Born: 1848 (Oldenburg, Germany)
Died: 1930 (Berlin, Germany)
Biography:
Helene Lange (9 April 1848 in Oldenburg – 13 May 1930 in Berlin) was a renowned pedagogue and feminist who played a significant role in the international and German civil rights feminist movement. Her work has made her a symbolic figure in the fight for women’s rights. Throughout her life, Lange made groundbreaking contributions to education and paved the way for the advancement of women in German society.
Helene Lange was born into a middle-class family in Oldenburg. Her parents, Carl Theodor Lange and Johanne (born Tom Dieck), provided her with a solid upbringing. However, tragedy struck at a young age when her mother succumbed to tuberculosis in 1855. Ten years later, her father passed away from a stroke, and she came under the legal guardianship of a South-German clergy house. These early experiences instilled in Lange a sense of resilience and an unwavering determination to make a difference.
In 1867, Lange became an au pair at a boarding school in Petit Château in Alsace. There, she not only taught German literature and grammar but also immersed herself in subjects such as philosophy, history of literature and religion, historical science, and ancient languages. Lange’s voracious appetite for knowledge led her to become a lifelong learner and a passionate advocate for education.
In 1871, Lange moved to Berlin to prepare for her teacher exam, which she successfully passed. In the years that followed, she worked as a private tutor and dedicated herself to promoting the emancipation of women and girls through education. Lange joined the Verein deutscher Lehrerinnen und Erzieherinnen (Association of German Women Teachers and Tutors) and became actively involved in the feminist movement.
Lange’s teaching career flourished when she began teaching languages at the Krahmerschen Höheren Mädchenschule (Krahmerschen Girls High School) in Lichtenberg near Berlin in 1874. From 1876 to 1891, she served as a teacher and director of the seminar class at the Crainschen Höheren Mädchenschule (Crainschen Girls High School), a prestigious private women’s college in Berlin. In addition, she founded a seminar for women teachers at the same institution, solidifying her status as an influential educator.
Helene Lange’s advocacy extended beyond the classroom. In 1887, she co-wrote a petition to the Prussian Ministry of Education and the Prussian House of Representatives, advocating for increased influence of women teachers in public high schools for girls and scientific teacher training for women. Although the petition was rejected, Lange’s efforts demonstrated her unwavering commitment to gender equality in education.
Lange also wrote articles for the Gelben Broschüre (Yellow Pamphlet), a companion magazine to the petition. In these writings, Lange emphasized the importance of female teachers in understanding the experiences and needs of girls: Your goal is the teaching of girls through women, who can better empathize with the essence of girls in their view. To date, most teaching arrangements are held by men.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Lange was honored with the Grand Prussian State Medal (Großen Preußischen Staatsmedaille) For Services to the State in 1928. Throughout her life, she tirelessly fought for equal rights and tirelessly worked to improve education for women in Germany.
Helene Lange’s legacy lives on as her work continues to inspire and empower generations of women. Her dedication to education and gender equality has left an indelible mark on the feminist movement and society as a whole.
Awards:
– Grand Prussian State Medal (Großen Preußischen Staatsmedaille) For Services to the State (1928)