Hugo Treffner Gymnasium

Hugo Treffner Gymnasium Hugo Treffneri Gümnaasium
Hugo Treffner Gymnasium (on the right) Non scholae, sed vitae discimus We do not learn for the school, but for life
Address
Munga 12 Tartu, Tartu County, 51007, Estonia
Coordinates	58°22′56″N 26°43′14″E
Information
School type	State-funded, secondary school
Religious affiliation(s)	Secular
Founded	1883
Founder	Hugo Treffner
Status	Open
Director	Ott Ojaveer
Headteacher	Aime Punga
Teaching staff	Priidu Beier and others
Grades	10–12
Number of students	c. 540
Average class size	36
Language	Estonian
Houses	1
Newspaper	Miilang
Alumni	A.H. Tammsaare Harald Riipalu Edgar V. Saks
Website	www.htg.tartu.ee

The Hugo Treffner Gymnasium (Estonian: Hugo Treffneri Gümnaasium; abbreviated as HTG) 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.

History

Hugo Treffner, the founder

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 German 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.

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.

Former schoolhouse on the eastern bank of Emajõgi in 1910.

Notable alumni

• Adamson-Eric (1902–1968), artist
• Artur Alliksaar (1923–1966), poet
• Efraim Allsalu (1929–2006), painter
• Karl Ast (1886–1971), writer and politician
• Kaarel Eenpalu (1888–1942), politician and journalist
• Jaan Einasto (born 1929), astrophysicist
• Ernst Enno (1875–1934), poet and writer
• Ivar Grünthal (1924–1996), writer, physician and politician
• Indrek Hirv (born 1956), poet and artist
• Jüri Jaakson (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 Kaplinski (born 1941), writer and translator
• Mart Niklus (born 1934), biologist and freedom fighter
• Jaan-Mati Punning (1940–2009), ecologist
• Harald Riipalu (1912–1961), military commander
• Richard Roht (1891–1950), writer
• Hando Runnel (born 1938), poet
• Edgar V. Saks (1910–1984), historian and politician
• Juhan Simm (1885–1959), composer and conductor
• Anton Hansen Tammsaare (1878–1940), writer
• Jaan Teemant (1872–1941), lawyer and politician
• Simmu Tiik (born 1959), diplomat
• Friedebert Tuglas (1886–1971), writer
• Trivimi Velliste (born 1947), politician

Sources

• Ülo Kaevats et al. 1996. Eesti Entsüklopeedia 9. Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus, ISBN 5-89900-047-3

External links

• Hugo Treffneri Gümnaasium