PILGRIMAGE
A Spiritual and Cultural-Historical Journey
from Pirita to Vana-Vastseliina

Pilgrim’s route

Pikakannu

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Pikakannu is a small village in Võru County, on the border of Setumaa. In the 1870s Pikakannu became primarily known for its school, which was maintained by the Pindi parish and court house, now a community centre.
The school’s predecessor, the Pindi manor school, was established in the early 1730s on the initiative of the lord of the manor von Liebsdorff. Three locations are known for the later Pindi parish school in the 19th century: Pindi manor, from 1836 the village of Rusima and from 1871/1872, Pikakannu. The current house with white walls, popularly called a „sugar cube”, was completed in 1939.

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The former parish house, currently the community centre, now provides childcare where smaller siblings of schoolchildren can stay during the day.
There is also a museum room, offering an overview of the oldest schoolhouse in Võru County and of educational history throughout southern Estonia. The tiny collection mainly consists of written material, i.e. textbooks, literature and various schoolwork by pupils.

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A significant person in the history of Pikakannu school was Friedrich Peters from Saaremaa. From 1900 until his death in 1934 he devoted himself to local education and tried to advance the cultural and intellectual life of the village. His work was not in vain: there were choirs, amateur theatricals, the temperance movement emerged, and an educational society „Koidula” was established in 1921. In addition, Peters volunteered as an organist and sexton of the local church. The legendary schoolmaster is buried at Pindi cemetery. (U. Ojala, 2010)

The school had better and worse times, and almost disappeared in the first decade of the 21st century, as happened with so many rural schools across Estonia. When the local government closed it down in 2007, the community sued and the decision was overturned. The school continued, but in 2012, a similar situation occurred. This time the parents decided to found a private school.
Despite continuing persecution by the local government, the school began again the very same autumn. In 2014/2015, 27 children studied in the seven forms of the Pikakannu school. It also houses the Pikakannu hobby school.

Ave Tamra

Due to the small number of local children the Pikakannu school had to close in autumn 2019. Was that for good?


Accommodation in Pikakannu community centre:
– there is a kitchen corner, beds, mattresses, possibility to wash.
Contact: Anne Mägi, Phone +372 5341 2064; annemagi18@gmail.com;
https://www.booking.com/hotel/ee/pikakannu-seltsimaja.et.html
 

Sources

https://www.kylauudis.ee/2012/07/06/jatkub-vagikaikavedu-pikakannu-kooli-umber/
https://www.ohtuleht.ee/955567/kuus-kooli-vahemaks-maakohtades-pole-enam-lapsi-linnades-ruulivad-suured-koolid
https://maaleht.delfi.ee/artikkel/85947781/poolteist-sajandit-kestnud-koolihariduse-andmine-vorumaal-pikakannul-sugisel-loppeb
https://lounaeestlane.ee/sugisest-laheb-kinni-legendaarne-pikakannu-kool/
https://www.folklore.ee/pubte/ajaloolist/rouge/3_suusonalist.html