Big German education contribution in South Australia before 49 Lutheran schools shut in World War I slap
Adolph von Treuer, one of the German community’s most prominent citizens, was an original member of the South Australian Council of Education and a founding member of the University of Adelaide council.
The forced closure of 49 Lutheran schools in 1917, with the teachers union’s strong support, was part of the fierce backlash against South Australian Germans during World War I.
The German influence on South Australian education started with the four Dresden missionaries who worked with Aboriginal children after arriving on the same ship as governor George Gawler in 1838.
Another early arrival, Johannes Menge, dubbed the father of Australian mineralogy exploration, was passionate about education and science.
The same with Carl Muecke, one of the liberals who left Germany after the failed 1848 revolution.
Carl Muecke’s son in law Martin Basedow was also devoted education, newspapers and liberalism. He opened a Lutheran school at Tanunda in 1850 and was licensed with a £100 salary (pre the ban on state aid) from the Central Board of Education. His school, of 80 pupils, was praised for its order and science teaching. Basedow gave evidence to the 1868 select committee, advocating education be free, compulsory, broad, humane and moral.
Adolph von Treuer, one of German community’s most prominent citizens, was an original member of the South Australian Council of Education and a founding member of the University of Adelaide where he was given a law degree ad eundem gradum.
Theodor Johannes Scherk, teacher, agent and politician, sat on the board of inquiry into technical education which recommended the South Australian School of Mines and Industries (opened in 1889), with Scherk as a council member for 29 years.
Adolph Leschen started the German School in Wakefield Street, Adelaide, and was also employed at the Adelaide Gymnasium in King William Street, teaching German gymnastics. He gave demonstrations in state schools and colleges to encourage physical education. Employed as gymnastics and German master at the Collegiate School of St Peter (1879-91), Leschen was also a part-time teacher at Prince Alfred College in 1881-92. Both colleges built gymnasiums based on his German model.