Picture the Schule Furtweg a grand old building standing proudly in Hamburg. Its story stretches back centuries a testament to the enduring value of education. Long before the current structure stood a humble school existed in Eidelstedt. This was during a time when Eidelstedt belonged to the Danish King. He decreed in 1680 that each village needed a school.
The first Eidelstedt school likely lacked its own building. Ninety years later a schoolhouse appeared. It was situated on the corner of Kieler Strasse and Dorfstrasse. This building however was replaced in 1866. A larger school was built on the same location. Imagine the children of that era learning reading writing arithmetic and local history. Discipline was strict. The rule of the rod was prevalent.
As Eidelstedt’s population boomed so did the need for more school space. Another school opened on Luruper Weg now Elbgaustraße. This too proved insufficient. The decision was made in 1904 to construct a new school. The location chosen was the Furtweg. This new building initially boasted two classrooms and two teacher’s apartments.
The Schule Furtweg continued to grow. By 1927 an expansion was undertaken. The addition we now know as the “old building” with its red brick and blue mortar was completed. This increased the number of classrooms to eight. The school now included a music hall a kitchen an art and crafts room and additional spaces. There was also a new apartment for the teachers and another for the caretaker.
In 1937 Eidelstedt became part of Altona. The Schule Furtweg officially became a Hamburg school. The school’s popularity continued its rise. In 1952 the school housed 34 classes with a total of 1335 students. A further expansion was necessary. This enabled the school to switch from a three-shift to a two-shift system. However the student numbers rose so quickly that the school was divided and a new school in Lohkampstrasse was founded a year later.
Yet again more growth came. In 1971 another extension was necessary. After the completion of that project the school boasted 20 classrooms in the main building two more in a pavilion and one in the gym building. The Schule Furtweg offered elementary school observation level classes. The school also housed secondary classes as well. Children aged between six and sixteen attended.
In 1979 the school celebrated its 75th anniversary. Eight years later the secondary level began to phase out. The final graduating class of the secondary school departed in 1998. The changing educational landscape saw an increased number of families opting for comprehensive schools. The Schule Furtweg lacked room for the necessary expansion. So the Schule Furtweg is today a three-stream primary school. It has also included three-stream pre-school classes. Since 2012-2013 it has operated on a full-day schedule.
The Schule Furtweg stands as a vibrant reminder of its rich past. It continues its mission of providing quality education to the children of Hamburg. A place where generations have learned and grown. A symbol of Hamburg’s commitment to learning.