Miina Härma Gymnasium, Tartu, Estonia

The school

Miina Härma Gymnasium is a secondary school in Tartu (Estonia) and it includes all classes of primary school, lower middle school, upper middle school and seniorsecondary school – gymnasium.

The school was opened on 1 September 1906 and it was the first private secondary school in Estonia where teaching was carried out in the Estonian language (earlier all secondary schools in Estonia had used German or Russian as language of tuition).

In the very beginning the school was meant for only girls. Forty-eight girls passed the necessary tests for entering the school and so the history of the school began with two classes. Teaching was carried out in rented rooms in the centre of Tartu.

In 1913 the first nineteen girls finished school. As the number of students grew, there was an acute need for a schoolhouse. In 1914 work was begun on the new schoolhouse. The house was ready by April 1915. During World War I the building was used as a hospital and in 1920 studies began in the newly redecorated schoolhouse.

In 1944 the school was named Tartu Secondary School No.2. Since 1954 it has been a mixed school for both girls and boys. Because in the years 1917-1929 the famous Estonian composer Miina Härma had been a music teacher at the school, in connection with Miina Härma's centenary the school was named after her.

Today Miina Härma Gymnasium is a state-financed municipal school which has 27 classes comprising 800 students. There are 71 teachers at the school. Since 1961 Miina Härma Gymnasium is a specialised English school. English is the main subject in the school curriculum. Besides English the curriculum includes some other subjects given in English (Geography, English Literature, British Studies and Business English). But also mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology, humanities are an important part of the curriculum especially in classes at Gymnasium level. Besides English the students of Miina Härma Gymnasium can learn German, French, Russian, Spanish, Swedish and Finnish. During the last years Miina Härma Gymnasium has been a practice place for trainees (student teachers) from Tartu University attending their pedagogical practice here.2003 – 2004 two student teachers from Denmark and one student teacher from Iceland have attended their school practice at Miina Härma Gymnasium. Almost all teachers at Miina Härma Gymnasium have made their experience in supervising trainees or young teachers during their school practice.

Miina Härma Gymnasium can provide a good practice place for trainees from different countries. There is a long experience in supervising of trainees and young teachers during their school practice period. The good knowledge in English of the teachers - supervisors and students make it possible for foreign student teachers to attend successfully their school practice period at this school. 

Contact

If you want to have any more information about the participation of the Joensuu Normaalikoulu in the JoMiTE initiative, please contact the Mr. Heikki Veinimäe .