Prussian models

Two models of secondary schools competed with each other in the 19th-century Poznań: gymnasium and Realschule. The first focused on teaching arts and humanities, the latter – on vocational training. Both types of schools were developed in Prussia.

Gymnasiums…

Gymnasiums placed importance on teaching according to the Classical ideals. Young people were supposed to pursue truth and inner perfection. Teaching focused on Classical languages, Latin and Greek, as well as history.

These schools educated the future elite: higher officials, lecturers and the clergy. Mainly sons from wealthy families were admitted. Children from the families of craftsmen, workers and peasants rarely attended these schools. An invention connected to gymnasiums was a school-leaving exam called Matura, which was introduced in 1810. It allowed students to continue their education at university.

There were two schools of this type in Poznań: the Catholic Mary Magdalene Gymnasium and Frederick William Gymnasium, which was a spin-off from the first one but aimed at Protestant youth. Lessons were taught mainly in German, which was an additional obstacle for Polish students.

The former St Mary Magdalene Gymnasium continues its long tradition of a prestigious Poznań secondary school, the beginning of the 20th century, from the collection of the University Library

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…or Realschule?

The curriculum of Gymnasiums did not respond to the needs of many townspeople, who saw their children’s future in professions such as industrialists and traders. It was for them that Realschule was created. Its authors placed importance on teaching useful subjects such as physics, mechanics, mathematics, sketching and geography.

Poznań Realschule was established in 1853. It was a perfect example of cooperation between Poles and Germans in terms of teaching young people. Apart from people like Karol Libelt and Edward Raczyński, the main contributor to the school was Gotthilf Berger. He was a merchant and a city councillor from Prussia. He endowed the city a considerable amount of over 65,000 thalers for the school but on one condition: students were to be allowed to attend the school regardless of their nationality and faith. The school abided by the condition and half of the teaching staff comprised of Polish and the other half – of German teachers.

During the Prussian rule, one of the streets in Poznań was named after Berger. His contribution was recognised also after Poland regained independence and it was decided that the name of the street should be kept.

Czteropiętrowy elegancki budynek otoczony zielenią

Municipal Realschule at 3 Strzelecka Street in Poznań. The building was heavily damaged in 1945.

Today’s building, located next to Kupiec Poznański (a shopping centre), is used by the Poznań University of Technology, from the collection of the University Library

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Prussian models
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