Vocational school (Haarlem)
Encyclopedia
Vocational School, Vakschool, Huishoudschool, or Ambachtsschool in Haarlem
refers to set of Haarlem schools that conformed to a type of Dutch Junior High School based on practical training with the aim of obtaining employment. This type of school was discontinued with the 1968 law for further schooling called the Mammoetwet.
training system of apprentice, then journeyman
, then master craftsman
, was abolished along with the guilds themselves, during the French occupation by Napoleonic decree. A long period ensued without any educational facilities to take its place. A century later, when the Industrial Revolution
came to Haarlem, the need for qualified staff was felt more and more by local businesses struggling to keep up with the times. Haarlem companies like Th. Figee & Co, the shipyard Werf Conrad, and Koninklijke Fabriek van Rijtuigen en Spoorwagens J.J. Beijnes (who represented the Dutch Railway company
in Haarlem) eventually set up their own evening schools, where the young students worked during the day and studied in the evening. The first one was in the Lange Margarethastraat, an evening school for young factory workers (both boys and girls) in 1871. This evening "Industrial School", which was for the lower income households, was not a great success, since young people who worked all day had trouble concentrating in the evening. More and more voices were heard in favor of proper day schooling, and in 1891, the social activist Daniel de Clercq
began the Haarlem society called De Ambachtsschool to unify these various city efforts to start a vocational school in Haarlem. In 1892 the first Haarlem ambachtsschool
called the Haarlemsche Ambachtsschool opened its doors on the Kamperstraat (demolished for senior housing in the 1970's).
Though De Clercq left the society in 1892, the school was a success and in 1899 the newly formed Eerste Nederlandsche Electrische Tram-Maatschappij opened the first tram
line from Haarlem to Zandvoort
, and the wagons were serviced at JJ Beijnes with graduates from this school. To help such schools concentrate on the practical lessons, the law for compulsory education (leerplicht) was passed in 1900 for children aged 6-12. This assured that the students of the Ambachtsschool would already be literate before attendance. This also meant school for girls however, and in 1901, just around the corner on the Schneevoogtstraat, the first day school for girls was opened, called the "Eerste Haarlemsche Huishoud- en Industrieschool
", or "Household School".
The Ambacht and Huishoud schools offered a three-year education and "extra classes". Some of the "extra class" names in the Household school were ‘nat en droogwaschen’ (wet and dry-cleaning), ‘strijken’ (ironing), ‘tafeldienen’ (waiting tables), ‘naaien van lijfgoed’ (sewing underwear) and ‘koken' (cooking) for workmans' wives. The extra classes were paid separately. For example the cooking class for children cost 1 guilder and fifty cents, but the meal could be eaten afterwards.
In need of more space for the practical lessons, the Ambachtsschool expanded and in 1919 the "Middelbare Technische School
" (MTS) opened on the Verspronckweg. It was this school that had such a difficult time during WWII because it was run by National Socialists
. After the war, it became the "Hoger Technische School" (HTS), and the young students were taught how to fix trams, trains, and airplanes. On the Indonesian island Flores
, many technical achievements were realized after being drawn and fabricated in this school.
After 1968 the schools changed hands. Today nothing remains of the original Ambachtsschool, while the former Huishoudschool on the Schneevoogtstraat is rented to small businesses. The former MTS, later HTS, now houses another school.
Haarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
refers to set of Haarlem schools that conformed to a type of Dutch Junior High School based on practical training with the aim of obtaining employment. This type of school was discontinued with the 1968 law for further schooling called the Mammoetwet.
History
At the end of the 18th century, the traditional guildGuild
A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...
training system of apprentice, then journeyman
Journeyman
A journeyman is someone who completed an apprenticeship and was fully educated in a trade or craft, but not yet a master. To become a master, a journeyman had to submit a master work piece to a guild for evaluation and be admitted to the guild as a master....
, then master craftsman
Master craftsman
A master craftsman or master tradesman was a member of a guild. In the European guild system, only masters were allowed to be members of the guild....
, was abolished along with the guilds themselves, during the French occupation by Napoleonic decree. A long period ensued without any educational facilities to take its place. A century later, when the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
came to Haarlem, the need for qualified staff was felt more and more by local businesses struggling to keep up with the times. Haarlem companies like Th. Figee & Co, the shipyard Werf Conrad, and Koninklijke Fabriek van Rijtuigen en Spoorwagens J.J. Beijnes (who represented the Dutch Railway company
Hollandsche IJzeren Spoorweg-Maatschappij
The Hollandsche IJzeren Spoorweg-Maatschappij or HSM was the first railway company in the Netherlands founded on 8 August 1837 as a private company, starting operation in 1839 with a line between Amsterdam and Haarlem...
in Haarlem) eventually set up their own evening schools, where the young students worked during the day and studied in the evening. The first one was in the Lange Margarethastraat, an evening school for young factory workers (both boys and girls) in 1871. This evening "Industrial School", which was for the lower income households, was not a great success, since young people who worked all day had trouble concentrating in the evening. More and more voices were heard in favor of proper day schooling, and in 1891, the social activist Daniel de Clercq
Daniël de Clercq
Daniël de Clercq was a Dutch socialist and activist. He propagated land nationalisation and was an activist for vegetarianism. In 1898 he succeeded Felix Ortt as chairman of the NVB, the Dutch Vegetarian Society . The NVB is an organisation dedicated to serving the interests of Dutch vegetarians...
began the Haarlem society called De Ambachtsschool to unify these various city efforts to start a vocational school in Haarlem. In 1892 the first Haarlem ambachtsschool
Ambachtsschool
The Ambachtsschool in Heerlen is a brick building with distinctive layers of marl . It is notable as one of the earliest vocational schools in the Netherlands...
called the Haarlemsche Ambachtsschool opened its doors on the Kamperstraat (demolished for senior housing in the 1970's).
Though De Clercq left the society in 1892, the school was a success and in 1899 the newly formed Eerste Nederlandsche Electrische Tram-Maatschappij opened the first tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
line from Haarlem to Zandvoort
Zandvoort
Zandvoort is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.Zandvoort is one of the major beach resorts of the Netherlands; it has a long sandy beach, bordered by coastal dunes...
, and the wagons were serviced at JJ Beijnes with graduates from this school. To help such schools concentrate on the practical lessons, the law for compulsory education (leerplicht) was passed in 1900 for children aged 6-12. This assured that the students of the Ambachtsschool would already be literate before attendance. This also meant school for girls however, and in 1901, just around the corner on the Schneevoogtstraat, the first day school for girls was opened, called the "Eerste Haarlemsche Huishoud- en Industrieschool
Huishoud en Industrieschool (Haarlem)
The Haarlemse Huishoud en Industrieschool is a former huishoud school on the Voorhelmstraat, Haarlem, The Netherlands. It is the oldest public day school for girls in Haarlem, built in 1901, which was renovated in 1935...
", or "Household School".
The Ambacht and Huishoud schools offered a three-year education and "extra classes". Some of the "extra class" names in the Household school were ‘nat en droogwaschen’ (wet and dry-cleaning), ‘strijken’ (ironing), ‘tafeldienen’ (waiting tables), ‘naaien van lijfgoed’ (sewing underwear) and ‘koken' (cooking) for workmans' wives. The extra classes were paid separately. For example the cooking class for children cost 1 guilder and fifty cents, but the meal could be eaten afterwards.
In need of more space for the practical lessons, the Ambachtsschool expanded and in 1919 the "Middelbare Technische School
Middelbare Technische School (Haarlem)
The Middelbare Technische School is a former MTS middelbare school on the Verspronckweg, Haarlem, The Netherlands. It is one of the oldest public vocational schools in Haarlem, built as a boys school in 1919, which grew out of the first Ambachtsschool that was located on the Kamperstraat...
" (MTS) opened on the Verspronckweg. It was this school that had such a difficult time during WWII because it was run by National Socialists
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
. After the war, it became the "Hoger Technische School" (HTS), and the young students were taught how to fix trams, trains, and airplanes. On the Indonesian island Flores
Flores
Flores is one of the Lesser Sunda Islands, an island arc with an estimated area of 14,300 km² extending east from the Java island of Indonesia. The population was 1.831.000 in the 2010 census and the largest town is Maumere. Flores is Portuguese for "flowers".Flores is located east of Sumbawa...
, many technical achievements were realized after being drawn and fabricated in this school.
After 1968 the schools changed hands. Today nothing remains of the original Ambachtsschool, while the former Huishoudschool on the Schneevoogtstraat is rented to small businesses. The former MTS, later HTS, now houses another school.