Učeničko društvo Svačić počelo je djelovati 1906. godine kao tamburaški zbor unutar
varaždinske Gimnazije, a ubrzo je kao organizirano tamburaško društvo nastupalo i izvan
škole. Pod vodstvom prof. Milana Stahuljaka oblikovani su kvalitetan tamburaški i pjevački
zbor te salonski orkestar koji su do ljeta 1913. godine, priređivali glazbeno-deklamatorne
produkcije povremeno dopunjavane amaterskim predstavama i organiziranim plesom.
Bez Svačićevog sudjelovanja ubrzo je postala nezamisliva svaka ozbiljnija priredba
u Gimnaziji, a njegovi programi znatno su obogatili kulturnu i zabavnu ponudu u gradu.
Pred Prvi svj. rat ulogu Svačićevog zborovođe preuzeo je prof. Tomislav Miškulin pod
čijim je vodstvom ova djelatnost nadopunjena izuzetno kvalitetnim koncertnim aktivnostima.
Čim su to političke okolnosti dopustile, Svačićevi su nastupi, tijekom i nakon rata,
pomogli prikupljanju novca za pomoć siromašnim gimnazijalcima i ratnim stradalnicima.
Zalaganjem Milana Kamana, novog ravnatelja varaždinske Gimnazije, diktatorski
režim kralja Aleksandra je 1930. ipak dozvolio osnivanje Varaždinskog gimnazijskog udruženja
„Svačić“ s ciljem da lakše kontrolira izvannastavne aktivnosti u školi. Rad udruženja
propisan je Pravilima potvrđenim od Ministarstva prosvjete i organiziran je kroz sekcije.
U početku su utemeljene glazbena, znanstvena i literarna, a sljedećih godina oformljene
su sportska, likovna šahovska i filatelistička sekcija. Nastavni savjet imenovao je profesore
voditelje sekcija koje su održavale radne sastanke pripremajući programe za tzv.
sijela, priredbe putem kojih su svoj rad predstavljale unutar škole ili na nivou grada, a
povremeno su Gimnaziju predstavljale i na višim razinama. Pritom se posebno isticala
sportska sekcija pod vodstvom prof. Zvonimira Suligoja koja se, uz lokalne manifestacije
predstavljala na državnim sletovima. Glazbena sekcija pod vodstvom prof. Tomislava
Miškulina je svoje koncertne programe predstavljala u Hrvatskom glazbenom zavodu i
zagrebačkoj katedrali. Literarna sekcija je učeničke radove povremeno objavljivala u zagrebačkim
književnim revijama, a samostalno je izdavala učenički list Svačić. Zahvaljujući
njihovoj aktivnosti kulturni, zabavni i društveni život u Gimnaziji i Varaždinu 30-ih godina
20. stoljeća bio je znatno bogatiji i kvalitetniji. No promjenom političkih odnosa neposredno
pred Drugi svjetski rat, rad ove udruge bio je ugašen.Student association Svačić was founded in 1906 as a tamburitza orchestra
operating within Varaždin Gymnasium and later it was converted into a tamburitza
music association that held concerts outside school as well. Led by teacher
Milan Stahuljak it consisted of a high-quality tamburitza orchestra and choir as
well as a chamber orchestra. By summer 1913 they used to organize music and
declamatory productions which were sometimes complemented with amateur
shows and organized ballroom dances. Soon thereafter Svačić became one of
the must-have participants of all the important events in Gymnasium, and their
programs added new qualities to the cultural and entertainment offer in Varaždin.
Before World War I teacher Tomislav Miškulin became their choirmaster and
he put special emphasis on concert activities of the association. As soon as the
political circumstances became more favorable (during and after the war) Svačić
performances aided significantly in raising resources for the poor Gymnasium
students and casualties of war.
As a consequence of the persistent work by Milan Kaman, the new head of
Varaždin Gymansium, the dictatorial regime of the king Aleksandar eventually
allowed the foundation of Varaždin Gymnasium association „Svačić“ in 1930 so
that they may supervise extracurricular activities of the school. The activity of
the association was defined by a rulebook („Pravilnik“) which was approved by
the Ministry of Education and it was set up through various sections. The first
sections to be founded were the music, science, and literary sections, and in the upcoming years sports, visual arts, chess and philatelic sections were set up as
well. The board of teachers appointed teachers who were leaders of particular
sections which in turn held meetings where they elaborated programs for the
so-called soirees. Those were events where sections presented their activities
within the school or for the general population. Sometimes they even represented
the school on a more formal level as well. A section that was especially
prominent was the sports section which was led by teacher Zvonimir Suligoj.
They were active both at local and state events. Music section, which was led
by teacher Tomislav Miškulin, held concerts in the Croatian Music Association
and Zagreb Cathedral. The literary section sometimes published students’ works
in Zagreb literary journals, and they published their own student journal called
Svačić. With the help of their activities, social, culture and entertainment segment
of Varaždin life in the 1930s was extremely rich and colorful. However,
because of new political developments in the period leading up to World War II,
this association ceased to exist
