Johann Christian Gerhard Claussen

Johann Christian Gerhard Claussen (born December 24, 1750 in Kiel , † August 26, 1801 in Copenhagen ) was a German schoolboy .

Live and act

Johann Christian Gerhard Claussen was a son of the blacksmith Berend Claussen (born December 29, 1716 in Tollschlag ; † September 9, 1761 there) and his wife Maria Margaretha, née Stölting (* 1718 in Mönkeberg ; † May 7, 1766 in Kiel). How he spent childhood and adolescence is completely unknown. From 1774 to 1781 he worked as a teacher at several German schools and was allegedly also active in France. Then he attended the new seminar for school teachers. In 1783 he finished his training as one of the first to graduate with very good grades. Presumably his teacher Johann Andreas Cramer recommended him to Count Johann Ludwig von Reventlow . Claussen visited this for some time at Brahetrolleborg Castle , where the count tried to reform the country school system. He also learned the Danish language here.

It can be assumed that Claussen should already be entrusted with the task of improving the rural schools in the Lindenborg feudal county by Ernst Heinrich von Schimmelmann . This activity determined the next years of his work. In 1785 he was appointed school inspector and began work in the spring of 1786. He was supposed to introduce new teaching content to the teachers in Lindenborg and in particular the teaching methods for teaching in rural schools, which he had learned himself from Johann Andreas Cramer and Heinrich Müller . In addition, he was a member of a school commission initiated by Schimmelmann, which was in charge of supervision. There were also pastors on the commission who feared that Claussen would diminish their traditional rights as a seminarian. Therefore he was attacked. To humiliate him, rumors quickly circulated that new, rationalistic religious content should be created. As Schimmelsmann's confidante, Claussen received the backing of his manager Niss Andersen Andkier and thus prevailed.

In 1787 Claussen attended the Reckahn Reformed School under the direction of Friedrich Eberhard von Rochow. In 1789 he created a new Hellebæk School , which was also owned by Schimmelmann. Schimmelmann headed a commission to improve the school system in Denmark. The commission proposed to set up a first Danish seminar for school teachers in Blågård near Copenhagen.

In the summer of 1790 Claussen began practical preparatory work for the educational institution initiated by the Danish Commission. From the opening in March 1791 until the end of his life, he was the first teacher to teach here. The form and content of the lessons were based very much on the methods of the teachers' seminar from Kiel, which Claussen certainly played a decisive role in. In particular, he taught religion and conducted catechetical exercises. The school commission had originally planned to create a position for an academic senior teacher, but did not implement this. With that Claussen de facto led the seminar in 1796 he also took over the economic management. In his office he was conscientious and reliable and worked harmoniously with HW Riber (1760–1796). Claussen was able to fend off complaints about rationalistic theological learning content and arrogant seminarians who arose at the seminars in Kiel and Blågård. He benefited from the fact that Bishop Nicolai Edinger Balle trusted him.

family

On March 26, 1790, Claussen married Elisabeth Marie Byrum in Lindenborg (baptized on November 14, 1757 in Aalborg ; † December 9, 1839). Her father was the merchant Christen Byrum (* around 1725, † 1760). The couple had two daughters and two sons.

literature

• Dieter Lohmeier: Claussen, Johann Christian Gerhard . In: Biographical Lexicon for Schleswig-Holstein and Lübeck . Volume 8. Wachholtz Verlag, Neumünster 1987, pp. 79-81.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ L. Koch: Reventlow, Johan Ludvig . In: Carl Frederik Bricka (Ed.): Dansk biografisk Lexikon. Tillige omfattende Norge for Tidsrummet 1537-1814. 1st edition. tape 14 : Resen – Saxtrup . Gyldendalske Boghandels Forlag, Copenhagen 1900, p. 64-67 (Danish, runeberg.org ).