How much history of the city can the old schools of Klaipėda tell?

In 1568, a law was passed on the establishment of church schools in Prussia, according to which such schools were also established in Memel. In the register of tax payers in 1540 it is recorded a farmer living in a “Schulmeister” (teacher’s) house. According to J. Sembritzki, at the turn of the 16th-17th centuries, there were two primary schools Memel: one in the old town and the other in Frydrich Town. The conditions for schools were quite difficult. In smaller parishes, children were educated in the pastor’s or organist’s home.

Compulsory education was introduced in Prussia in 1736 and in Lithuania – only in 1928-1931. In Klaipėda region, children aged 6 to 14 had to complete eight classes. The first two years were lower level, the next two years were secondary (these four years were counted as a primary school), and the last four years were upper level (progymnasium and gymnasium).

In 1817, physical education classes were introduced at schools. By the order of the ministry, since 1820 students were allowed to do gymnastics exercises only under the supervision of teachers and controlled by the police. After the educational reform in Prussia in 1831, more attention was paid to secular matters; therefore, more practical subjects were included in the programs. The control of class attendance was also strengthened: for missing classes without a reason, student’s parents were fined.  Since 1845 physical education classes were introduced in primary schools, and since 1847 – in girls’ schools. At the end of the 19th century gymnastics fields appeared near the schools, and gyms were built.

In the 18th century, Memel had one Latin school, three primary schools and three church schools: Lutheran, Reformed and Catholic. For various reasons, these schools ceased to function by the 19th century.

In 1857, 2,729 children attended seven city schools: 2,502 were Evangelicals, 110 Catholics, 56 Jews and 63 of unspecified confession.

At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, several types of schools operated in Memel: high schools, vocational schools, gymnasiums, teachers’ seminary; they were public, private and established by the city magistrate.

The history of Klaipėda region schools is particularly interesting in the interwar period, when education was important from a political and ideological point of view. In 1929, out of 100 schools there were only 4 Lithuanian and 7 mixed (German and Lithuanian) schools in Klaipėda region.

The route tells about the former biggest and most important schools of the city. Some of them are still successfully functioning as educational institutions, while of some even the buildings didn’t survive. Where were Klaipėda schools, who founded them, how they developed, who studied in them and who taught – all this is part of the history of our city, which we are trying to tell on this route.

The route consists of 10 objects. If you travel on foot, you will cover the route in 2 hours and walk a distance of about 4.5 km.