PART II OF THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN HEADMISTRESS THERESIA SCHILLING AND ANGELIKA ZIEGLER
How did things continue in Stein after the Wiskott era – the founding era?
The son of the house, Olaf Ziegler (from the first marriage of Mrs. Stein founder Ilse Wiskott), finally returned home from captivity in France.
He had no school leaving certificate, had to cope with the terrible memories of the war years, and readjust to a “normal” life.
As a late returnee, he was allowed to take his Abitur under difficult circumstances.
Naturally, his mother would have very much liked to see her son become a business economist to take over the family’s entire business.
Initially, he complied with this wish. He worked at the Hofbräuhaus Munich and consequently began the desired business administration studies. However, Olaf Ziegler had a beautiful baritone voice and connections to Richard Wagner and his family. In the end, music interested him much more than business administration.
He came to pedagogy by a circuitous route, which then fascinated him his entire life. He studied to become a Realschule teacher in Berlin, so he was not a layman in the field.
When his mother unexpectedly died in 1964, he naturally came for the funeral.
The question arose as to how Stein should continue? Angelika and Olaf Ziegler did not actually intend to take over, but both students and staff told him: “Olaf, you must do this.”
And so he actually did!
In 1967, the agricultural operation was abandoned. The animals were sold, and the lands leased out. That it was an agricultural operation can still be recognized by various names, such as Kuhstall (cow shed), Saustall (pigsty), and others.
Of course, the general rebellion of young people also found its way into Stein at that time!
Hippies, flower children, all the signs of the times (the wild 68 years) were fully lived out in our boarding school as well: This was an exciting time, though not always entirely easy for the head couple.
More about the hippie era will follow in our article about the 70s…
When Ilse Wiskott founded the Landschulheim Stein in October 1948, it was not only a school that came into being, but a community whose bond was to extend far beyond the years spent together at the school.
A journey back in time to 1965.
The graduating classes of 2020-2024 look back on years full of challenges, solidarity and unforgettable moments. Between corona, new projects at boarding school and personal experiences, they talk about what Stein meant to them during this special time.
New paths, significant changes – and memories that endure. The 2010s at Stein were a decade of great dynamism: The new Abitur, modern technology, new faces, and a strong sense of togetherness shaped daily life. Those who were here at the time recall not only lessons and examinations, but also community, friendships, and that special feeling of being at home in Stein.
The Abitur class of 1965 of Schule Schloss Stein looks back on six decades full of memories. At the anniversary meeting in July 2025, not only were stories from boarding school life exchanged, but moving moments of their shared school days also came back to life.
