The World That Was
Education
The Public School
A group of students with their teacher Zelda Fisch (Lubling)
Public school
A school field trip, 1936
“Construction of the school building began in the end of 1930. Wolbrom needed a building for its elementary school. Until that time the classrooms were scattered all over town, because no apartment could be found that could house them all. The construction proceeded quickly, and soon the school opened its doors.
The principal of the elementary school was the doctor’s wife, Fanny Maria, an old woman with white hair. Winter and summer she wore a long black dress that reached under her knees.
The school presented a problem for the town’s Jews. They were not used to have boys and girls study together. Moreover, the curriculum did not correspond to their desires, and there was a kind of unofficial boycott on the public school. The result was that private schools with Jewish principals were established. There was no compulsory schooling for Jews.
When the Orthodox Beit Yaacov School was established, the Orthodox Jews transferred the Jewish girls to that institution. With many efforts their work bore fruit, and many girls eventually studied in the Bet Yaacov School.
There was no high school in Wolbrom, and those who wanted, sent their children to private tutors or to the high school in Miechow or Olkusz. People interested in promoting education tried hard to establish a high school in town. There was a high demand, but it never came into being because of the lack of financial means. This pained the youngsters who wanted to learn.”
Sh. Barkai in Wolbrom Irenu
