"From Quill and Slide Rule" - School at Kiekeberg - Discover 200 Years of Rural Education at Kiekeberg Museum's New Exhibition
A captivating journey through over a century of rural education is on display at the Kiekeberg Open-Air Museum in Rosengarten, Germany. The special exhibition, 'From Quill and Slide Rule: The Evolution of Rural Education', opens on August 17, 2026, and is built around the extensive collection of retired teacher Christine Strüfing.
Strüfing, now 81, has dedicated over 60 years to gathering anything related to education. Her private collection has grown substantially over time, including maps, chalkboards, and fairy-tale cards sent to her from across Schleswig-Holstein. The collection spans more than 100 years, drawing a line at her own first day of school, around 1950.
The exhibition showcases documents and objects dating from around 1830, offering a unique insight into the transformation of teaching over two centuries. Visitors can expect to see items such as the cane and the punishment bench, once used for disciplining students but now considered outdated. Strüfing, a former school principal, has presented her collection through historical reenactments at the Gettorf local history museum for years.
The Kiekeberg Open-Air Museum is proud to host this exhibition, conserving and scientifically exploring Strüfing's extensive collection. The exhibition provides a rare opportunity to explore the evolution of rural education, from the use of quills and slide rules to modern teaching methods.
