GJVJ - Gymnázium J. V. Jirsíka České Budějovice

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History

History

In 1851 Jan Valerián Jirsík – a bishop, a theologian with a broad educational background and an ardent patriot came to the town of Èeské Budìjovice. It was the time when any demonstration of patriotism was suppressed by the Bach´s police regime.
Only after the fall of this absolutist system, Czech national movement was aroused. Cultural and art activities became important. In particular, Czech school system, especially „gymnasium“ (grammar school) became necessary. When constitution of lower state grammar school was rejected, the bishop J. V. Jirsík had a private grammar school built. On October 3, 1868, lessons started with 268 students. The number of those increased to 551 during the first 15 years of its history.

The cost of running that school was too high and therefore efforts to open a state grammar school continued. They were completed in 1871 and the first state final examinations were administrated in 1872. In the 1880s, as the original building (in present Skuherského street) became too small, more rooms were needed. First, both the students and the staff had to pass from the original building to a close one. However, the increasing problems were solved in 1903 – the new stately Art Nuveau building at the corner of Jírovcova and ©rámkova street was opened in September. At present, the school is placed there as well.

The objectives of that school had to be changed, as the new (20th century) started and changes in education were demanded. As „real gymnasium“ became a common type of grammar school in Austria, a similar type was opened in Èeské Budìjovice and classes at „classical gymnasium“ were changed.

World War One influenced school life in a negative way. There were fewer lessons and delayed final examinations. Teachers as well as older students had to leave for the army: 196 boys were involved in war actions, 34 were killed or died of injuries. Most students from villages had to help in the farms. As the standard of living declined, the number of students changed: from 513 in 1914 to 421 in 1918.

In the period of the first republic the school kept its character of classical grammar school with a few classes specialised in natural sciences. The structure of the curriculum in some subjects e. g. History, Czech and Geography changed in the consequence of the new state order. The reduction of lessons touched mainly lessons of German and English. The number of students was slightly lower than before the war, more girls applied for studies there. The studies were not free of charge, but only about one fifth of students really paid, the others were freed of paying. From 1926 the school was permitted by the ministery decision to use the name Czech state grammar school of J. V. Jirsík in Èeské Budìjovice.

The number of students was increasing, even in the time of economy crisis, and went up to the number 818 (605 boys and 213 girls).

In the period of "normalization'1970–1989, the ideological and political interests and formal fulfilling of targets in the educational sphere were enforced more than ever before. In spite of it and forced personal changes, lessons continued to be taught to a high standard.

The school was divided into two separate grammar schools; one of them was moved to the former building of a basic (primary) school in Jeronýmova street. The name of the school was changed again to ‚Gymnasium Karla ©atala‘ and the experimental 8-year study was cancelled. There were eighteen classes – twelve natural historical, three concentrated on chemistry, three concentrated on the humanities. The number of classes concentrated on the humanities was continuously declining to only one class and at the beginning of 1980s there were only natural historical classes.

The bases of specialized subjects like the building industry, economics and organization, electrical engineering, technical chemistry and programming were included into the timetable among other subjects.

In spite of the tight atmosphere the students as well as the teachers were able to achieve many remarkable results – for example 1st and 3rd positions in the biological and mathematical contest (Moscow) in 1973.

In 1970s the historical building was reconstructed, the central heating was installed, the gymnasium was rebuilt, new special classrooms were established, the windows were replaced and the school building got a new facade.

17th November 1989 was warmly welcomed by the students and teachers, who actively took part in activities organized by the strike committee leading by RNDr. J. Zahradník and Civic Forum.

It was not only the restitution of democracy but it was also the return to traditions which the school had started from.

On 3rd October 1990 the name of the school was solemnly changed to „Gymnasium J. V. Jirsika“ in the presence of the city bishop Msgre M. Vlk (the former student of the school). In January 1991 the Association of Jan Valerian Jirsík for mutual generation contacts of students, school leavers, teachers and school supporters was founded. In the same year (1991) 8-year study started its first year.