Gymnasium Petrinum Dorsten
Encyclopedia
Gymnasium Petrinum is a state-funded secondary school and the oldest Gymnasium in the German
town of Dorsten
, North Rhine-Westphalia
.
town of Dorsten is host to Germany's oldest continuous cloister of the Franciscan Order
, founded in 1488. Out of this cloister, Petrinum was established as a Latin school in 1642. Although the Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) had badly derogated Dorsten’s medieval
wealth and status as a member of the Hanseatic League
of international trading cities, the town council mobilsed support for the clerics’ efforts.
In 1823 the Latin school became a Progymnasium, meaning that a more encompassing list of subjects was taught. The last Franciscan headmaster died in 1837 and in 1898 the school was made a full Gymnasium. Petrinum subsequently moved to a new building in 1902 and in 1904 the first Abitur
exam was conducted at the school now officially named “Catholic Gymnasium (with compensatory education in Greek) at Dorsten”. During the Occupation of the Ruhr
in 1923 the school building served as headquarters for Belgian
troops, which meant that teaching had to take place in another building.
After heavy disruptions during the Second World War, instruction returned to normal in 1948 although the school building still had to be shared with a Volksschule
. Due to the continuing shortage of teaching rooms, the building was extended, completely overhauled and re-opened in 1963. In 1978 the first girls took the Abitur exam at the former boys' school and in 1982 Petrinum moved to a completely new building by the Wesel-Datteln Canal
. The building was further extended by a new tract in 2003.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
town of Dorsten
Dorsten
Dorsten is a town in the district of Recklinghausen in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and has a population of just below 80,000.Dorsten is situated on the western rim of Westphalia bordering the Rhineland. Its historical old town lies on the south bank of the river Lippe and the Wesel–Datteln...
, North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
.
History
The WestphalianWestphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
town of Dorsten is host to Germany's oldest continuous cloister of the Franciscan Order
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....
, founded in 1488. Out of this cloister, Petrinum was established as a Latin school in 1642. Although the Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) had badly derogated Dorsten’s medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
wealth and status as a member of the Hanseatic League
Hanseatic League
The Hanseatic League was an economic alliance of trading cities and their merchant guilds that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe...
of international trading cities, the town council mobilsed support for the clerics’ efforts.
In 1823 the Latin school became a Progymnasium, meaning that a more encompassing list of subjects was taught. The last Franciscan headmaster died in 1837 and in 1898 the school was made a full Gymnasium. Petrinum subsequently moved to a new building in 1902 and in 1904 the first Abitur
Abitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
exam was conducted at the school now officially named “Catholic Gymnasium (with compensatory education in Greek) at Dorsten”. During the Occupation of the Ruhr
Occupation of the Ruhr
The Occupation of the Ruhr between 1923 and 1925, by troops from France and Belgium, was a response to the failure of the German Weimar Republic under Chancellor Cuno to pay reparations in the aftermath of World War I.-Background:...
in 1923 the school building served as headquarters for Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
troops, which meant that teaching had to take place in another building.
After heavy disruptions during the Second World War, instruction returned to normal in 1948 although the school building still had to be shared with a Volksschule
Volksschule
A Volksschule was an 18th century system of state-supported primary schools established in the Habsburg Austrian Empire and Prussia . Attendance was supposedly compulsory, but a 1781 census reveals that only one fourth of school-age children attended. At the time, this was one of the few examples...
. Due to the continuing shortage of teaching rooms, the building was extended, completely overhauled and re-opened in 1963. In 1978 the first girls took the Abitur exam at the former boys' school and in 1982 Petrinum moved to a completely new building by the Wesel-Datteln Canal
Wesel-Datteln Canal
The Wesel-Datteln Canal is a 60 km long canal in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It runs along the northern edge of the Ruhr Area, from the Rhine near Wesel to the Dortmund-Ems Canal near Datteln...
. The building was further extended by a new tract in 2003.