Ever wonder how a school earns the name “Musterschule”? It means “model school” in German. We are standing in front of the Musterschule. It is located on Oberweg. This Frankfurt Gymnasium has a story as unique as its name.
The Musterschule was founded in 1803. Wilhelm Friedrich Hufnagel established it as a Realschule. That makes it Frankfurt’s second-oldest higher school. Only the Lessing-Gymnasium is older.
But why “Musterschule”? It was a school for trying out new teaching ideas. These ideas followed the spirit of Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi. The school aimed to be a model. It would set an example for others to follow.
Friedrich Vertraugott Klitscher was the first teacher. He was a follower of Pestalozzi. The first classroom was in Rotkreuzgasse 6. In the beginning, there were only nine students. Both boys and girls attended the school from the start.
Money was an issue in the early days. The city was short of funds because of war. To support the new school, some respected men went door to door. They collected voluntary donations. Hufnagel and Friedrich Maximilian von Günderrode were among these men. The banker Simon Moritz von Bethmann also collected donations for the Musterschule.
The Musterschule moved to Große Friedberger Gasse in 1806. Student numbers grew quickly. By 1819, there were 555 students. 212 of them were girls. In 1819, the Musterschule became a public institution. Its teachers became civil servants.
From 1880 to 1901 classes were held in the buildings of today’s Klingerschule on Mauerweg. In 1901, the Musterschule moved to its current location. The building is on Oberweg at the corner of Eckenheimer Landstraße. An extension was added in 1984.
Today, the Musterschule continues its tradition of innovation. It is a “Schulisches Zentrum für musikalische Bildung und Begabtenförderung”. That means it is a center for musical education and gifted student support. The Hessian Ministry of Culture recognizes it. It is also part of the concept of an open all-day school. The Musterschule cooperates with the Elisabethenschule. This school was once the girls’ department of the Musterschule. The Musterschule also works with the Hoch’schen Konservatorium.
The students at Musterschule have a voice. They elect a student council. The council represents them. Each year, they elect a speaker and two deputies. These representatives divide tasks among themselves.
The Musterschule is more than just a school. It is a living example of educational reform. It is a testament to Frankfurt’s commitment to innovation. It is a place where tradition and progress meet.