Heidi’s and Peter’s Village School

This is where Heidi and Peter attend school. In this classroom the teacher educates all children of eight different age groups at the same time. It is not unusual to have up to 60 pupils in one class. Compulsory subjects are religious education, reading, maths, singing and writing. Writing is done in the Kurrentschrift (German cursive). Because paper is expensive, the children write on slates using their styluses.

In 1880 children generally attended school between the ages of 7 and 14. A school year lasted from autumn to spring, because in the spring and summer the children supported their parents in the field, yard or house. In the summer Heidi goes up to the alp with Alpöhi. During the days she accompanies Peter, who earns his living as a goatherd.

The school lessons were free of charge, but to heat the school stove each family was obliged to supply “school wood”. Since teachers were only employed for the winter half of the year, many teachers worked for farmers or were dependent on other secondary employment during the summer months when no lessons were held.