In conversation with Dr. Peter Nikolaus - April 2023

The former student was at the castle in Kirchberg over 60 years ago, is an internist and had a practice in Crailsheim for many decades. Peter lives with his wife in Crailsheim and is still professionally active today.

What is the first thing that spontaneously comes to mind when you think of your time at the Schloss-Schule?
First of all, I have to say that I was only 10 years old when I came to the Schloss-Schule. This was a very moving experience for me as a child.
Next, I remember a very emotional story: when the roof of the castle was being re-roofed, a jackdaw's nest with unfeathered chicks was found. I took one of the chicks into my care and raised it. Jakob, as the bird was called, was always with me. He thrived, learned to fly and always came back from his excursions. At night, he would sit next to me on the back of the chair. However, I lost sight of him during the school vacations.

What stages did you go through at school before Schloss-Schule?
I went to elementary school in my home village, where my father had a medical practice. After that, it was clear that I should go to a secondary school. However, the nearest grammar school was about 15 kilometers away and the bus connection there was still poor at the time. My parents therefore decided on a boarding school, the Schloss-Schule in Kirchberg.

What did you experience as formative at the Schloss-Schule? What values, life lessons or other influences have stayed with you to this day?
Boarding school life led us to independence very quickly. The ability to organize myself and manage on my own is a major influence that has stayed with me throughout my life.

What happened after Schloss-Schule?
In 1959, I transferred to the Albert-Schweizer-Gymnasium in Crailsheim and passed my Abitur there. I then went on to Würzburg to study medicine. I spent my compulsory military service as a staff doctor in Regensburg, where I also completed my specialist training in internal medicine at the Hospital of the Brothers of Mercy. I settled in Crailsheim in 1979. In the following decades, I then took on other colleagues to form a group practice. I am now retired, or rather unretired, and still work 2 to 3 days a week.

What stories and anecdotes from your time at the school should definitely not be forgotten?
I have very fond memories of Mrs. Ursula Borchers, she was an important person for me, also my piano teacher, and she awakened my love of music.
I wasn't quite as enthusiastic about Latin. My Latin teacher at the time was a gentle and very helpful teacher. He also tutored me and sometimes, as if by chance, the assignments for the upcoming class test were lying open on the table. As a result, I was often able to achieve very good grades in Latin.
I learned to act strategically as a first-grader: at lunch, it made sense to be given a smaller portion at the first round so that I could be one of the first to eat when it was time for a refill. Then you could fill your plate before the bowls were empty.
Then I also remember that we occasionally "borrowed" a moped at night, which was parked in the orangery. Well, it wasn't really officially borrowed (he grins), but we knew the key was there.
The "Stern" was an important meeting place for us in our free time and we felt quite grown up there!

What are you grateful for?
I'm grateful for everything, just as it was.

Looking back on your school days, what would you do differently today?
Some of the talents that weren't promoted as much, I wish they had been given more attention today. Apart from that, everything went the way it did. We didn't have a choice either.

What else would you like to say?
In my opinion, it is important that values are taught more strongly again! For me, this includes ethical principles as a basis. Young people should be shown what is really important in life. For me, this includes a lively and authentic approach.
For example, Albert Schweitzer was a role model for me from a very early age. Identifying with personalities can and should be carried to the outside world today and, above all, you should live by them yourself in order to possibly act as a role model or at least provide guidance.
There were various role models for me at school, for example the head of the home, Amalie Pfündel, but also Heinz and Ursula Borchers, Dr. Lange, our sports teacher at the time, Mr. Schmitt - to name just a few. The behavior of these people and the way they treated us as pupils was formative. We were taught to be independent very quickly, but we always had someone close to us who was there for us.
I can also say from my own experience that a boarding school and the school can still be a kind of family substitute, especially for young children.