Yes, you better believe it, they existed before the famous Elvis Presley was born, and even before the much-adored television and bikinis were invented.
Florida Primary School (FPS) turned 125 years old this year and the Record decided to take a look into their existence and rich history, which started in the late 1880s.
There was no one better to interview than the school’s first-ever black woman principal, Barbara Fick who has been in office since mid-2000s.
“When I came into office in 2004, it was an honour to be appointed principal of a school so well kept, clean and tidy. My aim was to maintain the high standards that previous principals have set. The school started with just 62 pupils and today has more than 1 200.
“Despite the main aim being to educate the community’s children, we are a great family and well-oiled machine thanks to the fantastic people working here.
“We are a school for the community, catering for pupils across every culture and creed, respecting their diverse beliefs.”
Timeline:
• 1887: A public meeting was held and a school committee elected to manage the school to educate 39 pupils. A year later, in 1888 on 10 October, Florida Public School is opened with GG le Roux as principal and HMCH Beukes as an assistant. Two years later there were 62 pupils in the school.
• 1890 to 1896: There were 10 educators on the staff establishment. The building, built by parents, consisted of three classrooms. By 1898 the roll had increased to 120 pupils and another classroom was built. The language of teaching and learning was Dutch and other languages such as English were regarded as a foreign language.
• 1899: The school was closed and Florida English Medium was opened on 14 June 1901 with a roll of 44 pupils. The first permanent principal was WC Nicholls – he, together with three others were responsible for education.
• 1905: The first time the school was burgled.
• 1907: The first tennis court was constructed.
• 1909: Provision was made for a Standard 7 (Grade 9) class.
• 1910: Corporal punishment was administered.
• 1914: During Revolution Week the school was used as a hospital. It also was reported that a new school opened in Bantjies Mine, thus the roll decreased.
• 1919: Educators were entitled to long leave in those days. The principal had six months leave.
• 1929: After the 1st World War, many people left the area and thus enrolment/ registration dropped tremendously. In January the school amalgamated with Bantjies Skool and the enrolment rose to 240 pupils. Enrolment at the school increased to 234. Bantjies School was closed and the children and furniture were transferred to Florida. An additional classroom was built.
• 1931: DD Winckworth reported as principal with the school then called Florida Government School.
• 1933: The first Afrikaans-medium class began with a WJ Cronje as the first teacher in the Afrikaans section of the school, making Florida Public School a dual medium school. For the following years, FPS was a parallel medium school.
• 1942: There was a need for more classrooms.
• 1944: School experienced a high absentee rate. The school buildingwas extended even further but as a result of the outbreak of the 2nd World War, not much could be done regarding the educational needs of the pupils. Shops in the Main Street of Florida were hired and use as classrooms.
• 1948: The school’s name changed to Florida Public School. The principal felt that the antiquated bucket-system toilets should be changed to a sewage system and more lavatories for boys and girls should be provided.
• 1949: Principal Winckworth retired. Mr van Niekerk became acting principal for a year. Then he was appointed principal of Monument Primary and Mr Dick became the new principal of FPS.
• 1952: A water-borne sewerage system was installed. In the same year, funds were raised to level the ground, construct tiers of seats and generally improve the surroundings of the school.
• 1953 to 1954: The school celebrated its 50th birthday. Four new classrooms were completed, the swimming pool excavated and there were 600 pupils enrolled at the school. With the opening of the new Florida Afrikaans Medium School, all the Afrikaans pupils left and FPS became an English medium school.
• 1955: Bursary fund established to help former pupils who wished to become teachers. A staff room was built.
• 1956: Arthur Matthews School was opened and 110 Florida pupils moved to the new building. FPS still was overcrowded.
• 1957: FPS was one of +- 18 schools asked to experiment with social studies, a new approach to history and geography – but all experienced problems due to a lack of equipment, books, experience and space.
• 1958: A steady increase in the number of pupils to 800, making FPS the largest primary school on the West Rand. The school fête brought in a handsome amount of £1 500, used for the new grounds and a school hall.
• 1962: Decline in numbers as the roll dropped to 502, one teacher left the school. Speech therapist was asked to visit the school every Monday to assist pupils with problems.
• 1963: The old school building, which served the community for more than half a century, is demolished. Department of Education decides to erect a new building.
• 1964: The school year starts with builders on site.
• 1965: The swimming pool was taken over, however, the office block and hall were still incomplete.
• 1966: School library used as a staff room while the staff room was under construction.
• 1967: The school regarded as PI, entitled to two vice principals and five senior staff members.
• 1970 to 1974: The numbers increased to 880 pupils. At that stage the school offered 13 extramural and cultural activities. The steady growth in numbers undoubtedly necessitated the provision of another English medium school.
• 1979: Mr Dick retired as principal.
• 1980: Contantia Kloof Primary School was opened, therefore the roll at FPS decreased and one educator was declared redundant.
• 1981: JL van Loggenberg, who became principal of Discovery Primary School acted as headmaster.
• 1983: Bomb scare. The school was visited by a team from the Republic of China.
• 1984: FPS made a hit production called The Sound of Music.
• 1985: Another bomb scare.
• 1986: A burglary occured in the media centre.
• 1988: FPS celebrated its 100th birthday.
• 1992 to 1996: JT Fourie headed the school from 1992 to 1996. The garden in the courtyard was established. The first Governing Body at a model C school was established. Fourie boarded because of ill health and Mr Greeff appointed as acting principal.
• 1997: Mr Homan was appointed as headmaster. Enrolment of pupil increased to 1 056, however, Mr Holman resigned in October and once again Mr Greeff was appointed as acting principal in 1998.
• 1998: Ann Owgan appointed as the first woman principal at FPS and Ms A Nzama was the first black educator to be employed at this model C school.
• 2002: Massive clean-up of the streets around the school. She resigns in December and Mr Greeff was appointed as acting principal again in January 2003.
• 2005: Mr Greeff steps down as acting principal with Barbara Fick taking her post as principal of the school and is still the principal.
Very interesting article, thank you.
Three generations of our family attended FPS.