Hugo Treffner Gymnasium
Encyclopedia
The Hugo Treffner Gymnasium is a secondary school
in Tartu
, Estonia
with special emphasis on science education. Founded by Hugo Treffner
, it was the only large secondary school in the 19th century Estonia with dominantly Estonian
students and no age restrictions. During the Estonian national awakening
, the school greatly contributed to the numbers of Estonian intellectuals.
and later in Russian
language. Hugo Treffner took special care in educating boys from the rural areas and presently the school also encourages students originating outside Tartu to enter.
In the following years the school gradually expanded. In 1907 it became a full private gymnasium and since 1918 Estonian
was used for teaching. Following the Soviet occupation in 1944, the school was called Tartu I Secondary School and from 1958 to 1990 it also bore the name of A.H. Tammsaare
. In 1954 the school began to accept girls as well. In the 60s, specialised classes in mathematics and physics were opened. The original name of the school was restored in 1990.
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
in Tartu
Tartu
Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
with special emphasis on science education. Founded by Hugo Treffner
Hugo Treffner
Hugo Hermann Fürchtegott Treffner was the founder and first director of the Hugo Treffner Gymnasium in Tartu, Livonia, Russian Empire, and an important figure in the Estonian national awakening.- Biography :...
, it was the only large secondary school in the 19th century Estonia with dominantly Estonian
Estonians
Estonians are a Finnic people closely related to the Finns and inhabiting, primarily, the country of Estonia. They speak a Finnic language known as Estonian...
students and no age restrictions. During the Estonian national awakening
Estonian national awakening
The Estonian Age of Awakening is a period in history where Estonians came to acknowledge themselves as a nation deserving the right to govern themselves. This period is considered to begin in 1850s with greater rights being granted to commoners and to end with the declaration of the Republic of...
, the school greatly contributed to the numbers of Estonian intellectuals.
History
The school was founded in 1883 by Hugo Treffner who also was the first headmaster (1883–1912). At first it was a progymnasium for boys with three classes and teaching was conducted in GermanGerman language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
and later in Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
language. Hugo Treffner took special care in educating boys from the rural areas and presently the school also encourages students originating outside Tartu to enter.
In the following years the school gradually expanded. In 1907 it became a full private gymnasium and since 1918 Estonian
Estonian language
Estonian is the official language of Estonia, spoken by about 1.1 million people in Estonia and tens of thousands in various émigré communities...
was used for teaching. Following the Soviet occupation in 1944, the school was called Tartu I Secondary School and from 1958 to 1990 it also bore the name of A.H. Tammsaare
Anton Hansen Tammsaare
Anton Hansen Tammsaare , born Anton Hansen, was an Estonian writer whose pentalogy Truth and Justice is considered one of the major works of Estonian literature and "The Estonian Novel"....
. In 1954 the school began to accept girls as well. In the 60s, specialised classes in mathematics and physics were opened. The original name of the school was restored in 1990.
Schoolhouse
The gymnasium operated in various locations before settling to its current location in the centre of Tartu in 1919. The historic schoolhouse suffered severe damage from fire in 1998 and was subsequently completely renovated. Also a gym was built to the courtyard of the building which now covers the whole block. St. John's Church of Tartu is located next to the schoolhouse.Notable alumni
- Adamson-EricAdamson-EricAdamson-Eric was an Estonian artist who worked mainly within the medium of painting in applied art.Born Erich Carl Hugo Adamson in Tartu, he was the fourth child of Jaan and Anna Adamson. Adamson attended schools in his native Estonia before relocating to Berlin to study at the Charlottenburg Art...
(1902–1968), artist - Artur AlliksaarArtur Alliksaar- Biography :Alliksaar attended an elementary school in Tartu in 1931. In 1937 he was accepted to Hugo Treffner Gymnasium, after which he worked at railways like his father for a short period of time in 1942. In that same year he started to study law in the University of Tartu.1943–1944 he served...
(1923–1966), poet - Efraim AllsaluEfraim AllsaluEfraim Allsalu was an Estonian painter.-References:...
(1929–2006), painter - Karl AstKarl Rumor-AstKarl Ast was an Estonian writer and politician.- Life :Karl Ast attended at the renowned Hugo Treffner Gymnasium in Tartu...
(1886–1971), writer and politician - Kaarel EenpaluKaarel EenpaluKaarel Eenpalu was an Estonian journalist, politician and head of state.- Education :...
(1888–1942), politician and journalist - Jaan EinastoJaan EinastoJaan Einasto is an eminent Estonian astrophysicist and one of the discoverers of the cellular structure of the Universe....
(born 1929), astrophysicist - Ernst EnnoErnst EnnoErnst Enno was an Estonian poet and writer.- Life :Ernst Enno was born the son of a farmer Prits Enno. He spent his childhood on Soosaar farm near Rõngu. At the age of eight, he attended the parish school of Lapetukme and then the prestigious Hugo Treffner Gymnasium and at the secondary school in...
(1875–1934), poet and writer - Ivar Grünthal (1924–1996), writer, physician and politician
- Indrek Hirv (born 1956), poet and artist
- Jüri JaaksonJüri JaaksonJüri Jaakson VR III/1 was an Estonian businessman and politician....
(1870–1942), politician and businessman - Karin Jaani (1952–2009), diplomat and politician
- Kalju Jakobsoo (1924–2010), freedom fighter and WWII veteran
- Ain Kaalep (born 1926), writer and poet
- Kalju Kangur (1925–1989), writer and translator
- Jaan KaplinskiJaan KaplinskiJaan Kaplinski is an Estonian poet, philosopher, and culture critic. Kaplinski is known for his independent mind, focus on global issues and support for left-wing/liberal thinking...
(born 1941), writer and translator - Mart Niklus (born 1934), biologist and freedom fighter
- Jaan-Mati Punning (1940–2009), ecologist
- Harald RiipaluHarald RiipaluHarald Riipalu was an Estonian military commander and one of four commanders who earned the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross when fighting in the German army in World War II.-Early life:Harald Riipalu was born in Saint Petersburg where his family was lessee in a manor...
(1912–1961), military commander - Richard Roht (1891–1950), writer
- Hando Runnel (born 1938), poet
- Edgar V. SaksEdgar V. SaksEdgar Valter Saks was an Estonian statesman, amateur historian and author. He was Estonian Minister of Public Education in exile from May 8, 1971 until his death...
(1910–1984), historian and politician - Juhan SimmJuhan SimmJuhan Simm was an Estonian composer....
(1885–1959), composer and conductor - Anton Hansen TammsaareAnton Hansen TammsaareAnton Hansen Tammsaare , born Anton Hansen, was an Estonian writer whose pentalogy Truth and Justice is considered one of the major works of Estonian literature and "The Estonian Novel"....
(1878–1940), writer - Jaan TeemantJaan TeemantJaan Teemant was an Estonian lawyer and politician.Teemant studied in H. Treffner's Private High School. In 1901 he graduated from the Department of Law the St. Petersburg University. He was a solicitor in Tallinn. In 1904–1905 was a member of the Tallinn Municipal Council...
(1872–1941), lawyer and politician - Simmu TiikSimmu TiikSimmu Tiik is an Estonian diplomat and is the current Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Estonia to the Russian Federation....
(born 1959), diplomat - Friedebert TuglasFriedebert TuglasFriedebert Tuglas was an Estonian writer and critic who introduced Impressionism and Symbolism to Estonian literature. Persecuted under the czar, he became an acknowledged representative of Estonian literature in the Soviet era.-Biography:The son of a carpenter, Tuglas studied at the Hugo Treffner...
(1886–1971), writer - Trivimi VellisteTrivimi VellisteTrivimi Velliste is an Estonian politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1992 to 1994 and as the Estonian Ambassador to the United Nations from 1994 to 1998...
(born 1947), politician
Sources
- Ülo KaevatsÜlo KaevatsÜlo Kaevats is an Estonian statesman, retired academic, and philosopher.Kaevats holds a PhD from Vilnius State University in Lithuania...
et al. 1996. Eesti Entsüklopeedia 9. Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus, ISBN 5-89900-047-3