Figure 1.--Here we see a German classroom about 1950. Notice the new furniture, but the arrangement is still rather like that before World War II with rows of desks/banks facing the teacher. The classroom seems a little more crowded than it was because the boys from the right side of the class has shifted over for the phoyograph. Also it is still a single-gender class with very barren walls. Notice that we no longer see sailor suits.

While we know very little about the 19th century, we do know a great deal about the German classroom in the 20th century, And we see substantial changes, especially after World War II. The general trend through the century was for smaller classess and more separated desks. The arrangement of the classroom is the most readily apparent feature, but a host of other interesting information can be drawn from these photographs. We notioce a shift from rows of banks to desks that might accomodate two students, although we still see the banks into the 1940s. One notable onservation is how stark he classrooms were with few teaching aids beyond a blackboard a few maps. This did not begin to change until the 1960s. While many of the photographs are undated, it is usually possible to roughly assess the decade. Major chances did not occur when the German Empire was formed (1871) or when the Weimar Reublic was established (1918) or even after the NAZI seizure of power (1933). There were, however major changes after World War II (1939-45). We do not yet have information on how educational approches differed in East and West Germany. We see more informal relationships depicted in the classroom after World War II. We see more spacious classrooms with smaller classes and the children spread out with separate desks. In addition to changing teaching methods, a factor here was the need to rebuild many city schools because of the massive destruction resulting from the Allied Strategic bombing campaign. And the German Economic Miracle meant that at least in the West, substantial funds were availble for school construction and classroom amenities.

The 1900s

We notice a shift from rows of banks to desks that might accomodate two students, although we still see the banks into the 1940s. This trend is apparent by the 1900s. One notable onservation is how stark he classrooms were with few teaching aids beyond a blackboard and a few maps. The blackboard is often not visible in the available photographs because it was behind the teacher's desk and the photographs were usually taken from the teacher's perspective looking forward. The whole arrangement was very academic. The children even though crammed together wre expected to sit still and pay close attention to the teacher. Copy books were very important. The youngest children practiced on slates brought to sdchool in their book satchels.

The 1910s

The 1920s

The Weimar Republic was formed at the end of World War I with the collapse of Imperial Germany (1918). The Weimar Republic was at first dominated by the socialist German Social Democratic Party and allied parties. One might have expected major changed in education. This did not occur. We do not, however, notice a major change in German classrooms or approach to education. A major limitation was the aftermath of the war. Economic problems meant that goverment funds at all levels were limited for major reforms. A factor here was that the schools were run by the state (Landen) governments. When the German Empire was formed (1871), it was really a Federal system with the many different German states retaining considerable authority in many areas. One of these was education. More conservtive prties gained power at mid-decade. The conservative Field Marshall Hundeberg was elected the second German president (1925).

The 1930s

The NAZIs seized power (1933), but again we do not see a major shift in education. This was in part because Hitler and the NAZIs never trusted the schools because so many teachers at first were not politically reliable. And the NAZIs poured available resources into remilitarization. The NAZIs did begin to centralize the educational system by reducing the role of the state governments. Very few new schools were built during the NAZI era. And teaching methods and classroom arrangements did not change. One important change was that paper seems to have generallyv replaced the slates younger children commonly used at the beginning of the century.

The 1940s

There were major changes in the German classroom after World War II (1939-45). The most notable impact of the War was the massive destruction of German cities as a result of the Allied Strategic bombing campaign. Most important German cities were massive piles of rubble. Masny schools were destroyed and others badly danaged. When schools were again opened, many had to use damaged buildings with windows amd even some walls gone. This meant that city classrooms were very crowded. The basic classroom arrangements for the mjost part remained very little changed.

The 1950s

Two different educational system developed in Germany during the 1950s. A Communist educational system was implemented in the East and a democratic system in the West. We do not yet have information on how educational approches differed in East and West Germany. We see more informal relationships depicted in the classroom after World War II. We see more spacious classrooms with smaller classes and the children spread out with separate desks. In addition to changing teaching methods, And the German Economic Miracle meant that at least in the West, substantial funds were availble for school construction and classroom amenities. One important change was the significant expansion of seciondary education. Many of the changes that did not occur after World War I when the SDP won control, began to occur in the 1950s. Although the more conservative Chritian Democratic Union (CDU) controlled the West German Government, many socialist ideas became internalized by the educational community. Ironically, this was less true in East Germany.

The 1960s

Major changes in German classrooms were clearly evident by the 1960s. The crowded classrooms with stark walls are no longer seen, at least in West Germany, we are less certain about East Germany. Classrooms have a destinctly modern look. We see spacious, well-lit classrooms with all kinds of interesting material on the walls. We also see ammenities like sinks and fountains as well as cuboards to store teaching materials. Desk arrangements have become more flexible. This in part reflects changingv teaching methods. We see more single desks, although two person desks were still seen. The classroom furniture is lighter and more moveable. The heavy wooden desks and benches so common before the War are gone. These deskse not crammed together as in the past, but spread out. A factor here was much smaller class xsizes. We also no longer notice single gender classes, not only in the primary schools but now in the many new secondary schools.

The 1970s

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Created: 5:38 AM 5/11/2009
Last updated: 3:40 PM 8/10/2011