Sønderkærskolen

“A school with many names?” a student might have wondered over the years. Right here, at Sønderkærskolen, names have changed like the seasons. Sønderkærskolen, you see, wasn’t always called that. Built between 1924 and 1926, it first bore the name Hvidovre Kommuneskole. Imagine the children, their satchels swinging, entering its doors for the first time. By its 25th anniversary in 1949, it had become Kettevejsskolen. Then, in 1955, it finally adopted the name we know today: Sønderkærskolen. This school witnessed Hvidovre’s transformation from a quiet rural community of 700 to a bustling suburb of 50,000. The school grew and adapted alongside it. Sønderkærskolen expanded soon after its initial construction, barely able to contain the burgeoning student population. Think of it, in 1921, there were only 151 school-aged children. By 1948, that number had exploded to 2060, overflowing the town’s three schools. The echoes of history resonate within these walls. During World War II, in 1945, Sønderkærskolen served as a refuge. The occupying forces requisitioned it to house German refugees. Imagine the disruption, with school hours reduced to a mere 2-3 hours a day. Students scattered, attending classes in various locations throughout Hvidovre. The school year then began on May 1st, with the annual exams held in April. Children attended school from ages 7 to 14. Discipline was stricter than in today’s schools, with a strong emphasis on rote learning. The memories of former students paint a vivid picture of life at Sønderkærskolen. Helge Wiese, who attended from 1924, recalled how the smartest student sat at the front and the “dumbest” at the back. The teacher would rearrange the seating as grades changed. He even shared a story about the frieze on the school’s facade. He and other children were chosen to model for a sculptor in Nørrebro, earning two kroner each time. Jorgen Munk, a student from 1926, remembers the formality of addressing teachers with “De” (the formal “you”). He emphasized the mutual respect between teachers and students. Truancy was common, but not without consequences. Erik Larsen, who started in 1932, recalled both tolerant teachers and some with harsher methods. Mornings began with hymns, especially during the Christmas season. They had school every day except Sunday, with short breaks between classes and a longer lunch break. Per E. Hansen, who attended in 1944, vividly described the day the British bombed the Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen. He and his classmates huddled in the school’s basement, the sound of air raid sirens echoing in their ears. Sønderkærskolen served its community for 88 years, finally closing its doors as a public school in 2012. Yet, its story doesn’t end there. Today, it continues to thrive, housing Hvidovre Heldagsskole, various associations, and Hvidovre Music and Art School. Sønderkærskolen, a place of many names and even more memories, continues to serve as a vital hub for the community.