Wöhlerschule

Nestled in Frankfurt’s Dornbusch district stands the Wöhlerschule. It’s more than just a school. It’s a living testament to history, a place where echoes of the past mingle with the aspirations of the future. The Wöhlerschule was founded in 1870 by the Polytechnische Gesellschaft. This civic foundation named the school after August Anton Wöhler. He wasn’t just the father of famed chemist Friedrich Wöhler. He was a driving force in Frankfurt’s educational landscape, a champion of vocational training, and a long-standing president of the Polytechnische Gesellschaft. The Wöhlerschule initially stood in Frankfurt’s Westend district, a school for boys. World War II brought devastation. The original Wöhlerschule building was destroyed during air raids. After the war, classes were temporarily held with the girls of the Bettinaschule. Later, a shift system was implemented at the Liebigschule in Bockenheim. Finally, in May 1957, the Wöhlerschule found its current home in Dornbusch. The school remained all-boys until 1972, when the first girls joined its ranks. The Wöhlerschule has always been a place of innovation. In the late 1990s, parent donations funded the construction of an “Ökohaus” (eco-house), a testament to the school’s commitment to environmental education. In 2001, a student group embarked on a poignant journey. They researched the lives of Jewish Wöhlerschule students murdered during the Holocaust. Their efforts culminated in a memorial garden with 27 granite stones. Each stone bears the name of a lost student, a permanent reminder of a dark chapter in history. The Wöhlerschule campus today is a blend of old and new. The main building, eight tracts, and the auditorium are shared with the neighboring Heinrich-Seliger-Schule. This ensemble is a protected historical landmark. The grounds also house provisional buildings from the 1970s, a large sports hall from the 1980s, the Ökohaus, a cafeteria built in 2007, and a newer sports hall from 2012. The Wöhlerschule has nurtured some brilliant minds. Walther Rathenau, industrialist and foreign minister of the Weimar Republic, once walked these halls. So did Nobel laureate Elias Canetti. Film director Rosa von Praunheim, a Wöhlerschule alumnus, even staged his first theatrical production here, a performance of Ovid’s “Pyramus and Thisbe.” Since it was an all-boys school at the time, boys played the female roles. The Wöhlerschule continues to thrive. It embraces a diverse curriculum with a focus on science, ecology, languages, arts, music, and new technologies. The school is actively involved in projects promoting interactive learning and sustainable development. It’s also a UNESCO project school. As you stand before the Wöhlerschule, remember its rich history. It’s a story of resilience, innovation, and a commitment to shaping young minds. It’s a story that continues to unfold with each passing day.