Adolf John Schulz

Adolf John Schulz was born in 1883 in Stepney, Adelaide.  He went to Flinders Street Lutheran Church School, and spent a year in Harburg Germany at a higher primary school.  Returning with his family to Adelaide, Schulz attended other public schools before becoming a pupil-teacher at Rose Park Public School.  In 1902 he began part-time Study at the University of Adelaide, and in 1904 entered the University Training College.  Completing a Bachelor of Arts in 1905 (and Master of Arts in 1909) in Adelaide, he also won a scholarship to the University of Zurich in Switzerland, where he studied for two years and gained a Ph.D. in 1908.[1] 

At the age of 25 in the year 1909, Dr. Schulz was appointed Principal of the University Training College by the Director of Education.  Although young in age, Schulz was academically brilliant and a capable administrator.  At this time the College was located in the administration building of the University, and Dr. Schulz advocated for relocation of the College to a separate site to better accommodate the growing number of student teachers.  In 1921 he oversaw the Adelaide Teachers College relocation to the old Police Barracks building behind the South Australian Museum.  Whilst he was pleased that the College was no longer a “guest” of the University, he stressed that the Police Barracks accommodation was a temporary measure until a permanent fit-for-purpose building for the College could be constructed.[2] 

Dr. Schulz’s appeals for a proper home for Adelaide Teachers College were successful, and the foundation stone for a new College building was laid on the Kintore Avenue site on 4 December 1925.  It became known as the Hartley Building in dedication to John Anderson Hartley who was appointed to the Central Board of Education in colonial South Australia in 1871, and was a founder of the University of Adelaide (later serving as vice-chancellor in 1893-1896).[3]  Progress in the new College was slowed somewhat during The Depression in the early 1930s, with no new students admitted in 1932 and the staff reduced to three.[4]  Dr. Schulz also managed to steer the College through both World Wars, bearing the anti-German sentiment with dignity[5].  He wished for the student teachers to engage in academic study and gain sound knowledge of educational theory, but also stressed the importance of practical classroom experience.  Dr. Schulz wholeheartedly encouraged students to actively participate in a variety of interests within the College – intellectual, sporting, religious, cultural or social – as a way of becoming well-rounded people and developing true esprit de corps.[6] 

Dr. Penny wrote of Dr. Schulz, “His scholarly ability was in psychology, philosophy, education and languages (he was fluent in seven).  He taught education (1910-48), German (1920-51) and educational psychology (1922-48) at the university.”[7]  In 1930 Schulz became the first president of the South Australian Institute of Educational Research.  His publications include Morality and Moral Education (1929), revised as Character and its Development (1939).

After a successful career spanning four decades, growing the Adelaide Teachers College from small beginnings, Dr. Schulz retired from the position of Principal in 1948.  He was honoured with a pageant called “Cavalcade” by students of the College, as a tribute to his career and achievements.  The editors of the College Magazine, The Torch reflected, “His personal integrity and high ideals have been impressed on so many teachers, who have striven to follow his example and impart such feelings to their pupils, that indirectly his influence has been spread across the whole land.  To him the general public owes a debt that will never be paid, for it is recognised by so few, so quietly and unostentatiously has he gone about his work.  His monument, if he needs one, is this College.”[8]

Adolf John Schulz passed away on 5 February 1956.  He made bequests to the University of Adelaide for research in educational theory and German language and culture.[9]  A plaque commemorating John Anderson Hartley, Lewis George Madley and Adolf John Schulz was unveiled in 1976 as part of the Centenary celebrations for the Adelaide Teachers College.

The Schulz Building on the University of Adelaide campus is named in his honour.[10]  Dr. Schulz is also commemorated with a plaque on the Jubilee 150 Walkway on North Terrace, Adelaide.[11] 

End Notes

[1] Hubert Harry Penny, “Schulz, Adolf John (1883–1956),” Australian Dictionary of Biography, accessed November 7, 2020, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/schulz-adolf-john-8361/.