Gymnasium (school)

For the type of building, see gym.

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A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools.

Etymology

The word γυμνάσιον (gymnasion) was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men. The latter meaning of intellectual education persisted in German and other languages, whereas in English the meaning of physical education was pertained in the word gym.

History

Gymnasium schools originated out of the turmoil from the Protestant Reformation, which helped to dislodge the grip of the Catholic Church on many areas of life, including education, and the new ideals of Humanism. Individual schools that taught and focused more upon rhetoric, grammar, logic, mathematics, astronomy, music, and geometry more than the traditional curriculum of theology began to spring up in the German states. In 1528, the state of Saxony created the first general system of schools which provided for the Gymnasia. While these schools flourished for a number of years, the instability of Europe kept the schools from expanding into the current roles until the influence of such prominent thinkers as Johann Gottfried von Herder, Immanuel Kant and Friedrich von Schiller who helped to re-establish the humanist roots of the gymnasium school. The rise in importance of the natural and physical sciences and developments in technology all helped to create a new set of gymansium schools that focused less on classical education and more on liberal arts and the sciences.

Structure

The gymnasium prepares pupils to enter a university. Some gymnasiums provide general education, others have a specific focus. (This also differs from country to country.) The three traditional branches are:

• humanities education (specialising in Classical languages, such as Latin and Greek)
• modern languages (students are required to study at least three languages)
• mathematical-scientific education

The number of years the gymnasium consists differs from region to region in Germany. It consists of seven years in Berlin and Brandenburg (primary school includes six years in both as opposed to four years in the rest of Germany) and newly eight in Bavaria, Hessen and Baden-Württemberg among others. While in Saxony and Thuringia pupils never were taught more than eight years in Gymnasium (by default), nearly all states are going to provide Abitur after 12 years in primary schools and Gymnasium. The Abitur exams which complete the Gymnasium education are centrally drafted and controlled (Zentralabitur) in almost all German States.

Cultural Variants

Europe

Originating out of Germany, gymnasiums can be found in several regions of western Europe, albeit some slight cultural differences.

In Austria, the gymnasium consist of eight years. The usual combination is English, French and Latin, sometimes French can be swapped with another foreign language (like Spanish, Italian or Russian) or a more technical subject like Engineering drawing or further hours of biology, physics or chemistry. Latin is almost obligatory, since it is a requirement for several studies in Austria.

Scandanavia has many different types of gymnasium schools. Denmark has a 3 year (sometimes 4 depending upon if the student is involved with music or athletic programs) school that is more like a prep school or the first years of college than high school. Everyone is eligible to go to a high school, but you have to be deemed competent to get into a gymnasium. Danish gymnasia are also available in an intensive 2 year program leading to the Højere Forberedelseseksamen ("Higher Preparatory Exam"). In Sweden, the gymnasium consist of three years, starting at age 16 after nine years of primary school. Both primary school and gymnasium are totally free of charge and financed by taxes. Finish students can enter a gymnasium school after 9 years of primary school, starting usually at age 15 or 16, and after passing the Matriculation Examination.

In the Netherlands the gymnasium consists of six years in which pupils study the same subjects as their German counterparts, with the addition of compulsory Ancient Greek, Latin and "KCV," history of the Ancient Greek and Roman culture and literature.

In Italy originally the Ginnasio indicated a typology of five-year junior high school (age 11 to 16) and preparing to the three year Liceo Classico (age 16 to 19), a high school focusing on classical studies and humanities. After the school reform that unificated the junior high school system, the term Ginnasio stayed to indicate the first two year of Liceo Classico, now five years long. An Italian high school student who enrolls in Liceo Classico follows this study path: Quarta Ginnasio (gymnasium fourth year, age 14), Quinta Ginnasio (gymnasium fifth year, age 15), Prima Liceo (Liceo first year, age 16), Seconda Liceo (Liceo second year) and Terza Liceo (Liceo third). Some believe this still has some sense, since the two-year Ginnasio has a very different set of mind from the Liceo. Ginnasio students spend almost all their classes studying Greek and Latin grammar, putting the bases for Liceo "higher" and more complete set of studies, such as Greek and Latin litterature, Philosophy and History. Furthermore, Liceo includes some scientific subjects, which are completely absent in Ginnasio.

In Eastern Europe, there are gymnasia located in such countries as the Czech Republic, which can start its students anywhere from between the ages of 10 and 15. The age one enters Czech gymnasia determines how long one attends the school. Most students graduate by the age of 19. In Greece, gymnasium schools start students at age 12 after 6 years of Elementary School. Compulsory for all children, gymnasium school is followed by the non-mandatory Lyceum (ages 15-18) for students with academic aspirations, or the Technical Vocational Educational School (TEE) for students who prefer vocational training.

There are also similar schools in such countries as Hungary, the Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Russia although each determine their own structure and curriculum.

Non-European Gymnasia

There are several gymnasium like schools in countries outside of Europe. In South America, Argentina has the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires, which students attend for 6 years. There is another gymnasium in Tucuman, 8 years. Brazil Humboldt Schule of São Paulo is a German School in São Paulo. There are more Gymnasiums in the country and some of them receive recurses from German Government.

In Israel, five schools termed "gymnasium" located in Tel Aviv, Rishon LeZion, Jerusalem and Haifa.

South Africa has 5 year style gymnasium schools, starting at age 13/14, after completing 7 years of primary school.

Notes

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