Ever wondered how a school can honor a printing pioneer? The Gutenberg-Gymnasium in Mainz does just that. It stands as a modern tribute to Johannes Gutenberg. This school carries the legacy of a former Oberrealschule. That school was named “Gutenberg-Schule”. It existed before World War II. It later merged into the Gymnasium am Kurfürstlichen Schloss. Thus, it is a precursor to today’s Gutenberg-Gymnasium.
Founded on March 19, 1956, the Gutenberg-Gymnasium emerged. It was formed by splitting the Gymnasium am Kurfürstlichen Schloss. Initially, both schools shared the same building. Imagine 552 boys taught by just 25 teachers. In 1958, construction began on the current building. It is located at the Philippsschanze. The school was inaugurated in 1960. An expansion followed in 1968 to accommodate growing needs.
The Gutenberg-Gymnasium faced changes over the years. In 1972, 190 students transferred to the newly opened Gymnasium Gonsenheim. Despite this, the student population grew. It reached 1212 that same year. This was because girls were admitted for the first time. Space became a premium. Some classes were moved to an external location. This was in the nearby Berliner Siedlung. However, this branch closed in 1986.
In 1975, the Gutenberg-Gymnasium introduced the reformed upper school system. By 1980, the school had grown significantly. 111 teachers taught 1996 students in 75 classes. From April 1995 to September 2000, the school building underwent renovations. These were done in sections during normal school operations. The result was a modernized and expanded facility.
The Gutenberg-Gymnasium has a strong emphasis on culture. Since 2017, it has been recognized as a Kulturschule or “culture school”. Teachers initiated a school development process in 2015. Students in grades 5 and 6 experience culture in their classes. These classes focus on music, arts, or sports. Options include literature, theater, art, and more. The school also participates in the GenerationK program. This is an initiative by the Ministry of Education and Culture.
At the end of the orientation level, a “Werkstattabend” takes place. Students present projects related to their culture class. Culture days now occur in grades 7 and 8. A wide selection of cultural working groups exists. Since the 2023-2024 school year, there is also an elective subject called “Culture”.
The Gutenberg-Gymnasium is a “model school for democracy and participation”. Regular activities promote democratic values. The school joined the “School without Racism – School with Courage” network in 2017. In 2022, it was recognized as a “Sustainable School”. This award came from the state student representation of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Students at the Gutenberg-Gymnasium participate in competitions. These include “Jugend debattiert” or Youth Debates. Several notable individuals attended the school. They include singer Tobias Bonn, politician Fabian Ehmann, and fashion designer Anja Gockel. Others include Goethe-Institut director Henrike Grohs and politicians Manuel Höferlin and Nina Klinkel. The list goes on with actor Marcel Kohler and politician Daniel Köbler. Also on the list are Minister Jörg Kukies, city official Christopher Sitte, and hockey player Anne Schröder. Rounding out the list are football president Harald Strutz, journalist Jessica Zahedi, and professor Reimut Zohlnhöfer.
Today, the Gutenberg-Gymnasium continues to thrive. It honors its namesake through a commitment to education. It also promotes culture, democracy, and sustainability. The Gutenberg-Gymnasium stands as a vibrant institution. It prepares students for the future.