Today in History – 12 May

Atatürk and İnönü at Ankara High School for Girls

The Ankara High School for Girls President Gazi Mustafa Kemal visited with Prime Minister İsmet İnönü and Afet İnan on May 12, 1934 had begun instruction with 79 students on October 11, 1923 upon Atatürk’s orders. However, due to the rapid expansion of the student body, the school temporarily moved to the location of present-day Anafartalar Highs School and eventually settled in its own building in 1930 near the Turkish Hearth. The school building was designed by German architect Ernst Arnold Egli.

A school anthem was composed during the years in which Ankara High School for Girls was founded. The anthem was composed by Turkish National Anthem composer Zeki Üngör and the lyrics were written by Faruk Nafiz Çamlıbel:

The sun of reform shines on our foreheads

We are the stars that herald the light of tomorrows

Rapidly overcoming dark centuries,

We are the girls that carry light between horizons

The free voice of our free country gives us strength

Long live young Turkey, long live the School for Girls

İsmet İnönü’s daughter Özden Toker was also a graduate of this school.