Franciscus primary school in Biezenmortel is 100 years old. One family was purveyor to the royal household in all those years. After Grandma Cor Maas, all her nine children and 21 grandchildren went to the Franciscus School. And at the moment there are still ten great-grandchildren on it: “Grandma Cor still went to school in clogs.”
Of course, the anniversary is celebrated in a big way. There is a large time machine in the schoolyard, from which the students appear dressed as the dignitaries of the past: the headmaster, the father, the mayor.
When the party is over and the students are back in class, a small crowd is left in the schoolyard: Grandma Cor and her family. Through their great-grandmother, the students once again step back in time: “I walked to school in clogs. It took me 45 minutes. I went home at noon and then back again.”
“Well, then it is a bit more luxurious now”, responds a great-grandson: “Clogs were rather annoying to walk with.”
Tineke van de Pas worked for 28 years as a teacher at the Franciscus School, last year she retired. The fact that a school has been in existence for a hundred years is special, so she made an exhibition about it. Full of photos and stories from generations who went to school there.
“The Germans set the school on fire.”
Even so, Grandma Cor was not in the school building that it now stands, Tineke knows: “It was taken by the Germans during the war and when they left, they set it on fire. A new school building was built in 1946 and wings were added later. So it is a modern school with an old look.”
The story of Grandma Cor is special, but not even very unique in Biezenmortel: “Of the 90 children here at school, at least 50 of whom ancestors attended this school. Yes, Biezenmortel is a base village. It is good to live here.”
“Whoever argued, had to do the big dishes.”
Cor’s daughter agrees: “Sharing together, playing together. And don’t argue, our mother always said.” “Because anyone who quarreled had to do the big dishes”, Cor responds. A granddaughter: “It was okay to play bad tricks once, but no arguing. That’s what our grandmother always said.”
Grandma is visible in her element with all her descendants in pais and peace around her. “That’s very first name, it goes of your own accord† If they understand arguing, huh boy?” She pats a great-grandson on the shoulder. He nods and runs into the school: lessons continue for the fourth generation.