Menntaskólinn school

If hearing phrases like “line up in pairs”, “take out your notebooks,” or “recess is over” suddenly stirs up any past memories—don’t worry, we’re not here to take you back to old school days. I mean old, that depends on you… It’s just that, right now, you’re standing in front of the oldest school in Iceland—or at least, its current structure. Originally founded in 1056, the school first started in Skálholt, a southern city that was a cultural, political, and above all, religious hub in Iceland for over 800 years. The school was first moved to the capital in 1786 before finally settling here in 1846. Back then, it was known as Latínuskólinn, meaning the Latin School. In 1937, the school goes through change and adopts its current name: Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík. Today, it welcomes many students for a three-year program equivalent to high school, and many of Iceland’s politicians—including several Prime Ministers—once studied here. Perhaps what’s most exceptional is that, up until not so long ago, the spring semester ended with a crazy tradition — “the classroom battle.” At the end of the spring semester, graduating seniors had to reach a bell placed on the ground floor, while younger students did everything they could to stop them—sometimes by tackling them or even throwing dirt. As fun as it may have been, the tradition had to stop in the early 2000s when a student suffered a neck injury. Still, Menntaskólinn remains a true Icelandic symbol—even appearing on the 500-króna banknote. So next time you’re getting change, take a closer look.