Berlinisches Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster
Encyclopedia
The Berlinisches Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster is the oldest Gymnasium
in Berlin
and continues to this day as the Evangelisches Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster. It is a private school with a humanistic profile and known as one of the most prestigious schools in Germany. Originally situated in the premises of a former monastery in the central Mitte
district, it is today located in suburban Schmargendorf
due to the destruction of the earlier buildings in World War II
.
as the first Protestant Latin school
in Brandenburg
at the site of a medieval Greyfriars
monastery (Graues Kloster), that had been secularised
in 1539 in the course of the Reformation
. The premises were centered around the Gothic
abbey church dating from the 13th century, its ruins still being visible near Alexanderplatz
.
After the school buildings had been destroyed by air raids in 1945, the school moved several times. After the political division of Berlin in 1949, the Evangelical Church
established the Evangelisches Gymnasium in West Berlin
which found a new home in Schmargendorf in 1954. While in 1958 the Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster in East Berlin
was officially abolished by the Communist SED
authorities, the Evangelisches Gymnasium adopted its tradition in 1963.
The remnants of the famous school library
including donations by Sigismund Streit
and Christoph Friedrich Nicolai
are now kept at the Zentral- und Landesbibliothek Berlin
.
with Latin
and Ancient Greek
as compulsory subjects. The students learn foreign languages in this order: English
(year 5), Latin
(year 5), Ancient Greek
(year 8), French
(year 9 optional). Additionally, it is possible to learn Hebrew and Dutch
.
society deserves particular mention as members of the society have won several Jugend debattiert student competitions over the last years.
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and continues to this day as the Evangelisches Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster. It is a private school with a humanistic profile and known as one of the most prestigious schools in Germany. Originally situated in the premises of a former monastery in the central Mitte
Mitte (locality)
Mitte is a central locality of Berlin in the homonymous district of Mitte. Until 2001 it was itself an autonomous district....
district, it is today located in suburban Schmargendorf
Schmargendorf
Schmargendorf is a south-western locality of Berlin in the district of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf. Until 2001 it was part of the former district of Wilmersdorf.-History:...
due to the destruction of the earlier buildings in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
History
The school was established on 13 July 1574 by Elector John George of HohenzollernJohn George, Elector of Brandenburg
John George of Brandenburg was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg and a Duke of Prussia...
as the first Protestant Latin school
Latin School
Latin School may refer to:* Latin schools of Medieval Europe* These schools in the United States:** Boston Latin School, Boston, MA** Brooklyn Latin School, New York, NY** Brother Joseph C. Fox Latin School, Long Island, NY...
in Brandenburg
Margraviate of Brandenburg
The Margraviate of Brandenburg was a major principality of the Holy Roman Empire from 1157 to 1806. Also known as the March of Brandenburg , it played a pivotal role in the history of Germany and Central Europe....
at the site of a medieval Greyfriars
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
monastery (Graues Kloster), that had been secularised
Secularization
Secularization is the transformation of a society from close identification with religious values and institutions toward non-religious values and secular institutions...
in 1539 in the course of the Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
. The premises were centered around the Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
abbey church dating from the 13th century, its ruins still being visible near Alexanderplatz
Alexanderplatz
Alexanderplatz is a large public square and transport hub in the central Mitte district of Berlin, near the Fernsehturm. Berliners often call it simply Alex, referring to a larger neighborhood stretching from Mollstraße in the northeast to Spandauer Straße and the City Hall in the southwest.-Early...
.
After the school buildings had been destroyed by air raids in 1945, the school moved several times. After the political division of Berlin in 1949, the Evangelical Church
Evangelical Church in Germany
The Evangelical Church in Germany is a federation of 22 Lutheran, Unified and Reformed Protestant regional church bodies in Germany. The EKD is not a church in a theological understanding because of the denominational differences. However, the member churches share full pulpit and altar...
established the Evangelisches Gymnasium in West Berlin
West Berlin
West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...
which found a new home in Schmargendorf in 1954. While in 1958 the Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster in East Berlin
East Berlin
East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. The American, British and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany but a free city...
was officially abolished by the Communist SED
Socialist Unity Party of Germany
The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology...
authorities, the Evangelisches Gymnasium adopted its tradition in 1963.
The remnants of the famous school library
School library
A school library is a library within a school where students, staff, and often, parents of a public or private school have access to a variety of resources...
including donations by Sigismund Streit
Sigismund Streit
Sigismund Streit was a prominent German merchant and art patron of the 18th century in Venice. Born in Berlin, he came to Venice in 1709, where he accumulated substantial wealth...
and Christoph Friedrich Nicolai
Christoph Friedrich Nicolai
Christoph Friedrich Nicolai was a German writer and bookseller.Nicolai was born in Berlin, where his father, Christoph Gottlieb Nicolai , was the founder of the famous Nicolaische Buchhandlung...
are now kept at the Zentral- und Landesbibliothek Berlin
Zentral- und Landesbibliothek Berlin
right|thumb|ZLBZentral- und Landesbibliothek Berlin is a foundation that encompasses the Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek and the Berliner Stadtbibliothek. It was founded on October 1, 1995. Since January 1, 2005, it also owns the Senatsbibliothek Berlin and the Berliner Gesamtkatalog. The foundation...
.
Curriculum
The Evangelische Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster is one of the last schools in Berlin offering the entire range of classical educationClassics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
with Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
as compulsory subjects. The students learn foreign languages in this order: English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
(year 5), Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
(year 5), Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
(year 8), French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
(year 9 optional). Additionally, it is possible to learn Hebrew and Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
.
Extracurricular activities
The debatingDebate
Debate or debating is a method of interactive and representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, which only examines consistency from axiom, and factual argument, which only examines what is or isn't the case or rhetoric which is a technique of persuasion...
society deserves particular mention as members of the society have won several Jugend debattiert student competitions over the last years.
Notable alumni
- Johann CrügerJohann CrügerJohann Crüger was a German composer of well-known hymns.Crüger was born in Groß Breesen as the son of an innkeeper. He studied at the Lateinschule in Guben until 1613, after which he traveled to Sorau and Breslau and finally to Regensburg, where he received his first musical training from Paulus...
(1598–1662), composer - Johann Gottfried SchadowJohann Gottfried SchadowJohann Gottfried Schadow was a German sculptor.-Biography:Schadow was born in Berlin, where his father was a poor tailor....
, (1764–1850), architect - Friedrich Daniel Ernst SchleiermacherFriedrich Daniel Ernst SchleiermacherFriedrich Daniel Ernst Schleiermacher was a German theologian and philosopher known for his attempt to reconcile the criticisms of the Enlightenment with traditional Protestant orthodoxy. He also became influential in the evolution of Higher Criticism, and his work forms part of the foundation of...
, (1768–1834), theologian and philosopher - Karl Friedrich SchinkelKarl Friedrich SchinkelKarl Friedrich Schinkel was a Prussian architect, city planner, and painter who also designed furniture and stage sets. Schinkel was one of the most prominent architects of Germany and designed both neoclassical and neogothic buildings.-Biography:Schinkel was born in Neuruppin, Margraviate of...
, (1781–1841), architect - Friedrich Ludwig JahnFriedrich Ludwig JahnFriedrich Ludwig Jahn was a German gymnastics educator and nationalist. He is commonly known as Turnvater Jahn, roughly meaning "father of gymnastics" Jahn.- Life :...
(1778–1852), "father of gymnastics" - Carl Ludwig Christian RümkerCarl Ludwig Christian RümkerCarl Ludwig Christian Rümker was a German astronomer. In German, his name is spelt Karl Ludwig Christian Rümker; he was also known as Charles Rümker, Charles Rumker, Charles Luis Rumker, Christian Carl Ludwig Rümker and Dr...
(1788–1862), astronomer - Johann Gustav DroysenJohann Gustav DroysenJohann Gustav Droysen was a German historian. His history of Alexander the Great was the first work representing a new school of German historical thought that idealized power held by so-called "great" men...
(1808–1884), German historian - Carl Mayet (1810–1868) chess master
- Hermann LebertHermann LebertHermann Lebert was a German physician.He studied medicine and the natural sciences first in Berlin and later in Zurich under Johann Lukas Schönlein. After he received his medical doctorate , he traveled throughout Switzerland, studying botany...
(1813–1878), German physician, pathologist - Hermann BonitzHermann BonitzHermann Bonitz , German scholar, was born at Langensalza in Prussian Saxony.Having studied at Leipzig under G Hermann and at Berlin under Böckh and Lachmann, he became successively teacher at the Blochmann-Institut in Dresden , Oberlehrer at the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Gymnasium and the Graues Kloster ...
(1814–1888), German scholar - Johann Georg HalskeJohann Georg HalskeJohann Georg Halske was a German master mechanic.Born in Hamburg, Halske started his own workshop in Berlin in 1844, which he ran together with his partner F. M. Böttcher. In 1847 Halske founded the Siemens & Halske Telegraph Construction Company together with Werner von Siemens...
(1814–1890), mechanic and entrepreneur (Siemens & HalskeSiemens & HalskeSiemens & Halske AG was a German electrical engineering company that later became part of Siemens AG.It was founded on 12 October 1847 as Telegraphen-Bauanstalt von Siemens & Halske by Ernst Werner von Siemens and Johann Georg Halske...
) - Heinrich Ernst Beyrich (1815–1896), geologist
- Otto von BismarckOtto von BismarckOtto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg , simply known as Otto von Bismarck, was a Prussian-German statesman whose actions unified Germany, made it a major player in world affairs, and created a balance of power that kept Europe at peace after 1871.As Minister President of...
(1815–1898), German statesman - Wilhelm StieberWilhelm StieberWilhelm Johann Carl Eduard Stieber was Otto von Bismarck's master spy and director of the Prussian Feldgendarmerie. Stieber was both an agent of domestic surveillance and an external agent...
(1818–1882), secret agent - Emil RathenauEmil RathenauEmil Moritz Rathenau was a German entrepreneur and industrialist, a leading figure in the early European electrical industry.- Biography :...
(1838–1915), entrepreneur - Franz Hilgendorf (1839–1904), zoologist
- Paul LangerhansPaul LangerhansPaul Langerhans was a German pathologist, physiologist and biologist.-Eponymous terms:* Islets of Langerhans - Pancreatic cells which produce insulin...
(1847–1888), pathologist - Henri James SimonHenri James SimonJames Simon was a German entrepreneur, philanthropist and patron of the arts during the Wilhelmine period...
(1851–1932), entrepreneur - Theodor Simon FlatauTheodor Simon FlatauTheodor Simon Flatau was a German physician.Flatau was born in Lyck, East Prussia , where he attended school. He passed his Abitur at the Graues Kloster in Berlin and studied medicine at the Universities of Berlin and Heidelberg. In 1883 Flatau started to work as a physician in Berlin, specialized...
(1860–1937), physician - Paul Hirsch (1868–1940), politician
- Eduard SprangerEduard SprangerEduard Spranger was a German philosopher and psychologist.A student of Wilhelm Dilthey, Spranger was born in Berlin and died in Tübingen....
(1882–1963), philosopher - Carlheinz NeumannCarlheinz NeumannCarlheinz Neumann was a German rower who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics.In 1932 he won the gold medal as coxswain of the German boat in the coxed fours competition.- External links :*...
(1905–1983), rower - Franz/François Willi Wendt (1909-1970), painter
- Edward UllendorffEdward UllendorffEdward Ullendorff FBA was a British scholar and historian, especially in Semitic languages and Ethiopia.-Biography:...
(* 1920), German-British academic - Hans Georg DehmeltHans Georg DehmeltHans Georg Dehmelt is a German-born American physicist, who co-developed the ion trap technique with Wolfgang Paul, for which they shared one-half of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1989...
(* 1922), physicist (Nobel Prize in PhysicsNobel Prize in PhysicsThe Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded once a year by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895 and awarded since 1901; the others are the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Nobel Prize in Literature, Nobel Peace Prize, and...
1989) - Hermann PreyHermann PreyHermann Prey was a German lyric baritone. He is most famous for lieder and for light comic baritone roles in opera.-Biography:...
(1929–1998), baritone - Bernhard BrittingBernhard BrittingBernhard Britting is a German rower who competed for the Unified Team of Germany in the 1964 Summer Olympics.In 1964 he was a crew member of the German boat which won the gold medal in the coxed fours event.-External links:*...
(* 1940), rower - Lothar de MaizièreLothar de MaizièreLothar de Maizière is a German christian democratic politician. In 1990, he served as the only democratically elected Prime Minister of the German Democratic Republic, and as such was the last leader of an independent East Germany....
(* 1940), politician - Thekla Carola WiedThekla Carola WiedThekla Carola Wied is a German actress. In 1989 she starred in Rivalen der Rennbahn.-Selected filmography:* Derrick - Season 10, Episode 3: "Geheimnisse einer Nacht" -External links:*...
(* 1944), actress - Ulrich MatthesUlrich MatthesUlrich Matthes is a German actor.-Life and work:Ulrich Matthes was born in Berlin. He studied acting in the early 1980s in Berlin under Else Bongers. In the 2004 movie Downfall he plays Joseph Goebbels. In the 2004 movie The Ninth Day, he plays Fr. Henri Kremer, a Catholic priest imprisoned at...
(* 1959), actor - Florian Henckel von DonnersmarckFlorian Henckel von DonnersmarckFlorian Maria Georg Christian, Graf Henckel von Donnersmarck is a German film director, best known for writing and directing the 2007 Oscar-winning film The Lives of Others and the 2010 film The Tourist.-Personal life and family:...
(* 1973), director (Oscar 2007)
Faculty members
- Johann Joachim BellermannJohann Joachim BellermannJohann Joachim Bellermann was a German Hebraist and professor of theology at Berlin University. He was one of the earliest students of Hebrew epigraphy.-Life:...
(1754–1842), Hebraist - Karl Philipp MoritzKarl Philipp MoritzKarl Philipp Moritz was a German author, editor and essayist of the Sturm und Drang, late enlightenment, and classicist periods, influencing early German Romanticism as well...
(1757–1793), author - Friedrich Daniel Ernst SchleiermacherFriedrich Daniel Ernst SchleiermacherFriedrich Daniel Ernst Schleiermacher was a German theologian and philosopher known for his attempt to reconcile the criticisms of the Enlightenment with traditional Protestant orthodoxy. He also became influential in the evolution of Higher Criticism, and his work forms part of the foundation of...
(1768–1834), theologian - Johann Gustav DroysenJohann Gustav DroysenJohann Gustav Droysen was a German historian. His history of Alexander the Great was the first work representing a new school of German historical thought that idealized power held by so-called "great" men...
(1808–1884), historian - Heinrich BellermannHeinrich BellermannJohann Gottfried Heinrich Bellermann was a German music theorist. He was the author of Der Contrapunkt , 1862, , and Die Grösse der musikalischen Intervalle als Grundlage der Harmonie ,...
(1832−1903), music theorist - Anton Friedrich BüschingAnton Friedrich BüschingAnton Friedrich Büsching was a celebrated German theologian and geographer.His Erdbeschreibung was the first geographical work of any scientific merit. The first 10 parts feature the geography of Europe, the 11...
(1724–1793), geographer, headmaster from 1766