– A short survey –
The Ökumenisches Domgymnasium or Ecumenical Cathedral School is a grammar school with strong Christian roots which dates back to the 10th century when a Saxon king, later the first Holy Roman and German emperor Otto the Great, founded a Benedictine monastery and a convent school in Magdeburg. This school developed into the famous Cathedral school of the Archdiocese of Magdeburg. More than 1000 years later, in 1991, the school was reopened after the Communist regime in Eastern Germany had it closed down in the early 50s.
Founded in the wake of Germany’s reunification the Ecumenical Cathedral School has been based on the Christian perspective of both the world and mankind. The now retired Bishop of Magdeburg, Dr. Werner Krusche, who was deeply involved in establishing this new school, expressed a central point when he said that it was supposed to be a place of thorough learning. He wanted the new school to be a place where pupils would be able to study without fear, at the same time accepting their own responsibility for a learning process which aimed at practical usefulness. Bishop Krusche expected its future teachers to support the pupils in every respect, especially by helping them to critically develop lasting values as well as reliant concepts for their future lives.
Amidst a post-Communist society the Ecumenical Cathedral School has met the challenge to become a place of both intellectual and spiritual revitalisation. So far the school has definitely helped a considerable number of young people to overcome their understandable insecurities after the Wall had come down by confidently realising its responsibility for both learning and manners.
Responsible citizens took the initiative to refound the school in 1990. It is not run by an influential or powerful institution but by a so-called “Kuratorium” which consists of 22 men and women from different occupational backgrounds. This council is financially supported by a growing group, calling themselves “Friends of the school”.
This school is a place where pupils and teachers work together as partners in the best sense of the word, showing mutual respect for their respective individuality. Following the idea of true ecumenism, the whole educational environment constantly strives for creating of a communicative and tolerant academic community.
The overall climate at the Ecumenical Cathedral School reflects the possibility to really talk to one another, to learn together, to respect others and to be respected. Parents who enrolled their children in the past always stress the aforementioned points with great gusto. At the moment 34 study groups, ranging from music to natural sciences and sports enrich school life. Pupils from different levels and teachers assemble in these study groups to organise learning around concrete projects. Especially the mandatory subject ‘religion’ serves the aim to form critical, creative and responsible young people. In accordance with the official curriculum supervised by the school authorities, Protestant and Catholic pupils as well as non-Christians are taught by Protestant and Catholic teachers. They want to enable their pupils to take responsibility for their own actions, to develop a solid moral basis for their future lives. Of course, Christianity as well as the other main world religions and religious perspectives are taken into account. Accordingly, the school also tries to further the understanding between peoples. A regular, very successful exchange programme with Israel may serve as an example.
In this context it should be mentioned that pupils are obliged to learn three of the following foreign languages: Latin, Greek, English, French, Russian or Spanish. Moreover they enjoy a higher number of language lessons than pupils at state schools – a unique feature. Music and arts are another field which is taught extensively up to 18 lessons per week above normal. In addition there are several voluntary orchestras and choirs in which pupils play their favourite instruments or sing together. School concerts which result from their work are always real highlights.
The Ecumenical Cathedral School has developed its own programme to help 5th and 6th formers to adapt to their new school environment after leaving elementary school. Measures taken range from pedagogical counselling to extra lessons, methodical training and individual psychological support.
In 10th form pupils choose a social institution of some kind to work there for two weeks. This experience is meant to develop the pupils’ general responsibility and make them aware of the necessity to commit themselves to the solution of unsolved social problems.
There can be no doubt that the primary concern of the entire school is qualified teaching. All teachers are involved in further developing the curricula of the different subjects. Special care is taken to “break classroom walls” in order to study historical, social, geographical and other local/regional peculiarities. Accordingly there are long-term partnerships with schools in England, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland to work on all kinds of projects.
The whole staff feels obliged to convey an education which is way above average. In order to live up to this aim teachers attend further vocational training regularly. All natural sciences focus on ecological questions. Partnerships with two grammar schools in former Western Germany are guided by the principles mentioned above.
All in all, the Ecumenical Cathedral School tries to provide the basis for a lively community in which children and teenagers can look for a deeper meaning of life – class excursions, joint church services and voluntary prayers being essential means to achieve just that.
Living up to its own standards the school is of course open to children from other countries and cultural backgrounds. They enrich everyday learning by sharing their often unique traditions and concepts with the mostly German pupils’ body. Disabled pupils are integrated easily into the community as well, even easier since, in 2000, the school moved back to its impressive, newly renovated school building, which provides access to all floors by means of elevators.
As an independent but officially recognised school outside the normal school system it is financially supported by the state to a large extent. To finance the school completely parents have to pay a moderate tuition of 80 Euro per month for every child. The financial background of a child does not finally decide, however, whether he/she can be enrolled as there are special scholarships paid for by the “Friends of the school”.
All degrees are equal to those of state schools and open up the same opportunities when it comes to training for an occupation or studying at a university. At the moment, 768 pupils (forms 5-13) attend the Ecumenical Cathedral School. Our staff consists of 60 teachers and four trainee teachers. |
