HISTORY

The year 2016 marks the 175^th anniversary of the foundation of the first mixed public instruction school in the city of Stara Zagora and one of the first in the country – the Saint Nicholas school. Today the school bears the name of Ivan Vazov high school.

 

What could we say, as citizens living in the 21^st century, about a 175-year anniversary?

 

What must we dig up from the dust, who must we bring back to life, and how many things must we remember just to have a reason to say: “This is our school. We are proud of it!”

 

The school is now 175 years old. It has changed its name, resided in many different buildings, given Bulgaria thousands of educated citizens, but its spirit has remained the same – a spirit of Renaissance and revival.

 

Has teacher Atanas Ivanov, in 1841, ever dreamt that years later his deeds would seed fruit…

 

That’s why we will tell you his tale – from the beginning until today.

 

During the 20s of the 19^th century, a new Hellenic school is established in Stara Zagora, which attracts the children of the wealthy families, but creates danger for Bulgarian culture. That’s why in the year 1833, the 23-year old teacher Atanas Ivanov, supported by Kosyo Pramatarina, founded in the Akardzha neighborhood, a school which rejects religious practices and paves the way for the creation of a new Bulgarian school.

 

On the 1^st of March 1841, teacher Atanas Ivanov, again, supported by the prominent citizens of Stara Zagora such as Alexander Exarch, Gospodin Hadzhi Slavov and Ivan Stoyanov, founded the first mixed public instruction school in Stara Zagora.

 

Teacher Atanas Ivanov was born on the 12^tH of February 1810 in Stara Zagora. He had a remarkable education for his time – studiyng in the nunnery of the Hilendar monastery in the church of Saint Dimitar with the religious teachers Ivan and Danail, but he is most fond of his teacher saint Neofit Rilski. An astonishing 44 years he had studied under his wing until 1881.

 

In the Saint Nicholas school, decorated by the example of the school in Gabrovo, lots of students came together not only from Stara Zagora, but from Nova Zagora, Chirpan, Sliven, Yambol and other places as well. His achievements are undisputed.

 

A great part in the development of the school deed in Stara Zagora is the construction of a two story school building in the yard of the Saint Nicholas church, built using charity resources from craftsmen and wealthy sponsors. Since October 1850, school studies continued there.

 

Gradually the school moved on from the Bell-Lancaster method to a class-oriented education. The famous for their time teachers Neofit Rilski, Ivan Bogorov, Todor Shishkov and others taught the students there. The school was named Main Secondary school and its fame of a big enlightened center was getting even bigger -  a very large number of students from Southern Bulgaria joined. A great merit for that has “the most renowned class teacher during the 50s” – Todor Shishkov.

 

Under his wing studied the Apostle of Liberty – Vasil Levski.
During 1865/66  in the school works Doctor Dimitar Pavlovich (son of the famous Renaissance teacher Hristaki Pavlovich). He introduced a class-study system. Every class had their own separate class room and for every subject or two they had a different teacher.

 

For the achieved goals, the impressions of the Russian diplomat Skalon speak for themselves. During 1868 in Stara Zagora the first teacher conference takes place. The gatherings take place in the Saint Nicholas school. During 1871 the students from Stara Zagora from the Basic Male school form one of the first student organization “Zdravets”. It sets for itself the progressive for the time goal – to apply the gathered knowledge from the school subjects.

A big fire burns the city into ashes and ruins all the schools in Stara Zagora including ours. But on the 1^st of September of 1878 students and teachers gathered to study even in small apartments. With its first  law the Stara Zagora city hall issues taxes for building a school building and during 1880 on the street of “ Graf Ignatiev” a new three story building is raised, where the school subjects take place during 1881 to 1947. The school became an interracial center for education and culture. During 1893 the school organizes an anniversary party for its 40-year teaching activity for its founder – Atanas Ivanov.

On the 25^th November of 1895 the school celebrated 25 years of enlightenment activity of Ivan Vazov. On this occasion the commission of illumination in our city decides to congratulate him and the city hall decides to name our school after him. Touched, he says: “I would to give my thanks to all of the people who acknowledged my doings. These signs of sympathy interest me deeply. I’ve always had a strong liking for Stara Zagora as one of the most cultural centers of Bulgaria and even now in Ottoman times. That’s why the honor you do to me has a deep meaning to me and I’m proud of it. Thank you.”

The regarding of the day the school celebrates the day of their patron has been raised several times. There was a correspondence going on with the minister of education at that time. In 1919 Vazov himself wants his best-selling novel “Pod igoto” to be published for the first time on the 25^th of November 1889. That’s why the 25^th is regarded as a festival in honor of Ivan Vazov.

Since 1902/03’s school year, they started to add upper grades – 6^th, 7^th and 8^th, and as of the 1^st of September 1907 it became an Only male high school “Ivan Vazov” with 20 different classes and 933 students. In 1908 the school had its first school graduates. Among them was the future minister of education Stoqn Omarchevski, academic Petko Stoyanov, prof. Dimitar Gyudzhenov, the musical and literature critic Georgi Stoqnovich-Bersenev and others.

During the Balcan War (1912-1913) the building of the school was converted in to the main general staff for tzar Ferdinand, and during the IWW-into a military hospital and a weapon storage. The fire in 1916 burns to ashes a large amount of the building, only the west compartment remained. It was soon rebuilt and the classes continued soon after.

 

Until 1946 the learning process lasts for five years. During 1946/47’s school year a change to the school plan has been introduced shortening it to four years. Due to the school’s needs, a new massive building was constructed. In 1947/48 “Ivan Vazov” along with its 11 grades transfers there.

In 1950/51 the First male only school becomes First Mutual High School “Ivan Vazov”.In 1960 the high school is declared national pioneer and is awarded with the order of “Cyril and Methodius”.