Theresianum facts for kids
Theresianum (also called Theresian Academy) is a special private school in Vienna, Austria. It is both a boarding school (where students live) and a day school (where students go home after classes). Empress Maria Theresa of Austria started the school in 1746. It follows the same rules as public schools in Austria.
History of Theresianum
How the Palace Became a School
The story of Theresianum starts in 1614. The Habsburg family bought a farm outside Vienna. They turned it into a fancy summer home called Favorita. This palace became a popular place for shows and events.
In 1683, the palace was burned during the Battle of Vienna. But a bigger and more beautiful palace, Neue Favorita, was built. Three emperors lived there. In 1740, Emperor Charles VI died in the palace. His daughter, Maria Theresa, decided not to live there anymore.
Founding the Theresianum School
In 1746, Empress Maria Theresa sold the palace to the Jesuits. She wanted it to be a school for smart young men. They would learn skills for government jobs. Maria Theresa wanted the school to have high standards. Students would learn modern foreign languages.
Later, in 1773, Maria Theresa's son, Joseph II, closed the school for a while. But in 1797, Francis II reopened it. He put the Piarists in charge. He also added the beautiful front of the building you see today. He even built a swimming school!
After some big changes in Europe around 1848, Emperor Franz Joseph I made a new rule. He allowed sons of regular citizens to attend the school. He also put the school under public rules.
In 1883, another important school moved into the palace. This was the Consular Academy, which taught about international relations. It later moved to a different building.
Theresianum During World Wars
By the end of World War I, the school lost many of its properties. In 1938, when Nazi Germany took over Austria, Theresianum became a special Nazi school. During World War II, the building was badly damaged. It was repaired and reopened in 1957.
Recent Changes at Theresianum
In 1964, the Diplomatic Academy reopened next to Theresianum. Famous people like Kurt Waldheim, a former U.N. Secretary General, studied there.
Theresianum started letting girls attend school in the late 1980s. The first female teachers began in 1988. Girls were first admitted as students in 1989. In 1993, the school got its first female headmistress.
Theresianum Today
Learning Languages at Theresianum
Theresianum has always focused on languages. Today, students must learn three foreign languages. These are English, French, and Latin. Students can also choose to learn other languages. These include Russian, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Hungarian, Polish, Japanese, and Chinese. Native speakers help teach these classes.
The school offers language exchange programs. Students can travel to other countries to practice their language skills. Theresianum also works with 18 partner schools around the world. Students from many different countries attend Theresianum.
Fun Extra Activities
Theresianum offers many extra activities. These help students learn beyond their regular classes. Students can take special classes on public speaking. They can also do community service projects. There are cultural and business projects too. The school helps students plan their future careers.
Students can also join Model European Parliament sessions. This helps them prepare for leadership roles. Long ago, the school offered many sports like swimming, dancing, and fencing. Today, Theresianum has weekly sports classes in 15 different areas. They also organize special sports weeks. The school has its own ski club. Students can also learn to play 20 different musical instruments.
How the School Day Works
Theresianum is both a primary school and a Gymnasium. This means it teaches students from about age 10 to 18. In 2010, there were 815 students. They had 130 teachers.
Students have study sessions in the afternoons with their teachers. This helps them learn well. School days usually end between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. This depends on the student's age. All students now have a 5-day school week. About 100 students live at the school as full-time boarders.
School Facilities and Grounds
Theresianum has a large historic park in the middle of Vienna. It is about 50,000 square meters. The school has great sports facilities. These include an indoor swimming pool and two beach volleyball courts. There are also courts for tennis, soccer, and basketball. The school has indoor gyms too.
All classrooms have modern digital equipment. There are special labs for biology, physics, and chemistry classes. The school's old, beautiful rooms, like the library, can be used for special events.
Famous People Who Went to Theresianum
Theresianum is known as one of Austria's best schools. For over 260 years, it has helped shape history. Many famous people have studied there. These include Nobel Prize winners, political leaders, writers, and thinkers.
Here are some of them:
- Ferenc Széchényi, who started the Hungarian National Library.
- Joseph Radetzky von Radetz, a famous Austrian military leader.
- Alfonso XII of Spain, who became King of Spain.
- Peter Altenberg, an Austrian writer.
- Max Perutz, who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry.
- Hans Hass, a pioneer in studying the ocean.
- Christoph Waltz, an Austrian actor who won two Academy Awards.
- Ernst H. Gombrich, a very important art historian.
- Johannes Hahn, a European Commissioner.
- Paul Henreid, an Austrian actor.
See also
In Spanish: Theresianum para niños
- List of Jesuit sites
