Jovan Jovanović Zmaj Gymnasium () is a secondary school in Novi Sad, Serbia. It is named after Jovan Jovanović Zmaj, a Serb poet. It was founded in 1810 by a donation of a wealthy merchant from Novi Sad. Over the years the school developed into a prestigious institution whose alumni include numerous notable historical individuals.

The school was rebuilt in the 20th century, using the donations of baron Miloš Bajić who gave 20,000 forints.

Names

The school had several names throughout its history.

  • Since 27 January 1810: Serbian Grand Orthodox Gymnasium of Novi Sad ().
  • Since 27 August 1920: State Men's Gymnasium ().
  • Since 3 October 1931: State Men's Real Gymnasium of King Alexander I ().
  • Since 13 April 1941: Hungarian Royal State Gymnasium with Serbian language courses ().
  • Since 28 February 1945: Creation of the Women's Real Gymnasium (), Men's Real Gymnasium () and Mixed Real Gymnasium (). Mixed Gymnasium moved into the current gymnasium building on the 30 June 1945. The "Real" status was removed from these gymnasiums in 1948.
  • Since the school year of 1950/1951: The Women's Gymnasium () and Men's Gymnasium () moved into the current gymnasium building, merging into the First Mixed Gymnasium (). Then Mixed Gymnasium was renamed into the Second Mixed Gymnasium ().
  • Since 1952: First Mixed Gymnasium is renamed into Svetozar Marković Secondary Mixed Gymnasium (), while the Second Mixed Gymnasium is renamed into Jovan Jovanović Zmaj Secondary Mixed Gymnasium ().
  • Since the school year of 1959/1960: Both mixed schools merge into one, named Jovan Jovanović Zmaj Gymnasium.

The flag of the school was established in 1816. On one side is Lord Jesus Christ, and on the other Saint Sava. This flag has been preserved to this today, adorning the entrance to the school.

With the arrival of the teachers Georgije Magarašević, Mojsije Petrović, Ignjat Jovanović and Pavel Jozef Šafarik the number of the classes was increased to six, and at the beginning of October 1819 the Serbian Orthodox Great Gymnasium School in Novi Sad became a comprehensive gymnasium.

First school building

thumb|Serbian Orthodox Gymnasium, Novi Sad, 1889.

The first school building was at the corner of modern day Nikole Pašića and Zlatne grede streets, at the spot of today's Platoneum building next to the Orthodox Cathedral Church of Saint George. It was built by the council of Serbian Orthodox Church in 1788 for the needs of Latino-Slavic Nativity of the Mother of God School.

The first principals of the gymnasium were a priest Danilo Petrović and the mayor Grigorije Janković. With the increased number of students and classes the Patronage took steps to insure the emperor's accreditation for the school. This meant that all graduated students of the school had the right to enroll any academy, lycee and university in Habsburg Monarchy without taking entrance or differential examinations. This accreditation was given to the school by Francis II on 26 October 1818.

Medals

  • Order of Saint Sava 1st Grade of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, 1935
  • Order of Merit for the People 1st Grade of the FNR Yugoslavia, 1960
  • Order of Work with the Red Flag of SFR Yugoslavia, 1985
  • Order of Saint Sava 1st Grade of the Serbian Orthodox Church, in 2016

Awards

  • Vukova Award of the Cultural and Educational Community of Serbia, 1970
  • November Award of the Alliance of Physical Culture Organisations of Serbia, 1971
  • Spartakova Award, 1972.
  • Punoletstva Award, 25 May 1972.
  • Vojvodina Liberation Award, 1985
  • Novi Sad's October Award, 1984
  • Gold plaque for education "Biramo najbolje u 2002."
  • Svetosavska Award to the best secondary school for results achieved in 2002/2003 school year of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Serbia
  • International award for excellence in services & products, 2005
  • Recognition of "Dr Djordje Natosević" for outstanding results in education and training work 2005/2006 school year

Notable alumni

  • Boško Petrović, novelist and poet
  • Đorđe Balašević, music artist
  • Đuro Daničić, philologist
  • Dušan Kanazir, molecular biologist
  • Dušan Makavejev, director
  • Isidor Bajić, music composer
  • Josif Tatić, actor
  • Jovan Grčić Milenko, poet and physician
  • Jovan Soldatović, sculptor
  • Jovan Jovanović Zmaj, poet
  • Laza Kostić, poet and translator
  • Lazar Paču, minister of finance
  • Maja Gojković, mayor of Novi Sad
  • Milan Savić, physician, writer, and polymath
  • Olga Hadžić, mathematician
  • Pavel Jozef Šafárik, philologist
  • Petar Kralj, actor
  • Porfirije, Serbian Patriarch
  • Rudolf Brucci, music composer
  • Sergej Milinković-Savić, football player
  • Svetozar Miletić, mayor of Novi Sad
  • Vasa Stajić, writer and philosopher

References

Citations

Sources

  • Postanak i razvitak srpske pravoslavne velike gimnazije u Novom Sadu, V. Pušibrk, 1895.
  • Spomenica o stogodišnici srpske pravoslavne gimnazije u Novom Sadu, Novi Sad, 1910.
  • O prvim srpskim srednjim školama, Milan Šević, Belgrade, 1926.
  • Narodna enciklopedija, Dobrosav Popović, 1927.
  • Srpska pravoslavna velika gimnazija u Novom Sadu, Vasa Stajić, Novi Sad, 1949.
  • Novosadska gimnazija 1810-1960, Novi Sad, 1960.
  • Novosadska gimnazija 1810-1985, nastavak i razvoj, Novi Sad, 1986.
  • Srbi u Vojvodini, Book 2, Dušan J. Popović, Novi Sad, 1990.
  • Srbi u Vojvodini, Book 3, Dušan J. Popović, Novi Sad, 1990.
  • Istorija Srba u Hrvatskoj, Slavoniji i Ugarskoj (XV-XIV vek), Slavko Gavrilović, Belgrade, 1993.
  • Fudbalski klub Vojvodina iz Novog Sada u periodu od 1914-41, Petar Đurđev, Novi Sad, 2002.
  • Gimnazija "Jovan Jovanović Zmaj" - Generacija 2006/7, Građanski list, Novi Sad, 2007.
  • Official site of the school (in Serbian)