HIGH SCHOOL

The documentary of Kayseri High School, which writes history on its stone walls... During the reign of Sultan Abdülhamit II, an educational reform took place. In order to put an end to the decline of the empire, the administration wanted to open up the education system, which had been confined to Istanbul, to Rumelia, Anatolia and the Middle East. The aim was to pave the way for Muslim children to receive a better education and to train civil servants loyal to Devlet-i Ali (the Great State). Schooling began in many cities of the Empire. One of these cities was Kayseri. In 1893, Kayseri İdadi (First Stage Secondary School) opened and witnessed the troubled last years of the Ottoman Empire. It experienced the effects of the Balkan Wars and the First World War. During the First World War, Kayseri İdadi was transformed into Sultani (Second Stage Secondary School) like many of its contemporaries. Due to its proximity to Ankara, Kayseri was also a first-hand witness of the War of Independence. Following the loss of the Eskişehir-Kütahya Wars, there have been discussions about moving the parliament in Ankara to Kayseri, to the building of the Kayseri Sultani. The Turkish Army retreated to the east of the Sakarya River without any casualties and prepared for the Battle of Sakarya under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief Gazi Mustafa Kemal. The students of Kayseri Sultani were not content with witnessing this struggle for liberation which was taking place right next to them; they wanted to take part in it themselves. The forgotten story of these high school students who participated in the Sakarya War is heartbreaking. Kayseri Sultani and its contemporaries are very important for the young Republic established after the victory of the War of Independence. Because the future of the new country was being raised in these schools. Kayseri Sultani, which Atatürk himself visited, was renamed Kayseri High School with the Republic. Kayseri, which had a great influence on Turkey's social, political and daily life, has raised two presidents and hosted many artists, business people and valuable teachers. Kayseri High School, which is one of the important places of Turkey's recent history with its architecture, is also one of the symbols of the city. For the city of Kayseri, it is often referred to only as the High School.

In the film, 11th President Abdullah Gül and former Minister of National Defence Hulusi Akar, who passed through Kayseri High School, also took part.

The historical anthem of the high school was also re-recorded for this documentary. The anthem, arranged by Evren Karakul and Evrim Furkan, was re-recorded specially for the film.