School years of Irmtraud
Arnfels, Southern Styria, 1950-1955
When I returned from Klein-Engersdorf to my parents in Arnfels a lot had changed. The practice of my father went well and he had built a house at the outskirts of the village, where he also had his consulting room. My mother had organized a housekeeper from a neighbouring village, Mitzie, who lived with us. Ottie worked together with her husband in his practice. She was very fond of my three year old brother, Otmar. To me she was less affectionate, but told me that Otmar was a very special boy, who deserved my attention. As I was curious about learning, I liked to go to school. Doing my homework, was an escape from taking care of my brother.
When I returned from Klein-Engersdorf to my parents in Arnfels a lot had changed. The practice of my father went well and he had built a house at the outskirts of the village, where he also had his consulting room. My mother had organized a housekeeper from a neighbouring village, Mitzie, who lived with us. Ottie worked together with her husband in his practice. She was very fond of my three year old brother, Otmar. To me she was less affectionate, but told me that Otmar was a very special boy, who deserved my attention. As I was curious about learning, I liked to go to school. Doing my homework, was an escape from taking care of my brother.
The choice of the grammar school
As I always had high marks in school, the headmaster recommended to send me to grammar school in a nearby town. By accident I heard the discussion of my parents concerning this matter in their consulting room. Ottie did not want to spend much money on a private boarding school close to their home. “It would be a waste of money!”, she told my father. ”She is only a girl and will marry thereafter!”
Karlheinz, however, insisted that nowadays also girls should have a good education. “Why don´t we send her to the State Boarding School for Girls in Vienna (BEA)?”, he said to Ottie. “The school is not expensive, but of high prestige. The only thing is they require an admittance exam.” “If she gets admitted, what I doubt”, Ottie remarked cynically, “the problem is resolved! My parents could take care of her, when she has a free weekend, as they live now in Vienna.”
As I always had high marks in school, the headmaster recommended to send me to grammar school in a nearby town. By accident I heard the discussion of my parents concerning this matter in their consulting room. Ottie did not want to spend much money on a private boarding school close to their home. “It would be a waste of money!”, she told my father. ”She is only a girl and will marry thereafter!”
Karlheinz, however, insisted that nowadays also girls should have a good education. “Why don´t we send her to the State Boarding School for Girls in Vienna (BEA)?”, he said to Ottie. “The school is not expensive, but of high prestige. The only thing is they require an admittance exam.” “If she gets admitted, what I doubt”, Ottie remarked cynically, “the problem is resolved! My parents could take care of her, when she has a free weekend, as they live now in Vienna.”
Grammar school in Vienna 1955-1963
For all the girls, who came from different areas of Austria to this boarding school, the first year was an ordeal. The educators treated us like cadets. They shouted commands to the ten year olds, to get up, sit down or stand in line. If the homesick girls cried in the evening in the dormitory they also wanted to stop them , but that was in vain. Fortunately, after the first year they abandoned these disciplinary measures.
The schoolteachers of the humanistic subjects were well trained and so I got enthusiastic about languages and history. In contrast to them, the teachers of science showed little interest in explaining their subjects to us. As I knew that I had to give my best in order to stay in this school, I was very grateful to some girls, gifted in science, who tutored me to pass.
For all the girls, who came from different areas of Austria to this boarding school, the first year was an ordeal. The educators treated us like cadets. They shouted commands to the ten year olds, to get up, sit down or stand in line. If the homesick girls cried in the evening in the dormitory they also wanted to stop them , but that was in vain. Fortunately, after the first year they abandoned these disciplinary measures.
The schoolteachers of the humanistic subjects were well trained and so I got enthusiastic about languages and history. In contrast to them, the teachers of science showed little interest in explaining their subjects to us. As I knew that I had to give my best in order to stay in this school, I was very grateful to some girls, gifted in science, who tutored me to pass.
New experiences
In general I liked the school. It was directly supervised by the ministry of education which organized stays for some weeks in British and French schools. The ministry also provided opera, theatre, concert and museum tickets. These visits widened my horizon and I was eager to know more about arts and history.
I was fascinated about the imperial buildings in Vienna, which were restored in their ancient glory after the destruction in WW II. In the history lessons they only dealt a bit with WW I., who led to the destruction of the empire. The history teacher told that the end of the monarchy was logical. So I became curious about the decision making of the last imperial governments. Years later I studied these decisions, which I will discuss in a later story.
Till then I had the idea to live in an ordered world. In 1961 I admired at the television the beauty of Jackie Kennedy. All girls were apolitical until we heard in October 1962 that the world was at the brink of a nuclear war, because of the missiles the Russians installed in Cuba. It was a great disillusion to perceive that the world was full of dangers. When the situation calmed down, the fear evaporated and I concentrated again to reach the finals. From the originally 30 pupils only 15 stayed and passed the final exam. I was one of them.
In general I liked the school. It was directly supervised by the ministry of education which organized stays for some weeks in British and French schools. The ministry also provided opera, theatre, concert and museum tickets. These visits widened my horizon and I was eager to know more about arts and history.
I was fascinated about the imperial buildings in Vienna, which were restored in their ancient glory after the destruction in WW II. In the history lessons they only dealt a bit with WW I., who led to the destruction of the empire. The history teacher told that the end of the monarchy was logical. So I became curious about the decision making of the last imperial governments. Years later I studied these decisions, which I will discuss in a later story.
Till then I had the idea to live in an ordered world. In 1961 I admired at the television the beauty of Jackie Kennedy. All girls were apolitical until we heard in October 1962 that the world was at the brink of a nuclear war, because of the missiles the Russians installed in Cuba. It was a great disillusion to perceive that the world was full of dangers. When the situation calmed down, the fear evaporated and I concentrated again to reach the finals. From the originally 30 pupils only 15 stayed and passed the final exam. I was one of them.
The first important choice
I wanted to study at the university and my father agreed. But which subjects should I choose and what would I like to become? The job opportunities for girls were still very restricted in this time. My father suggested that I should choose something were I was talented for. “The best thing would be to become a schoolteacher. In this way you could combine family and work.”, he advised me. I did not dare to tell him that I was not eager to have a family. But his proposal made some sense. “Yes, I could take French and History. I like these topics!” My father was pleased with my choice. What I did not tell him either, was that I also would try to find another profession then teaching. So I enrolled in the fall at the University of Vienna.
I wanted to study at the university and my father agreed. But which subjects should I choose and what would I like to become? The job opportunities for girls were still very restricted in this time. My father suggested that I should choose something were I was talented for. “The best thing would be to become a schoolteacher. In this way you could combine family and work.”, he advised me. I did not dare to tell him that I was not eager to have a family. But his proposal made some sense. “Yes, I could take French and History. I like these topics!” My father was pleased with my choice. What I did not tell him either, was that I also would try to find another profession then teaching. So I enrolled in the fall at the University of Vienna.