Overview
The School for Vocational Education on Haartsestraat in Aalten opened in 1928 as the first agricultural domestic science school in the Netherlands to include the word ‘Christian’ in its name. The building stood on the site now occupied by HEMA. The school began with a two-year course and developed rapidly.
Before the school was built, a house and bakery stood on the site.
Education and school life
At the time it was customary for girls to attend a domestic science school. They were prepared for their future role as housewives. Every pupil wore a prescribed uniform: a light-green cotton dress with short sleeves, white cuffs and collar, together with a white apron and cook’s cap.
The curriculum included advanced primary education, household work, cooking, sewing and mending, washing and ironing, childcare, and natural science and chemistry. Pupils also received telephone lessons, learning how to contact someone outside the region by telephone. At that time such calls went through an operator at the post office.
Practical lessons played an important part. Cooking was done on electric cookers, gas cookers or a coal-fired range. Tables had to be laid neatly before meals prepared by the pupils were served and eaten. Marks were awarded for neatness and taste.
Laundry had to be hung out neatly according to a prescribed method. Ironing was done with small iron flat-irons heated on the range or stove, although there were also a few electric irons. Vegetables and fruit were grown in the school garden and later harvested and prepared by the pupils.
There was also time for recreation. When a new headmistress took up her post, a welcome celebration was organised in the then Feestgebouw. All the pupils appeared as married couples in traditional Achterhoek dress, complete with lace cap or flat cap. Several girls had rehearsed songs and sketches.
On another occasion the girls formed an orchestra whose instruments were household objects such as a dustpan and brush, brooms, pans and pan lids. On the stage of the Sociëteit, dressed in rural costume, they performed the folk dances they had practised during physical education lessons.
War years
During the Second World War, the teaching staff had to improvise. Pupils brought ingredients from home for cookery lessons, such as potatoes, milk or a slaughtered chicken, often from farms where these were still available. Old garments were altered into new ones during sewing lessons on treadle sewing machines. Pupils brought dirty underwear from home to wash in a tub with a washboard and brush.
In September 1944 the school was requisitioned by the Germans and lessons came to a halt. The building offered no protection during air raids, making teaching too dangerous.
After the war and relocation
After liberation, pupils were given the opportunity to complete their diplomas. Each pupil received a school bag, a small sewing kit and a pair of scissors from the American Red Cross.
In the post-war years the range of courses expanded further. Many courses were organised for rural and other women, and secondary vocational courses were added.
As the school building on Haartsestraat became too small, the domestic science school moved in 1956 to a new building on Oranjelaan. The old building was then used until 1960 by the newly established HBS. It subsequently served until 1977 as an annexe of the Technical School. A HEMA branch was built on the site in 1982.
Residents
Population register 1823-1838
Garrit Vaags (Aalten, 2 March 1780), baker
Reintjen Ligterink (Aalten, 6 August 1779)
He was a second cousin of cooper Peterus Gerhardus Vaags, in ‘t Heuksken.
Population register 1838-1850
Reintjen Ligterink (Aalten, 6 August 1779)
Next head resident, son:
Lodewijk Vaags (Aalten, 7 May 1824)
Population register 1850-1860
Lodewijk Vaags (Aalten, 7 May 1824), baker
Anna Christina Vaags (Aalten, 24 July 1823)
Population register 1860-1870
Lodewijk Vaags (Aalten, 7 May 1824), baker
Anna Christina Vaags (Aalten, 24 July 1823)
Population register 1870-1880
Lodewijk Vaags (Aalten, 7 May 1824), baker
Anna Christina Vaags (Aalten, 24 July 1823)
Population register 1880-1890
Lodewijk Vaags (Aalten, 7 May 1824), baker
Anna Christina Vaags (Aalten, 24 July 1823)
Population register 1890-1900
Anna Christina Vaags (Aalten, 24 July 1823)
Next head resident, son:
Gerrit Vaags (Aalten, 14 October 1858), baker
Population register 1900-1910
Gerrit Vaags (Aalten, 14 October 1858), baker
Address directory 1934
Aalten D604 > Haartschestraat 8
Vocational School
Address directory 1950
Haartsestraat 8
Vocational School
Address directory 1967
Haartsestraat 8
Christian Technical School
Owners
This overview is not complete.
| Year | Plot | Owner | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1832 | I-1140 | Gerrit Vaags, baker | 240 m² house & yard |
| 1861 | I-2591 | Lodewijk Vaags, baker | 240 m² house & yard |
| 1882 | I-3729 | Anna Christina Vaags Leonard Roelvink, LL.M., mayor | 400 m² house, shed & yard |
| 1888 | I-4248 | Gerrit Vaags et al., baker | 695 m² house, sheds & garden |
| 1922 | I-5843 | Municipality of Aalten | 1,840 m² school, part house & yard |
| 1925 | I-6101 | Municipality of Aalten | 1,739 m² school & yard |
| 1946 | I-6101 | Municipality of Aalten | 1,739 m² school & yard |
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