The Gustav Adolf Lyceum or Gustav Adolf Gymnasium

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 Tallinn

Tallinn

Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...

, Estonia, was established in 1631 by the Swedish king Gustav II Adolf and is one of the oldest extant secondary schools in Europe. Throughout centuries the school has survived as an educational institution regardless of the upheavals in the political and social life of Estonia. The regime changes have affected the curricula and teaching language, but neither wars nor revolutions have forced the school to close the doors even temporarily.

1631–1651

When the school was founded, it was known as Revalsche Gymnasium or Gymnasium Revaliense (Gymnasium of Reval). Until 1645 it consisted of four forms: quarta, tertia, secunda and prima, prima being the highest. The teaching staff consisted of four professors and two colleagues (teachers of quarta and tertia). Pupils were taught rhetoric

Rhetoric

Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...

, poetry, Greek

Greek language

Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...

 and Ancient Hebrew language

Ancient Hebrew language

Ancient Hebrew is a blanket term for varieties of the Hebrew language used in ancient times. It can be divided into:*Paleo-Hebrew *Biblical Hebrew *Mishnaic Hebrew...

s, mathematics

Mathematics

Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...

, theology

Theology

Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...

, history etc. 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...

 was used to teach.

Architecture

The school buildings were originally constructed in the 13th century as a nunnery. Later the buildings has been rebuilt and expanded on. The latest renovation, completed in 1999, was intended to recover its historical appearance and value. The school is adjacent to the 13th century Tallinn Old Town city wall, which gives the whole complex a unique historic atmosphere and beauty.

Education

Today, the Gustav Adolf Gymnasium provides both primary and secondary education. In the secondary stage (gymnasium) students can choose between natural sciences, English, Swedish

Swedish language

Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...

, English-Mathematics and French direction.

External links

• http://www.einst.ee/Ea/architecture/lankots1.html