

Sometimes it was necessary to create a space for new teaching content, such as craft lessons. For example, the old school barn in the schoolyard, a storage room of the municipal building yard, was converted into a craft room in 1968.

To this day, the students went to the teaching pool at the Hans Thoma School for swimming lessons.

In July 1972, the municipal administration and the Malsch schools were informed that, starting with the new school year, all students in grades 5 and 6 would have to attend the Hebel School and all students in grades 7 to 9 would have to attend the Hans Thoma School.

Following a protest meeting by parents and a request from the municipal administration, this measure was postponed for one year for organizational reasons.

In the autumn of 1972, the secondary school students from Waldprechtsweier were transferred to the Hebelschule.

At the beginning of the 1973/74 school year, the Sulzbach elementary school was closed and assigned to the Hebelschule.

At the urging of the parents' council and the school administration, the Hebel School received its own gymnasium on August 31, 1974.

In 1975/76, the number of pupils at the Hebel School increased so much that the 3rd grade classes were relocated to the school building in Waldprechtsweier and continued there as 4th grade classes in the following school year.

In 1978, the school's interior and exterior facade were repainted.

In 1995, the Hebel School not only had to be expanded, but also thoroughly renovated. Once again, the classes had to be relocated, firstly to the branch in Waldprechtsweier, then to the tourist office below the church, to the town mill, to the Catholic kindergarten and to the Hans Thoma School. The secretariat and the principal's office were housed in the town hall.

During this renovation, a 14 m deep, previously unknown well shaft was discovered in the school courtyard. The shaft was built up with bricks, is partially illuminated and covered with a glass plate.

Until 2002/2003, the primary school in Waldprechtsweier operated with combined classes for many years until a larger building area was designated there. This meant that complete classes could be formed from the 2002/03 school year onwards.

In 2004, the Johann-Peter-Hebelschule celebrated its 125th anniversary in style. A detailed commemorative publication was produced.

In 2011, the Waldprechtsweier branch was able to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a successful school festival.

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