5.1 City and school
THE HISTORY OF KOCAELİ
Research has shown that people from eras beyond history have lived in and around Izmit, which is the junction of the world´s most important roads, since 3000 B.C. The first evidences of Izmit, in which people have continued to dwell to this day, can be traced back to the 12th century B.C. At this time the Phrygians ruled the region after which a group migrating frrom Greece´s city of Svlegara to find themselves a new place to dwell formed a city in the Başiskele district and called it ASTAKOZ. After the King Lysimakhos of Thrace destroyed the city of ASTAKOZ a new city called NICOMEDIA was built on the hills on which the present Izmit is located. The city was built in 262 B.C. by King Nicomedes who was appointed by Alexander the Great to conquer Anatolia and was named fort he king’s wife.
Nicomedia, as the centre of the rising Bithinia Kingdom, becomes a great Hellenistic city. It is granted to the Romans in 91-94 B.C. In 284 B.C. the Emperor Diocletionus makes Nicomedia the capital again. In his era Nicomedia is the world´s fourth largest city after Rome, Antioch and Alexandria. In the last quarter of the 11th century Nicomedia is taken over by the Seljuks. Nicomedia was retaken in the 1st Crusade and after remaining under the occupation of the Latins for a while was returned to the Seljuks. In the era of Orhan Ghazi the city was taken by the governor of the Adapazari and Hendek regions, Akgakoca, and brought under the rule of the Ottoman State. At first the city´s name was Iznikmid, meaning neighbour of Iznik, and later became Izmit. Izmit was part of Istanbul until 1888 when it became a separate city. Prior to the War of Independence the city was freed frrom English and Greek armed occupation on 28th June 1921.
After the Republic was declared Izmit became the centre of the Kocaeli province. During the Republic period industrial investments made in the region the city´s industrial foundation is set and both state and private ventures increase. Today Kocaeli is an advanced industrial city and is surrounded by railway and the most advanced motorway network. Also, with its Derince and Izmit ports it has sea routes to all four corners of the world. Kocaeli is a small province with regard to its land measurement and is an interesting worldwide example with its production in industry, added value and people working in this sector. Its natural beauties, beaches, plateaus, skiing centres and historical sites as well as the coasts of the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea are also important for the province of Kocaeli with regard to commerce and tourism.
GEOGRAPHICALLOCATION OF KOCAELI
Kocaeli is a province east of the Marmara Sea and the Marmara Region which connects Asia and Europeand located in Çatalca-Kocaeli part of Marmara region between29º22&769;-30º21&769; east longitudes and 40º3&769;&769;&769;-41º13&769; north latitudes.It is comprised of a total of seven counties which are Gebze, Körfez, Karamursel, Golcuk, Kandira, Derince and the Central County of Izmit. The Black Sea is to its North, the Sakarya province is in the East and South east, Bursa is in the South and the provinces of Yalova and Istanbul are located to its West. With regard to its location Kocaeli is Turkey´s sixth smallest province. According to the 2002 consensus the population was 1.437.926 and the population per km2 was 398. It is one of Turkey´s most important travel points by Road, railway, Sea and Air.
Izmit is the central county of Kocaeli and has the same name. It is a coastal town near the eastern point of the Gulf (Korfez). It is an ancient city built on one of the most important routes between Turkish Asia and Europe. There are large industrial establishments and shopping centres and the population has reached a total of 371.725 including the villages and subdistricts. Although Izmit is known as an industrial town it is also a town where serious ventures are taking place to become a city of culture, art and education. The town´s own special local delicacy, Pişmaniye, is famous worldwide.
THE SOCIO-ECONOMICAL STRUCTURE OF KOCAELİ
Its Position and Population Kocaeli is like a junction which interlinks two continents Asia and Europe in Marmara Region. The area of it is 3.505 km2 and the population of it is 1.437.926 according to the census in 2007. It is the most second crowded city comparing with The population increasing rate is yearly ‰27. Istanbul. It is the seventh smallest city in Turkey.
Tourism
İzmit Sekapark: In Sekapark, which is actualized as a first industrial transformation area, is a coastal complex which could be used for having a rest and doing sport. There are a huge artificial grass hill 15 m high and 150 m size, the biggest skateboard in our country, artificial sand beach, multi functional landing stages, a platform of concert and perform for over one thousand people , hundred thousands m2 grass area, 6 thousand trees, 23 km pedestrian lane, 1600 m bike lane and a car park with 800 cars capacity. There are also cafes, meat and fish restaurants and a grass field. In this beautiful area you can have a rest, do sport and eat something with your friends as well as you can get on the net with the connection of Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality.
İZMİT ATILIM ANADOLU LİSESİ
http://izmitatilimanadolulisesi.meb.k12.tr
General Character of the Education System
Education system has democratic, modern, scientific secular and coeducational characteristics. The purpose of the Turkish Education System is to increase the welfare and happiness of the Turkish citizens and Turkish society, to support and facilitate economic, social and cultural development in national unity and integration and to make the Turkish nation a constructive, creative and distinguished partner in modern civilization. Our purpose of secondary education in Atılım Anatolian High School is to give students a minimum common culture, to identify individual and social problems, to search for solutions, to raise awareness in order to contribute to the socio-economic and cultural development of the country and to prepare the students for higher education, for profession, for life and for business in line with their interests and skills.
OUR SCHOOL
“İzmit Atılım Anadolu Lisesi” is a secondary school and it was opened in 1995. Now we have 384 boys 347 girls totally 731 students in 25 classes. This photo shows the front entrance of the school.
