Christian-Weise-Gymnasium
| Christian-Weise-Gymnasium | |
|---|---|
|
|
| type of school | high school |
| founding | 1586 |
| place | Zittau |
| country | Saxony |
| Country | Germany |
| Coordinates | 50 ° 53 '55 " N , 14 ° 48' 22" E |
| carrier | Goerlitz district |
| student | about 790 |
| Teachers | 67 |
| management | Bernd Ebert |
| Website | www.gymnasium-zittau.de |
The Christian-Weise-Gymnasium is a general education high school in Zittau in the Free State of Saxony . It was founded in 1586 at the suggestion of Mayor Nikolaus von Dornspach as a high school in Zittau . It was given its current name in 1993 in honor of the meritorious Rector Christian Weise .
The grammar school gained special importance through its pioneering role in the scientific school experiment computer-aided mathematics lessons, which was implemented across the board in Saxony with the introduction of new curricula in 2008. The Johanneum schoolhouse with its fresco Paul preaches in Athens is of further cultural and historical importance .
history
Foundation of the grammar school
The first mention of a school in Zittau can be found in a document from 1310. This Latin school received its first Protestant principal in 1535, Andreas Mascus . It was through this that Nikolaus von Dornspach , who came from Moravia , was also induced to come to Zittau. However, the Latin school did not lead to higher educational goals. That is why Dornspach, who was appointed first mayor in 1549, had it elevated to a high school. The necessary renovation began after 1571. The grammar school opened on March 10, 1586, but its founder could no longer experience this as he had died in 1580.
In the first few years there were six classes taught mainly in Latin , Greek and theology . While the beginnings of the school were marked by some difficulties, it flourished from 1602 under the rector Melchior Gerlach. Among other things, he wrote school regulations that included the German language in lessons. Under the subsequent rectors, the grammar school had to struggle with unrest, the suffering of the Thirty Years War and the plague . The fact that the school was not closed under these conditions is due in particular to the school principals Augustin Preil and Christian Keimann , as well as the mayor of Zittau, Johann Nesen. Above all, Keimann was anxious to make the lessons more practical and also wrote some corresponding school books.
Flowering in the 17th century
The grammar school also developed splendidly under the rectors Christoph Vogel, Christian Weise and Gottfried Hoffmann . Under Vogel's direction, the school was given numerous foundations. The best-known rector of the Zittau grammar school was Weise, who was in charge for thirty years from 1678. During his tenure, he introduced science, mathematics, and the study of history to classes, for which he wrote several textbooks. The school theater performances also reached a climax under Weise, who was himself a writer.
During this time the lower classes formed a kind of elementary school with Latin elementary instruction, only the upper three classes formed the real grammar school classes. Many of the students destined for university studies received private tuition and did not enter grammar school until they graduated from college. In the case of the elegant stands, this could only be the case with the Prima.
Under Gottfried Hoffmann the number of pupils increased even further, so there were around 1709 in the Prima alone 134 pupils. In order to enable the poorer children to have a good school education, so-called freists, i.e. school scholarships, were founded at Hoffmann's suggestion . The next innovations came with the rector but one, Gottfried Polykarp Müller. In addition to the French language, he also introduced geography and drawing lessons .
Regression and the Seven Years War
Müller's successor Benjamin Gottlieb Gerlach largely reversed the innovations made by his predecessors and returned to teaching Latin and Greek only. This regression was also noticeable in the falling number of students. During the Seven Years' War , part of the school building was destroyed in the Zittau bombing. The general conditions of that time and a city fire also damaged the school.
Although the economic situation improved again after the war, the Zittau school system persisted in this regression under the subsequent rectors. In addition to financial worries, new reactionary curricula also bothered students and teachers, as these led to uncertainties in the implementation of lessons rather than to their improvement.
Renewed boom and standardization of the school system
The headmaster August Friedrich Wilhelm Rudolph separated the lower classes of the grammar school and formed a community school from them . Furthermore, he ensured uniformly regulated teaching and reduced the private lessons running at the same time in favor of public courses. During Johann Friedrich Lindemann's tenure, grammar school lessons were increasingly organized by the state and uniform foundations created for all students in Saxony. In 1827 the first exams similar to the Abitur were carried out. Until then, a leaving examination was only taken by those who wanted a university scholarship from the city. The decision on this was in the hands of the Rector. In 1829 these exams were passed into the hands of the state, and uniform teaching regulations followed in 1847.
In 1855, Realschule classes were added to the grammar school, creating a double institution. Heinrich Julius Kämmel became its leader under whose direction these classes developed into a complete secondary school. Furthermore, a nine-year course was introduced in the grammar school, the middle grades of the secondary school and grammar school were taught together. A separation of the Realschule took place in 1882, it was combined with the higher commercial school to form an independent Realgymnasium .
With the construction of the Johanneum from 1869 to 1871, the grammar school and secondary school received a new schoolhouse. Both institutions were run jointly and share the teaching staff, but were otherwise independent of each other. On March 10th the three hundredth anniversary of the grammar school was celebrated, on this occasion the school received numerous donations. In 1855 the sponsorship of the grammar school passed to the Kingdom of Saxony .
Development since 1900
After the turn of the century, the school was converted into a humanistic grammar school. During the Second World War , but at the latest after the war, teaching came to a standstill, but was resumed in 1948. In 1960 the grammar school was converted into an extended secondary school, which was named EOS Ernst Schneller from 1986 to 1993 . The mural Paul preaches in Athens in the assembly hall of the Johanneum was imposed from 1967 to 1987 for political reasons.
After reunification , two high schools were established in Zittau in 1992, the Richard-von-Schlieben-Gymnasium and the Christian-Weise-Gymnasium, which got its name on May 27, 1993. In 1998 the neighboring building of the Pestalozzi elementary school became the property of the grammar school, after it had already been used by pupils of the grammar school. Due to declining student numbers, the Richard-von-Schlieben-Gymnasium merged with the Christian-Weise-Gymnasium in 2005. Since then the school has been sponsored by the district of Görlitz . Today the school is particularly keen on projects with the foreign partner schools. An intensive exchange between teachers and students has been sought with the Polish Adam Mickiewicz High School in Lubań since the 2017/2018 school year. In addition to the partnership with Lower Silesia, the Zittauer Gymnasium conducts an annual exchange with the Ribe Katedralskole in Denmark . 11th grade teenagers visit their Danish partner for a week and the Danish schoolchildren also come on a return visit. The Christian-Weise-Gymnasium is also aiming for a student exchange with the Italian ITCS Pacini in Pistoia , Zittau's twin town.
building
Old high school
Originally, the Zittau grammar school was housed in a Renaissance building on today's Johannisplatz. The as Altes Gymnasium known building was constructed in 1571 after the demolition of the old Latin school in their place. In 1584 the rector's apartment to the west was completed; on March 10, 1586 the classrooms were ceremoniously opened. The building got its present appearance in 1602 when the grammar school and the rector's house were connected by a flying buttress . The east wing of the building was destroyed during the Seven Years' War, but was later rebuilt. Nikolaus von Dornspach's grave monument, which was buried after the city fire of 1757, was recovered in 1812 and built into the south wall of the grammar school in 1838. In the 19th and 20th centuries the building was used as a library, school and boarding school. The office of the Zittau housing association has been located here since 1996. The south wall is still adorned with a quote from Cicero :
“Nullum munus melius majusve rei publicae offere possumus, quam sie doceamus atque erudiamus juventutem, his praesertim moribus ac temporibus, quibus ita prolapsa est, ut omnium opibus refrenanda atque coercenda sit.”
"We can do no greater and better task for the state than when we teach the youth, especially in these times and under these circumstances, by which they are so corrupted that they must be curbed and kept in check by all means."
Johanneum
The foundation stone of the late classicist building was laid in 1869, when King John of Saxony was also present. The inauguration took place on December 14, 1871, and the building was named Johanneum in honor of the monarch . The building has two entrances, these were set up due to the separation between the Realschule and the Gymnasium. The two side wings each have three floors, while the middle section with the auditorium extends over four.
The most striking feature is the 56 meter high tower on the west side of the building. It stands almost exactly on the same spot as the tower of the Bautzner Tor, the material was obtained from the demolition of the gate. The bell of the Johanneumsturm was also created by casting around the old gate bell. At the top of the tower is a copper-hammered, gilded baroque angel with a palm branch and a trombone, which adorned the former weaver's gate. An original design provided for a second tower with an observatory on the east side, but this plan was never implemented.
In autumn 2015, the tower, especially the bell cage and the pointed roof, were renovated. A general overhaul of the tower clock takes place so that the dial is now illuminated by white LEDs in the dark. In addition, the tower was painted in a new, listed color.
The front of the Johanneum is dominated by the eight large arched windows of the auditorium. Inside, the hall is supported by Ionic and Corinthian columns . There is a stage on the east side and a balcony on the west side, on which the stage technology is housed today. The room is illuminated by several magnificent chandeliers. The central design element of the auditorium is the eight by six meter mural Paulus preaches in Athens , which was created between 1872 and 1877 by the Saxon artist Anton Dietrich . The scene shown is based on the Acts of the Apostles (chapter 17, verse 22 and 23) and its symbolism fits in with the Christian - humanistic tradition of the grammar school. This neo-renaissance picture is considered to be the most important work of history painting by the Dresden School of the 19th century. The painting is framed by a Greek-classical arch and is surrounded by four allegorical figures and three grisaille pictures. They depict the great thinkers of their time - Homer , Aristotle , Martin Luther , Philipp Melanchthon , Johann Wolfgang von Goethe , Alexander von Humboldt .
In 1996 the facade of the Johanneum was completely renovated, from 2006 to 2008 the interior was completely renewed.
School collection
The school collection of the grammar school went back to the old grammar school. Presumably, the minerals and rocks of the former council library listed in the donor books were given to the grammar school in the 1880s. After the establishment of the royal high school and the move of the high school to the newly built Johanneum, the collection was used by both institutions and moved to the Johanneum. In 1900 the grammar school received substantial funds to complete its collection, and the real grammar school was probably given the joint collection. From 1917 the collection was looked after by the teacher Curt Heinke , who from 1923 connected it to the newly opened museum of local history and presented it to the public. In contrast to the museum's holdings, it was not subject to any regional restrictions; its exhibits were obtained and used for teaching purposes. The purchases and donations were published in the annual school programs. Among them was the donation from the estate of a former student who died in World War I with around 1500 minerals, rocks and fossils. After the grammar school moved to the newly built school building on Bismarckallee in 1920, its own collection was built there. The school collection of the Realgymnasium received considerable additions until the 1940s.
The school collection of the extended high school was dissolved in 1965 for "lack of space" and probably disposed of. At the same time, the former high school collection disappeared from the wine school.
Lessons focus
Three different profiles are offered as learning focus at the Christian-Weise-Gymnasium from the eighth grade: mathematical-scientific, social and, since the merger with the Schlieben-Gymnasium, also an artistic profile. English , French and Russian are offered for language classes. Due to a lack of teaching staff, traditional Latin was replaced by classes in the Czech language in 2008 .
As a special feature, computer-aided mathematics lessons were introduced in 1997 as a school experiment. From the seventh grade onwards, spreadsheet programs and computer algebra systems were used to solve mathematical problems. This shifted the focus of learning to modeling problems and evaluating the results. The aim of the experiment was to offer the students an environment that is also found in working life. In May 2003 the first Abitur exams were written with the help of the PC . The school trial ended in 2008, and new curricula introduced the use of computers in mathematics lessons at all Saxon schools.
The Christian-Weise-Gymnasium applied for the title “Climate School Saxony” in 2016 and won. In the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 school years, one of the school's main topics is environmental and climate protection. Among other things, waste separation could be realized in the project.
Special equipment
A cafeteria was set up for the catering of the students , which is maintained by the students themselves. The school club made up of students was in charge of this. During the renovation of the Johanneum, the basis for a dedicated radio was created. 2009 was student radio for the first time on the air. During the breakfast and lunch breaks, students report on current events in the grammar school and its surroundings. In addition, the music requested is played in both school buildings, for the most part by the students and teachers.
public relation
The friends and sponsors of Christian Weise Gymnasium Zittau eV repeatedly supports the school with financial problems, for example the association has called for a fundraising campaign to renovate the Johanneum auditorium. Since 2015, the student council of the Christian-Weise-Gymnasium has increasingly been promoting events for students and the public, such as a talent show, the alumni reunion or musical performances. In addition, he has set up a board post to coordinate public relations , which is responsible for the school's social networks and public relations in general.
An open day takes place annually on the Saturday after the educational recommendation is issued at Saxon primary schools.
Former rectors
| Term of office | Surname | |
|---|---|---|
| from | to | |
| 1586 | 1587 | Caspar Janitius |
| 1587 | 1589 | Johann Winkler (Vice Rector) |
| 1589 | 1594 | Leonhard Etzler |
| 1594 | 1599 | Martin Hammer |
| 1600 | 1602 | Samuel Junius |
| 1602 | 1616 | Melchior Gerlach |
| 1616 | 1634 | Augustin Preil |
| 1634 | 1662 | Christian Keimann (until 1638: Vice Rector) |
| 1662 | 1678 | Christoph Vogel |
| 1678 | 1708 | Christian way |
| 1708 | 1712 | Gottfried Hoffmann |
| 1713 | 1723 | Johann Christoph Wenzel |
| 1723 | 1738 | Gottfried Polycarp Mueller |
| 1738 | 1756 | Benjamin Gottlieb Gerlach |
| 1756 | 1760 | Samuel Friedrich Bucher (Vice Rector) |
| 1760 | 1782 | Adam Daniel Richter |
| 1783 | 1798 | Karl Heinrich Sintenis |
| 1798 | 1823 | August Friedrich Wilhelm Rudolph |
| 1803 | 1825 | Johann Gottfried Kneschke (Vice Rector) |
| 1823 | 1853 | Johann Friedrich Lindemann |
| 1825 | 1840 | Ferdinand Heinrich Lachmann (Vice Rector) |
| 1840 | 1845 | Leopold Immanuel Rückert (Vice Rector) |
| 1854 | 1880 | Karl Friedrich Ferdinand Lachmann (Vice Rector) |
| 1854 | 1881 | Heinrich Julius Kämmel |
| 1882 | 1884 | Karl Schnell |
| 1884 | 1895 | Emil Heinrich Otto Müller |
| 1895 | 1905 | Konrad Seeliger |
Well-known students and teachers
Others
In the middle in front of the Johanneum is a very well preserved, fossilized rootstock of a bald cypress from the Tertiary that weighs about four tons and was excavated in the Hartau clay mine in 1932 . The local geologist and Zittau high school teacher, teacher Curt Heinke, arranged for the fossil to be recovered and moved to its current location. In 2004 the stump was fundamentally conserved and in 2005 provided with a glass enclosure.
In front of the west wing of the Johanneum stands the only constitutional column in all of Saxony. This was inaugurated on September 3, 1833 and commemorates the constitution of the Kingdom of Saxony that was promulgated on September 4, 1831 .
Since spring 2018, the Christian-Weise-Gymnasium has had its own sports hall for the first time. The main gym on the Zittauer Stadtring was renovated by the school authorities for 8.1 million euros and has been used primarily for school sports at the grammar school since then.
literature
- Sächsischer Gymnasiallehrerverein (Hrsg.): Overview of the historical development of the grammar schools . BG Teubner, 1900, p. 209-220 .
- The south-eastern Upper Lusatia with Zittau and the Zittau Mountains (= values of the German homeland . Volume 16). 1st edition. Akademie Verlag, Berlin 1970, pp. 175,187.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Mandy Schütze: Zittau. Retrieved August 27, 2010 .
- ↑ Roland Kern: The Penne. Retrieved August 27, 2010 .
- ^ Uwe Miersch: Zittau - Nördlicher Stadtring, Haberkornplatz, Johanneum, Theater. (No longer available online.) Formerly in the original ; Retrieved August 27, 2010 . ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )
- ^ Wolfram Lange: Curt Heinke (1890–1934) and the local museum for geology and prehistory in Zittau . In: Zittauer Geschichtsblätter, issue 50/2014, pp. 30–31
- ^ The south-eastern Upper Lusatia with Zittau and the Zittau Mountains (= values of the German homeland . Volume 16). 2nd Edition. Akademie Verlag, Berlin 1971, p. 175.