Gonzaga College - A History 1950-2005

In 1949 the buildings that now comprise the Jesuit residence and Prep building with
their surrounding lands of c.15 acres in Ranelagh, two miles south of Dublin city
centre were purchased by the Irish Province of the Society of Jesus with the intention
of opening a preparatory school under the patronage of St. Peter Canisius. The
school which opened September 8th 1950 was in fact called after St. Aloysius
Gonzaga and occupied the present Community residence. It consisted of three class
groups (Preps I, II, III) comprising a total of 52 boys. The founding Jesuit Superior
(and later first Rector) was Rev. Charles O'Conor SJ (The O'Conor Don) and the first
Prefect of Studies was Rev Bill White SJ.

Initially the curriculum of the College was based on an application of the Ratio
Studiorum. The intention was to break from the restraints of the Intermediate and
Leaving Certificate Examinations and emphasise clarity of thought linked to a
thorough knowledge of languages; especially the Classical languages. The
curriculum did not include the sciences. It was planned to have pupils sit the
Matriculation Examination of the NUI which would be taken at the end of 5th Year,
enabling 6th Year to be devoted to a transition into a world of academic work or other
occupation during which there would be wide reading and pupils would learn how to
assemble knowledge effectively as well as how to present it.

In 1956 the first of many building projects for the College was begun. These
buildings included the entrance hallway and library, the assembly hall and two
classrooms (now numbers 10 and 11). The costs of these developments were again
borne by the Jesuit Community and Province so when in 1962 it was proposed to
build a College Chapel the Rector turned to the parents. The College was heavily in
debt but with parental support the proposal became reality and the foundation stone
of the Chapel was blessed in 1965. This tradition of turning to parents to fund new
developments has continued to this day. In 1974 the Classroom block; in 1980 the
Chapel windows and in 1984 the Science block were all built with funds raised in the
main from the parent body. In 1993 the First Board of Management, after a review of
the existing facilities undertook a further building project. These buildings included a
new gymnasium, Art rooms, general classrooms, and dining facilities

Over these years many other changes occurred in the curriculum, structure and
staffing of the College but two, in the mid seventies had the most profound long-term
effect. The first re-direction of policy arose from the 32nd. General Congregation of
the Society of Jesus (GC32) which saw the election of Fr Pedro Arrupe SJ as
General and the re-examination and re-direction of the efforts of the Jesuits which
focussed on the ìpreferential option for the poorî. The second was the introduction of
the points system as a means of gaining entry to specific faculties of the Irish
Universities.

The re-thinking of the Jesuits after GC32 led them to question the operation of
schools such as Gonzaga which charged fees and could be considered elitist, being
based on the ability to pay. Arising from the discernment on this issue the Jesuit
Province proposed to the Department of Education the setting up of a co-educational,
Comprehensive School at Gonzaga, owned by the Department but involving Jesuit
trusteeship. The proposal was rejected.

The introduction of the points system effectively spelt the end of the Gonzaga
experiment based on the Ratio Studiorum. It was no longer possible to be certain of
admission to the more selective faculties if the results of a Matriculation examination
taken at the end of Fifth Year were to be the yardstick. The College switched to the
Leaving Certificate, taken at the end of Sixth Year.

Under the dynamic leadership of Fr Dermot Murray SJ many of the most productive
changes in the late seventies and early eighties occurred: the extensive building
programme created a modern school in which science took its proper place in the
curriculum and the introduction of a second stream in the secondary school and an
entrance examination as a means of selecting pupils improved the academic record

When the decision was taken, in 1989, to appoint the first lay Headmaster there was
still a doubt over the continued existence of the College. In 1991 the Jesuit
Provincial Delegate for Education undertook a wide ranging review of the operation
of the College. The outcome of this review was more than positive.

The Provincial gave a commitment, on behalf of the Province, to the continued
existence and development of the Senior School. He decided that the Preparatory
School should close and that the intake of the Senior School would be expanded. It
was further decided to establish a Board of Management in line with national norms.

This first Board of Management initiated the development plans which came to
fruition in the 1996 buildings. They set up an organised and professional fund-raising
campaign to fund these developments. In consultation with the educational
stakeholders, the Board drafted the Gonzaga Mission Statement which was
approved by the Provincial.

The Boardís work was continued by the second Board and their joint efforts
culminated in the opening of the new buildings in September 1996 by Fr Provincial
SJ. With the school plant now developed to the needs of a new century the Board
established a sub committee to prepare a ten year plan for the ongoing development
of the College.

A fire in February 2003 destroyed the Administration building which had been the site
of the original Prep school. Extensive re-building and refurbishment ensured that
Staff facilities and the boysí library which rose from the ashes were amongst the
finest in the country.

In March 2003 the Jesuit Provincial advised the five Jesuit Colleges that because of
shortages of Jesuit manpower it would not be possible, within a short period, to
guarantee the presence of Jesuits in the Colleges. He invited the Colleges to reflect
on whether they wished to remain in the Jesuit fold and undertake the Ignatian vision
of education as laypeople. At a meeting with the Provincial in September 2002 the
Gonzaga staff undertook to sustain and develop the Jesuit/Ignatian ethos of the
College. An action plan was prepared and adopted by the Board which was aimed at
cementing Gonzaga College into the worldwide network of Jesuit schools.

As an integral part of this ongoing development the fourth Board again reviewed the
College facilities and decided on a further programme of building to begin in Summer
2006.

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