Establishment of the Real School in Nymburk in 1903
We learn from historical sources that not only the city of Nymburk, but also its education has a remarkable history. The possibility of establishing a secondary school in Nymburk began to be considered only after 1848, when there was a certain relaxation of national and political life. The proposals for the establishment of a real school were mainly based on young Czechs and poor citizens who could not afford to send their children to study in other cities. This and other attempts in 1870, 1888 and 1897 ended in failure.
The issue of opening the realm in Nymburk also became part of the election program. All influential officials of the city recognized that this type of high school is best suited to local economic and cultural conditions. The initiator of this effort was the builder Josef Červený. Thus, on October 30, 1901, the town council instructs the local school board to draw up and submit a proposal to the town council for the establishment of a secondary school in Nymburk as soon as possible. However, only the task was left. A significant shift occurs only after the elections in 1902, when the builder Josef Červený was elected mayor, who managed to convince the city council. The teamit was decided that on September 1, 1903, the first class of the real school in the new wing of the primary school would be opened. However, this decision was only the beginning, a kind of cornerstone of the future reality. In three and a half months, it was necessary to obtain a permit from the district council, the provincial school board and the Vienna ministry. The help was promised by the provincial school inspector Rosický, the provincial deputy Škarda and the imperial deputy dr. Fort. The request was finally granted and on July 18, 1903, No. 23078, the Ministry of Education allowed the establishment of a municipal higher school.
So far, preparations have been made in the city for the ceremonial opening of the first class of the real school on 15 September 1903. At the instruction of the provincial school inspector, a competition was announced for the position of school principal. Josef Materna, a professor at the school in Mladá Boleslav, was elected. Bernard Dolák was elected the first professor. On September 10, 1903, the commission approved the rooms for the real school and the number of pupils needed to run the school was also ensured. This was taken care of mainly by Občanské listy, which had been bringing accurate information to the public since April 1903.
According to the account of the real school fund of the Royal City of Nymburk from 1903, 53 pupils were admitted to the 1st grade after the admission procedure (an admission tax of 4.20 K was paid for the admission procedure). 6 pupils were exempted from paying tuition fees and the remaining 47 paid 1,410 CZK per à semester (à 30 CZK per pupil). Furthermore, students had to pay contributions for school supplies (2, – K) and for the use of the gym (1, – K).
The first class of the real school was ceremoniously opened on September 18, 1903 with the large participation of representatives of the municipality, authorities, churches and associations. The ceremonial part of the day ended with a ceremonial speech by the mayor of Červený and a tour of the building. Regular classes began in the afternoon of the same day.
In addition to the director of Materna and teacher Dolák, the teachers of the municipal and burgher school in Nymburk taught at the high school, who, together with the town council, took care of the proper functioning of the institute.
In order for the school inspectorate to find everything in the best order (the guarantee of the duration of the institute depended on its opinion), the necessary equipment was purchased. We learn from the account of the college fund that the school also paid for plants in the botanical garden in the total amount of 99.31 K, for the equipment of cabinets 2706.17 K, for the school library 535.44 K and for aids 41.70 K.