Landesgymnasium für Hochbegabte Schwäbisch Gmünd
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The Landesgymnasium für Hochbegabte (German for ''State Grammar School for Highly Gifted Children'') in
Schwäbisch Gmünd Schwäbisch Gmünd (, until 1934: Gmünd; Swabian: ''Gmẽẽd'' or ''Gmend'') is a city in the eastern part of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. With a population of around 60,000, the city is the second largest in the Ostalb district and ...
is a
co-educational Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to t ...
public Boarding school for highly gifted students founded by the state of
Baden-Württemberg Baden-Württemberg (; ), commonly shortened to BW or BaWü, is a German state () in Southwest Germany, east of the Rhine, which forms the southern part of Germany's western border with France. With more than 11.07 million inhabitants across a ...
. It is the first and sole school of this kind in this state. The Landesgymnasium für Hochbegabte is a publicly funded school in Germany for highly gifted students, similar to the
Landesschule Pforta Pforta, or Schulpforta, is a school located in Pforta monastery, a former Cistercians, Cistercian monastery (1137–1540), near Naumburg on the Saale River in the Germany, German state of Saxony-Anhalt. The site has been a school since the 16th ...
in
Saxony-Anhalt Saxony-Anhalt (german: Sachsen-Anhalt ; nds, Sassen-Anholt) is a state of Germany, bordering the states of Brandenburg, Saxony, Thuringia and Lower Saxony. It covers an area of and has a population of 2.18 million inhabitants, making it th ...
, the Landesgymnasium St. Afra in
Saxony Saxony (german: Sachsen ; Upper Saxon: ''Saggsn''; hsb, Sakska), officially the Free State of Saxony (german: Freistaat Sachsen, links=no ; Upper Saxon: ''Freischdaad Saggsn''; hsb, Swobodny stat Sakska, links=no), is a landlocked state of ...
and
Internatsschule Schloss Hansenberg The Internatsschule Schloss Hansenberg (ISH) is a mixed coeducational secondary boarding school in Geisenheim-Johannisberg in the Rheingau in Hesse, Germany. It was founded in 2003 by the government of Hesse and is run with the help of three compa ...
in
Hesse Hesse (, , ) or Hessia (, ; german: Hessen ), officially the State of Hessen (german: links=no, Land Hessen), is a state in Germany. Its capital city is Wiesbaden, and the largest urban area is Frankfurt. Two other major historic cities are Dar ...
. It is funded by the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd, the district
Ostalbkreis The Ostalbkreis is a ''Landkreis'' (district) in the east of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, on the border to Bavaria. Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) Schwäbisch Hall, Ansbach, Donau-Ries, Heidenheim, Göppingen and Rems-M ...
and the state of Baden-Württemberg. Its stated aim is the promotion of the intellectual and social development of its students.


Location

The Landesgymnasium's campus is situated at the ''University park'' in the east of Schwäbisch Gmünd. During the 20th century it was used as barracks initially by the German Army (''Bismarck Kaserne'') and then after WWII as a US military base with nuclear
Pershing II The Pershing II Weapon System was a solid-fueled two-stage medium-range ballistic missile designed and built by Martin Marietta to replace the Pershing 1a Field Artillery Missile System as the United States Army's primary nuclear-capable thea ...
missiles stationed nearby, which were eliminated in 1990. In 1992, the US forces withdrew and the campus was used as a spin-out of the
University of Maryland University College The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC, formerly University of Maryland University College) is a public university in Adelphi, Maryland. It is the largest of the University System of Maryland campuses. Established in 1947, UMGC focuses on ...
until 2002. School building, boarding houses and teachers' flats are situated in the recently renovated barracks while the canteen and a gym were newly built on the former parade ground.


Conception

The boarding school started in the school year 2004/05 with one class, which never comprises more than 24 students, in both years 7 and 10. It expanded during the following years so that from the school year 2012/13 there are two classes per year. Thus the school has about 250 students of which around 200 are boarders.


General Principle

The Landesgymnasium für Hochbegabte is dedicated to facilitate the positive development of its highly gifted students' talents and aptitudes. It is guided by the motto of William Stern, the psychologist who coined the term
intelligence quotient An intelligence quotient (IQ) is a total score derived from a set of standardized tests or subtests designed to assess human intelligence. The abbreviation "IQ" was coined by the psychologist William Stern for the German term ''Intelligen ...
: :'' 'Intelligenz an sich ist ein Rüstzeug: Wertvoll wird sie erst durch die positiven Ziele, in deren Dienst sie verwandt wird.' '' :'' 'Intelligence by itself is an armamentarium: It becomes valuable only through the positive aims which it is used for.' '' With this
maxim Maxim or Maksim may refer to: Entertainment * ''Maxim'' (magazine), an international men's magazine ** ''Maxim'' (Australia), the Australian edition ** ''Maxim'' (India), the Indian edition *Maxim Radio, ''Maxim'' magazine's radio channel on Sir ...
, the Landesgymnasiums' students shall pledge themselves to their talents and the associated demand to contribute to the formation of a ''responsibility elite'' (germ. 'Verantwortungselite'). Not only the intellectual capacity is to be supported; the school puts also high emphasis on the holistic personal development of its students. For this reason, besides the accelerated and enriched classes, the 'Fundamentum:, the school offers a wide variety of extra-curricular activities, the so-called Addita. By means of the comparably important role the student council are given, in the form of 'student parliament', 'constitution council' and the president of the student council, the students shall have the opportunity to witness and to co-create democratic processes, early.


The Campus Model

School and College constitute one pedagogical union. Until the end of the school year 2007/08, attending the college (living in the boarding houses not at home) was obligatory. Then, however, this compulsion was nullified by the council of ministers. Since school year 2008/09, every class of 24 students consists of a maximum of four external students, who live nearby and participate nevertheless in the campus life. The students life in the boarding houses, which are divided into middle (years 7–10) and upper school (year 11–12) and boys and girls in living groups. Every group is looked after by a teacher as a mentor. The Landesgymnasium's teacher thus have a pedagogical double function: On the one hand they teach their subjects, on the other they advise, accompany and guide the students as mentors in the school and college, which is why the teachers mostly live directly on campus. With increasing age, self-organisation attains more and more importance for the students. The more responsible-minded they are, the greater are the areas of freedom that are conceded by the school and college. Thereby, the Landesgymnasium offers important opportunities to live democratic forms of cohabitation and the acceptance of responsibility.


Admissions

The admission is highly competitive and comprises three stages that must be completed successfully. Firstly, a statement by each the student and his parents has to explain motivation and background of the application. Secondly, the tested IQ must be about 130 or above. Lastly, those applicants who master the first steps are invited to spend two days living in the boarding houses and to work together in groups on different projects that assess both intellectual potential and
social competence Social competence consists of social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral skills needed for successful social adaptation. Social competence also reflects having an ability to take another's perspective concerning a situation, learn from past ex ...
. The headteachers and the psychologists then choose a harmonic class on the basis of the gathered information. Applicants who are successful are admitted for half a year on probation. Every year a class in year 7 and another year is admitted plus some lateral entrants who fill empty places.


Teaching

For years 7 to 10, the school year is divided into trimesters, the upper school years are by law divided into semesters. Concerning teaching there are some major differences to ordinary German Gymnasiums. In foreign languages and mathematics from year 7 to 10, lessons are divided into different sets that can be attended by the students according to ability not to age. Thus it is possible for a year 8 student to study mathematics on the level of year 10, English on the level of year 9 and French on the level of year 8. If a student is so excellent in a subject that even the highest set is not demanding, he can decide, together with his teacher, his mentor and his parents, that to conclude a 'learning treaty': The student is dispensed from classes in this subject but pledges to acquire the curriculum autodidactically in addition to further studies in the field. A student can even partially study at university. Regularly, students participate successfully at national and international competitions such as
World Schools Debating Championships The World Schools Debating Championships (WSDC) is an annual English-language debating tournament for high school-level teams representing different nations. History The championships were first held in August 1988 in Australia, as part of the ...
,
International Physics Olympiad The International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) is an annual physics competition for high school students. It is one of the International Science Olympiads. The first IPhO was held in Warsaw, Poland in 1967. Each national delegation is made up of at ...
,
International Junior Science Olympiad The International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) is an annual science competition for students aged 15 and under. It is one of International Science Olympiads and the only international academical competition that covers physics, chemistry and bi ...
,
Jugend forscht Jugend Forscht (literal translation: “Youth researches”) is a German youth science competition. With more than 10,000 participants annually, it is the biggest youth science and technology competition in Europe. It was initiated in 1965 by Henri ...
,
Jugend musiziert ''Jugend musiziert'' is a music competition for children and adolescents in Germany on regional, federal and national level. ''Jugend musiziert'' in Germany In Germany, the nationwide competition refers to young adults up to 20 years and for the ...
, TSA.


Addita

Addita are extra-curricular activities that represent an integral part of the Landesgymnasium's conception. In this part of the school life students have both the opportunity to get new inspirations as well as intensifying their knowledge in areas of special interest. The Addita are divided into five different categories from which students are obliged to choose at least two athletic, one creative and two intellectual ones. * '' Scientifical Addita'', e.g. ChemTech (Chemistry), NUGI+ (Biology), iLab (Computer Science), Mathematics for specialists,
Technology Student Association The Technology Student Association (TSA) is a national student organization created to develop skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as well as business education. TSA aims to develop leadership, academic, and busines ...
(Engineering) * ''Musical-artistic Addita'', e.g. Drama, Arts, Choir, Big Band, Musical * ''Linguistic Addita'', e.g. French, Chinese, Russian,
Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...
, Italian * ''Humanistic Addita'', e.g. Philosophy, Checkers, Theories of State, History,
Model United Nations Model United Nations, also known as Model UN or MUN, is an educational simulation in which students can learn about diplomacy, international relations, and the United Nations. At a MUN conference, students work as the representative of a count ...
* ''Athletic Addita'': e.g. Soccer, Ballrom dancing, Ultimate Frisbee, American Football. Addita can be conducted by teachers as well as students who have a high proficiency in a field.


Fees

The Landesgymnasium für Hochbegabte is a public Gymnasium, thus attendance of school is free of charge. However, there are costs for board and lodging, which amount to around 500 € per month. Support for families in financial hardship is ensured by the state ( BAföG), so that no one is excluded for financial reasons.


Center of Competence for the Promotion of the Highly Gifted

The Center of Competence is a division of the Landesgymnasium consisting of several psychologists and fulfills internal and external tasks. It is both involved in admitting and counselling students as well as providing further education for the teachers and Surveys in the school. Furthermore, it is a statewide contact point for questions concerning the promotion of highly gifted. Besides, the Center of Competence is a test center for a variety of university admissions tests such as ACT, TSA Test and many more.


Student Research Center

In 2007, the Student Research Center was inaugurated. It enables students from the Landesgymnasium as well as from the other Gymnasiums of Schwäbisch Gmünd to conduct first research work, for example in a laboratorium accredited for Genetic Engineering.


Alumni

In July 2009, the ''Alumni Association of the Landesgymnasium für Hochbegabte'' was founded. Its aim is exchange of experience, practical and ideational support of the school and maintaining contact.


See also

* Landesgymnasium St. Afra, in
Saxony Saxony (german: Sachsen ; Upper Saxon: ''Saggsn''; hsb, Sakska), officially the Free State of Saxony (german: Freistaat Sachsen, links=no ; Upper Saxon: ''Freischdaad Saggsn''; hsb, Swobodny stat Sakska, links=no), is a landlocked state of ...
*
Internatsschule Schloss Hansenberg The Internatsschule Schloss Hansenberg (ISH) is a mixed coeducational secondary boarding school in Geisenheim-Johannisberg in the Rheingau in Hesse, Germany. It was founded in 2003 by the government of Hesse and is run with the help of three compa ...
, in
Hesse Hesse (, , ) or Hessia (, ; german: Hessen ), officially the State of Hessen (german: links=no, Land Hessen), is a state in Germany. Its capital city is Wiesbaden, and the largest urban area is Frankfurt. Two other major historic cities are Dar ...
*
Landesschule Pforta Pforta, or Schulpforta, is a school located in Pforta monastery, a former Cistercians, Cistercian monastery (1137–1540), near Naumburg on the Saale River in the Germany, German state of Saxony-Anhalt. The site has been a school since the 16th ...
, in
Saxony-Anhalt Saxony-Anhalt (german: Sachsen-Anhalt ; nds, Sassen-Anholt) is a state of Germany, bordering the states of Brandenburg, Saxony, Thuringia and Lower Saxony. It covers an area of and has a population of 2.18 million inhabitants, making it th ...
*
Schnepfenthal Salzmann School The Schnepfenthal Institution (Salzmannschule Schnepfenthal) is a boarding school in the district of Gotha, Germany, founded in 1784. In addition to compulsory education in English and German, students in 6th grade choose from Arabic, Chinese an ...
, in
Thuringia Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a state of central Germany, covering , the sixth smallest of the sixteen German states. It has a population of about 2.1 million. Erfurt is the capital and lar ...


Citations


References

*
Brochure of the Landesgymnasium für Hochbegabte
(2009)

(2012)
Flyer of the Landesgymnasium für Hochbegabte
(2007)

(2012) * German Wikipedia Article (2012)


External links


Student's Newspaper - Der Farbfleck


Der Spiegel
TV Documentary on SpiegelTV
{{DEFAULTSORT:Landesgymnasium fur Hochbegabte Schwabisch Gmund 2004 establishments in Germany Schwabisch Gmund, Landesgymnasium fur Hochbegabte Gifted education Schwabisch Gmund, Landesgymnasium fur Hochbegabte Co-educational boarding schools Educational institutions established in 2004