Old page wikitext, before the edit (old_wikitext) | '{{For|the type of building|gym}}
{{Unreferenced|date=April 2008}}
A '''gymnasium''' (pronounced with {{IPA2|ɡ-}} in several languages) is a type of school providing [[secondary education]] in some parts of [[Europe]], comparable to English [[Grammar schools in the United Kingdom|grammar school]]s or [[sixth form college]]s and U.S. [[University-preparatory school|college preparatory high schools]]. The word ''γυμνάσιον'' (gymnasion) was used in [[Ancient Greece]], meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual [[education]] of young men (see [[gymnasium (ancient Greece)]]). The latter meaning of intellectual education persisted in [[German language|German]] and other languages, whereas in [[English language|English]] the meaning of physical education was retained in the word [[gym]]. The gymnasium prepares pupils to enter a [[university]] for advanced academic study.
==School structure==
===[[Gymnasium (Germany)|German Gymnasiums]]===
[[Image:Maulbronn Hof und Kirche.jpg|thumb|right|[[Evangelical Seminaries of Maulbronn and Blaubeuren]] - picture showing church and courtyyard]]
[[File:Wanderrudern 1959.jpg|thumb|These Gymnasiasten enjoy Rowing on the Unterelbe in 1959; Rowing trips like this are still common today]]
In [[Germany]], students study subjects like [[German language|German]], [[English language|English]], [[mathematics]], [[Informatics (academic field)|informatics]], [[physics]], [[chemistry]], [[geography]], [[biology]], [[arts]], [[music]], [[physical education]], [[religious education|religion]], [[history]] and [[social science]]s. They are also required to study at least two foreign languages. The usual combination is [[English language|English]] and [[French language|French]] or [[English language|English]] and [[Latin]], although many schools offer combining English or, in some cases, French, with another language, most often [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[Ancient Greek]] or [[Russian Language|Russian]]. Instead of religious education, which is compulsory for students visiting a Gymnasium<ref>[http://www.bvsg-nu.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=91:neu-am-gymnasium&catid=11:eltern&Itemid=36 Die ersten Schritte am Gymnasium]</ref> in most of the [[States of Germany|German States]] some states provide classes in ethics (Berlin) or classes in ''ethics, humanist studies and religious education (Lebenskunde, Ethik, Religion - LER)'' in [[Brandenburg]].
The number of years gymnasium differs between the [[States of Germany]]. It consists of six to seven years in [[Berlin]] and [[Brandenburg]] (primary school includes six years in both as opposed to four years in the rest of Germany) and newly eight in [[Bavaria]], [[Hessen]] and [[Baden-Württemberg]] among others. While in [[Saxony]] and [[Thuringia]] students have never been taught more than eight years in Gymnasium (by default), nearly all states are going to provide [[Abitur]] after 12 years in primary schools and Gymnasium. The Abitur exams which complete the Gymnasium education are centrally drafted and controlled (''Zentralabitur'') in almost all German States and provide a qualification to visit a university.
===Dutch Gymnasiums===
In the [[Netherlands]], gymnasium is the highest variant of secondary education. It consists of six years, after 8 years (including [[kindergarten]]) of primary school, in which pupils study the same subjects as their German counterparts, with the addition of compulsory [[Ancient Greek]], [[Latin]] and "KCV" (''"Klassieke Culturele Vorming"'', Classical Cultural Education), history of the Ancient Greek and Roman culture and literature. The equivalent without classical languages is called ''[[Atheneum]]'', and gives access to the same university studies (although some extra classes are needed when starting a degree in classical languages or [[theology]]). All are government-funded. See [[Voorbereidend wetenschappelijk onderwijs|VWO]] for the full article on Dutch "preparatory scientific education".
===Nordic and Baltic gymnasiums===
In [[Denmark]], [[Estonia]], the [[Faroe Islands]], [[Finland]], [[Latvia]], [[Norway]] and [[Sweden]] gymnasium consists of three years, usually starting at age 16 after nine or ten years of primary school. In [[Iceland]] the gymnasium usually consists of four years of schooling starting at the age of 16, the last year roughly corresponding to the first year of [[College|college]].
In all of Scandinavia and the Nordic countries, education is free. This includes not only primary school, but gymnasiums and universities as well. Furthermore, to help decrease the heritage of historic [[social injustice]], all countries except [[Iceland]] have generous [[Grant (money)|universal grants]] for students.
In Sweden, most adults have a gymnasium education.
In Denmark, there are four kinds of gymnasiums. [[Gymnasium (Denmark)|stx]] (Studentereksamen), [[hhx]] (Higher Business Examination Programme), [[htx]] (Higher Technical Examination Programme) and [[Higher Preparatory Examination (HF)|hf]] (Higher Preparatory Examination Programme). To attend hf, it is a prerequisite that students add a voluntary tenth year to their primary school education. Hf then lasts only two years, instead of the three required for stx, hhx, and htx.
In the Faroe Islands, there are also four kinds of gymnasiums, which are equivalents to the Danish educations: ''Studentaskúli'' (equivalent to stx), ''Handilsskúli'' (hhx), ''Tekniski skúli'' (htx) and ''HF'' (hf). Studentaskúli and HF are usually located at the same institutions as can be seen in the name of the institute in [[Eysturoy]]: [[Studentaskúlin og HF-skeiðið í Eysturoy]].
===Austrian gymnasiums===
In [[Austria]], gymnasium consists of eight years. The usual combination is [[English language|English]], [[French language|French]] and [[Latin]], sometimes [[French language|French]] can be swapped with another foreign language (like Italian, Spanish, or Russian) or a more technical subject like [[Descriptive geometry]] or further hours of [[biology]], [[physics]] or [[chemistry]].
[[Latin]] is almost obligatory, since it is a requirement for several studies in [[Austria]]. Also [[Ancient Greek]] is obligatory in some Austrian classes.
===Italian gymnasiums===
In [[Italy]] originally the Ginnasio indicated a typology of five-year [[junior high school]] (age 11 to 16) and preparing to the three year [[Liceo Classico]] (age 16 to 19), a high school focusing on [[classical studies]] and [[humanities]]. After the school reform that unified the junior high school system, the term Ginnasio stayed to indicate the first two year of Liceo Classico, now five years long. Oddly enough, an Italian high school student who enrolls in Liceo Classico follows this study path: Quarta Ginnasio (gymnasium fourth year, age 14), Quinta Ginnasio (gymnasium fifth year, age 15), Prima Liceo (Liceo first year, age 16), Seconda Liceo (Liceo second year) and Terza Liceo (Liceo third). Some believe this still has some sense, since the two-year Ginnasio has a very different set of mind from the Liceo. Ginnasio students spend almost all their time studying Greek and Latin grammar, laying the bases for the "higher" and more complicated set of studies of the Liceo, such as Greek and Latin literature, Philosophy and History. Furthermore, Liceo includes some scientific subjects, which are completely absent in Ginnasio.
===General===
This meaning of a secondary school preparing for [[higher education]] at [[university]] in the [[German-speaking Europe|German-speaking]], the [[Nordic countries|Nordic]], the [[Benelux]] and the [[Baltic countries]] has been the same at least since the [[Protestant reformation]] in the 16th century. The first general system of schools which provided for the Gymnasia was that of [[Saxony]], formulated in 1528. They are thus meant for the more academically-minded students, who are sifted out at about the age of 10–13. In addition to the usual curriculum, students of a gymnasium often study [[Latin]] and [[Ancient Greek]].
Some gymnasiums provide general education, others have a specific focus. (This also differs from country to country.) The three traditional branches are:
*[[humanities]] education (specialising in Classical languages, such as [[Latin]] and [[Ancient Greek|Greek]])
*modern languages (students are required to study at least three languages)
*mathematical-scientific education
*economical and social-scientific education (students are required to study [[economics]], [[social studies]] and [[business informatics]])
Today, a number of other areas of specialization exist, such as gymnasiums specializing in economics, technology or domestic sciences.
In some countries, there is a notion of '''progymnasium''', which is equivalent to beginning classes of the full gymnasium, with the rights to continue education in a gymnasium. Here, the prefix "pro" means "instead of".
==Countries with gymnasium schools==
{{Expand list|date=August 2008}}
*[[Albania]] [[Gjimnaz]] 3 Years, after 9 years of primary (4) and "medium" (5) education, ends with [[Matura Shtetërore]] at the age of 18.
*[[Argentina]]: [[Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires]], 6 years; [[Rafael Hernández National College]] of [[La Plata]], 5 years (formerly 6 years), after 7 years of primary school; and Gymnasium Universidad Nacional de Tucumán 61 years.
*[[Austria]] 8 years, after 4 years of primary school, or 4 years, after primary school and 4 years of [[Hauptschule]], ends with [[Matura]] at the age of 18.
*[[Belarus]]
*[[Brazil]] [[Humboldt Schule of São Paulo]] is a German School in São Paulo. There are more Gymnasiums in the country and some of them receive recurses from German Government.
*[[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] (4 years, starting at age 14/15 after 9 years in [[elementary school]], ends with Matura)
*[[Bulgaria]] 5 years, after 7 years of primary school. Currently graduation after passing at least two Matriculation Examinations.
*[[Canada]]
*[[Colombia]] [[Gimnasio Campestre]] (all-male, traditional and conservative Pre-K to 11th grade private school located in Bogotá, Colombia).
*[[Croatia]] (4 years, starting at age 14/15 after 8 years in elementary school, five different educational tracks: ''opća gimnazija'' (general education), ''klasična gimnazija'' (focused on Latin and Ancient Greek), ''jezična gimnazija'' (focused on modern languages), ''prirodoslovna gimnazija'' (biology and chemistry) and ''prirodoslovno-matematička gimnazija'' (mathematics, physics and computer science), ends with Matura)
*[[Cyprus]] 3 years, starting at age 12 and following 6 years of Elementary School. Compulsory for all students. Followed by the non-mandatory [[Lyceum]] (ages 15–18) for students with academic aspirations or [[Vocational education|TEL]] for students who prefer vocational training.
*[[Czech Republic]] (4 years starting at age 15/16; 6 years starting at age 13/14(not usual); 8 years starting at age 11/12; all of them end with a [[Matura|Maturita]])
*[[Denmark]] 3 years (4 years for athletes who are part of the ''[[Team Danmark]]'' elite sports program, or musicians who have chosen ''MGK'' ("Musical Elementary Course")), usually starting after 10 or 11 years of [[Danish Folkeskole Education|primary school]]). This is more like a prep school or the first years of college than high school. Everyone is eligible to go to a US high school, but you have to be deemed competent to get into a gymnasium. (For more information, see ''[[Gymnasium (Denmark)]]''.) Gymnasium is also available in an intensive 2 year program leading to the [[Higher Preparatory Examination (HF)|''Højere Forberedelseseksamen'' ("Higher Preparatory Exam")]].
*[[Estonia]] (3 years, after 9 years of primary school)
*[[Faroe Islands]] 3 years, usually starting after 9 or 10 years of [[Faroese Fólkaskúli Education|primary school]]. The system is similar to the Danish system. A gymnasium level education is also available in an intensive 2 year programme leading to [[Higher Preparatory Examination (HF)|''Hægri fyrireikingarpróvtøka'' ("Higher Preparatory Exam")]].
*[[Finland]], "lukio" (educational language is Finnish) or "gymnasium" (educational language is Swedish), 2.5–4 years (most students spend 3 years), after 9 years of primary school, starting usually at age 15/16, [[Abitur]] after passing the Matriculation Examination; not compulsory, entrance is competitive.
*[[France]]
*[[Germany]] (formerly 8–9 years depending on the [[States of Germany|Bundesland]] - now being changed to 8 years nationwide, starting at 5th (at age 11), [[Abitur]] in 12th or 13th grade); for more information, see [[Gymnasium (Germany)]].
*[[Education in Greece|Greece]] 3 years, starting at age 12 after 6 years of Elementary School. Compulsory for all children, it is followed by the non-mandatory [[Lyceum]] (ages 15–18) for students with academic aspirations, or the Technical Vocational Educational School (TEL) for students who prefer [[Vocational education|vocational]] training.
*[[Hungary]] (4/6/8 years, starting after 8/6/4 years of primary school, ends with Matura), see [[Education in Hungary]]
*[[Iceland]] (usually 4 years, starting at age 15/16 after 10 years of elementary school, though 3 years can also be chosen. If chosen, students at [[Menntaskólinn Hraðbraut]] finish the school in 2 years.)
*[[Israel]], five schools termed "gymnasium" located in [[Tel Aviv]], [[Rishon LeZion]], [[Jerusalem]] and [[Haifa]].
*[[Italy]], ''ginnasio'' is the name of the two first years of [[Liceo Classico]]
*[[Latvia]] (3 years, after 9 years of primary school)
*[[Liechtenstein]] (ends with Matura)
*[[Lithuania]] (4 years, after 4 years of primary school and 4 years of secondary school)
*[[Luxembourg]] (usually 7 years, starting at age 12-13 after 6 years of primary school)
*[[Republic of Macedonia]] (4 years, starting at age 14 after 8 years in elementary school, ends with Matura)
*[[Montenegro]] (4 years, starting at age 14/15 after 8 years in elementary school, 3 years for those who went in the elementary for 9 years, ends with Matura)
*[[Education in the Netherlands|Netherlands]] (6 years, starting at age 11-13, after 8 years of primary school. Prepares for admission to University. Gymnasia in the Netherlands have compulsory classes in Ancient Greek and Latin; the same high level secondary school without the classical languages is called "Atheneum")
*[[Norway]] - the traditional but now discontinued gymnasium led to the completion of [[examen artium]]. This has now been succeeded by a 2, 3, or 4 year program ("videregående skole"), depending on course path taken, starting at the age of 15/16, culminating with an exam that qualifies for university matriculation ("studiekompetanse")
*[[Poland]] - ''gimnazjum'' is the name of Polish compulsory [[middle school]] lasting 3 years, starting at age of 13/14, and following 6 years of [[primary school]]. ''Gimnazjum'' ends with a [[standardized test]]. Further education is encouraged, but optional and consists of either 3 years [[liceum]], 4 years [[technikum]], or 2 to 3 years [[vocational technical school]].
*[[Romania]] - 8 years, after 4 years of primary school, ends with BAC (bacalaureat) at the age of 18.
*[[Russia]]
**[[Imperial Russia]]: since 1726, 8 years since 1871. Women gymnasiums since 1862; 7 years + optional 8th for specialisation in [[pedagogy]]. Progymnasiums: equivalent to 4 first years of gymnasium.
**[[Russian Federation]]: 6 or 7 years, after primary school. Nowadays Russian Gymnasiums specialize in a certain subject (or several subjects), especially in the humanities ([[http://chelschool1.ru example]])
*[[Serbia]] (4 years, starting at age 14/15 after 8 years in elementary school. There are 2 types. One is general gymnasium (opšta gimnazija in Serbian) which offers broad education both in natural subjects and social studies. Other is just gymnasium in which you can choose on enrollment if you want to study science and mathematics (prirodno-matematicki smer in Serbian) or social studies (drustveni smer in Serbian). English is learned in every gymnasium along with most commonly French, Russian, German or rarely Italian. Latin is mandatory, for at least one year. Subjects are the same in the two enrollments, just the number of classes vary. Beside those 2 types there are also gymnasiums where you can't choose your education track and which offer just one. Those are science and mathematics gymnasium (prirodno matematicka gimnazija in Serbian) and language gymnasium where you learn different languages and socilal studies (filološka gimnazija in Serbian) There are also a few economics gymnasiums. Every gymnasium ends with graduation (Matura in Serbian) and a high school diploma. In Serbia a gymnasium is considered to give the best and broadest education.
*[[Slovakia]] (4 years starting at age 14/15 after completing elementary school (more common); 8 years starting at age 9/10 after completing 4–5 years of elementary school; both end with a [[Matura|Maturita]])
*[[Slovenia]] (4 years, starting at age 14/15, ends with Matura)
*[[South Africa]] (5 years, starting at age 13/14, at a secondary institution, after 7 years of primary school, ends with Matric)
*[[Sweden]] (3 years, starting at age 16 (also less commonly 15, 17, 18 or 19) after 9 years of [[primary school]])
*[[Switzerland]] (either 6 years after 6 years of primary school or 4 years after 6 years of primary school and 2–3 years of secondary school, ends with Matura)
*[[Ukraine]] (8 years, starting after 4 years of [[primary school]])
*[[United Kingdom]]: historically, [[Grammar schools in the United Kingdom|grammar schools]] have been the English equivalent of the gymnasium, selecting pupils on the basis of academic ability and educating them with the assumption that they would go on to study at a [[university]]; such schools were largely phased out under the [[Harold Wilson|Wilson]] and [[Edward Heath|Heath]] governments, with less than 5% of pupils now attending grammar schools, and the UK now has no widespread equivalent of the gymnasium. The exception is [[Northern Ireland]] and parts of [[England]] including the counties of [[Buckinghamshire]], [[Lincolnshire]] and [[Kent]] which retained the system.
*[[United States]]
**[[Public school (government funded)|Public school]]: As school districts continue to experiment with educational styles, the [[magnet school]] has become a popular type of [[high school]]. [[Boston Latin School]] and [[Central High School (Philadelphia)]] are both the oldest public schools in the country, and the oldest magnet schools. As the concept has not become entrenched in the various American educational systems, due partly to the [[Federation|federal]], rather than unitary style of education in the US, the term may vary among states.
**[[Private school]]: The equivalent among private schools is the [[University-preparatory school|preparatory school]].
==Final degree==<!-- This section is linked from [[Paul Ehrenfest]] -->
Depending on country, the final degree (if any) is called [[Abitur]], [[Artium]], [[Diploma]], [[Matura]], [[Maturita]] or [[Student (degree)|Student]] and it usually opens the way to professional schools directly.
However, these degrees are often not fully accredited internationally, and students willing to attend foreign [[university]] often have to submit to further exams to be permitted access to them. The final two or three years at a gymnasium can be seen as an equivalent to the first two years at college in the United States.{{Fact|date=April 2008}}
==Relationship with other education facilities==
In countries like Canada or Austria, most university faculties only accept students from secondary schools that last four years (rather than three). This includes all Gymnasium students but only a part of vocational high schools, in effect making Gymnasium the preferred choice for all pupils aiming for university diplomas.
In Germany, other types of secondary school are called ''[[Realschule]], [[Hauptschule]]'' and ''[[Gesamtschule]]''. These are attended by about two-thirds of the students and the first two are practically unknown in other parts of the world. A Gesamtschule largely corresponds to an American high school. However, it offers the same school leaving certificates as the other three types of German secondary schools—the ''Hauptschulabschluss'' (school leaving certificate of a Hauptschule after 9th Grade or in [[Berlin]] and [[North Rhine-Westphalia]] after 10th Grade), the ''Realschulabschluss'', also called'' Mittlere Reife'' (school leaving certificate of a Realschule after 10th Grade), and ''[[Abitur]],'' also called ''Hochschulreife'', after 12th Grade. Students who graduate from Hauptschule or Realschule may continue their schooling at a vocational school until they have full job qualifications. It is also possible to get an ''erweiterter Realschulabschluss'' after 10th grade that allows the students to continue their education at the ''Oberstufe'' of a gymnasium and get an Abitur. There are two types of vocational school in Germany. The ''[[Berufsschule]]'', a part time vocational school and a part of Germany's [[dual education system]], and the ''[[Berufsfachschule]]'', a full time vocational school outside the dual education system. Both types of school are also part of Germany's secondary school system. Students who graduate from a vocational school and students who graduate with a good [[Grade (education)|grade point average]] from a Realschule can continue their schooling at another type of German secondary school, the ''[[Fachoberschule]]'', a vocational high school. The school leaving exam of this type of school, the ''Fachhochschulreife'', enables the graduate to start studying at a [[Fachhochschule]] ([[institute of technology#German language areas - Technische Universitäten and Fachhochschulen|polytechnic]]), and in [[Hesse]] also at a university within the state. Students who have graduated from vocational school and have been working in a job for at least three years can go to [[Berufsoberschule]] to get either a "Fachabitur" (meaning they may go to university, but they can only study the subjects belonging to the "branch" (economical, technical, social) they studied in at Berufschule.) after one year, or the normal "Abitur" (after two years), which gives them complete access to universities.
In Sweden, the term ''gymnasium'' was traditionally reserved for the theoretical education described above. However, due to the egalitarian strivings of post-war Sweden's social democratic governments, the term is today used for all kinds of secondary education, both theoretical and vocational.
== References ==
<references/>
{{Schools}}
[[Category:School types]]
[[Category:Gymnasiums (school)| ]]
[[bs:Gimnazija]]
[[bg:Гимназия]]
[[ca:Institut]]
[[cs:Gymnázium]]
[[da:Gymnasium]]
[[de:Gymnasium]]
[[et:Gümnaasium]]
[[el:Γυμνάσιο]]
[[es:Gymnasium]]
[[eo:Gimnazio]]
[[fr:Gymnasium]]
[[ko:김나지움]]
[[hr:Gimnazija]]
[[it:Ginnasio (sistema scolastico italiano)]]
[[he:גימנסיה]]
[[lt:Gimnazija]]
[[hu:Gimnázium]]
[[nl:Gymnasium]]
[[ja:ギムナジウム]]
[[no:Gymnasium]]
[[nn:Gymnas]]
[[pl:Gimnazjum]]
[[pt:Ginásio (escola)]]
[[ru:Гимназия]]
[[sk:Gymnázium]]
[[sl:Gimnazija]]
[[sr:Гимназија]]
[[sh:Gimnazija]]
[[fi:Lukio]]
[[sv:Gymnasium]]
[[tr:Gymnasium (okul)]]
[[uk:Гімназія]]
[[zh:文科中学]]' |
