Izmir Girls’ High School

Izmir Girls’ High School

This place is Izmir Girls' High School, an educational institution established to raise enlightened and modern generations for the republic.

Foundations of this building were laid in 1917 by Rahmi Bey, Governor of Izmir, to build 'Order and Progress School'. It was completed during 1919-1922 period by Greek architect Aristotle Zachos, brought in to construct Ionian University, which was decided to be established after the invasion. This building was constructed on a plot which was a Jewish Cemetery since 17th century but was later expropriated. Some of the tombstones from this cemetery were used in the construction.

Slogan of the university was 'Ex Oriente Lux' (Light Rising from East). Establishment of the university was assigned to Constantin Carathéodory, a famous mathematician. His father was a Greek Orthodox man from Istanbul, who worked in Ottoman embassies for years. This university was scheduled to be opened on 10 October 1922, but liberation of the city by Turkish forces prevented it from happening.

This school opened its doors for the first time in 1923, under the name Izmir Teachers' Training School for Boys. After moving Training School for Boys to Sirinyer, it was assigned to Izmir Girls' High School in 1936. It has become a very important school; some very significant teachers served in this school, and chemistry, physics, and nature laboratories of the school were utilized by students of neighbouring schools as well. Necmettin Halil Onan, principal of the school between 1936-1939, was also a poet and literature historian. Principal of the school in 1941-1950 period, Vedide Baha Pars, got her psychology degree from Chicago University, and she was a teacher who was assigned to Izmir Girls' High School for her outstanding success.

Izmir Girls' High School is a palatial masonry building with outstanding marble details on its portico (1). Since the opening of the school, some extension were added to the premises, including a tower, which was used as lodgement, Faik Eroglu classroom, and dining hall. Main building got burned down in a fire on 12 June 1985, and most of the archives were reduced to ashes. Following the repairs conducted with support from alumni and locals, school restarted giving education in 1990. In 2003 it was converted to a co-ed school, and its name was changed to '80th Year Anatolian High School'; yet due to persistent requests from alumni, it was named back to 'Girls' High' again.

1 Entrance porch born by small columns.