Χρονολόγηση Beginning of the 19th century-inter-war period. Γεωγραφικός εντοπισμός Romanian coast of the Black Sea IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ

Transcript

1 Περίληψη : At the Danubian Greek communities of Romania many Greek schools, for boys as well as for girls, were founded in the beginning of the 19th century. Most of them were elementary, but there were also some noteworthy gymnasiums (Gymnasium of Venieris, Proodos Gymnasium, Gymnasium of Pylarinos). Some, mainly the ones founded by the communities, addressed the popular classes of the colonies. In 1905 due to the breaking of the Greek-Romanian diplomatic relations, most of them were closed, whereas in the Inter-War years all Greek schools belonged to the communities, under the supervision of the Greek state. Χρονολόγηση Beginning of the 19th century-inter-war period Γεωγραφικός εντοπισμός Romanian coast of the Black Sea 1. The beginnings The Danubian Principalities of Walachia and Moldavia were centres of Greek education from the end of the 17th century and until the Greek Revolution of The Original Academies of Bucharest and Iaşi constituted two of the most important Greek educational institutions, practically of higher grade, and had acquired a reputation throughout the whole Balkans. 1 However, in the Danubian urban centers and, most specifically in Brăila and Galaţi, the Greek education had apparently not developed, although some elementary schools did exist. 2 However, the development of trade in these two cities after the establishment of free sailing in the Danube with the treaty of Adrianople in 1829, and the settlement of a substantial number of Greeks, mainly merchants, there, led to the foundation of many private schools with Greek being the language of teaching. Characteristically, in 1838 there were four Greek schools operating in Brăila. These were elementary schools and addressed of course not only the Greeks, but also the Romanians and Bulgarians, whereas often merchant lessons were being taught too. 3 The Romanian authorities believed they should face the competition of the private schools, in which the Romanian language was rarely taught, by establishing the teaching of the Greek language, as well as of the merchant lessons, in the Central School of the city, a movement which did have some success, although the number of Greek private schools was not particularly decreased. 4 As we mentioned, these private schools do not appear to have been of a higher level. From the middle of the 19th century, however, schools with better organization and greater ambitions are founded, as one can see from the fact that in most of them more languages than just Greek are taught, such as Romanian, French, German, whereas the teaching staff was comprised of 4-5 teachers and not only one. The most successful Greek schools, which also had a gymnasium department, were the Greek School under the direction of Anastasios Venieris and the Greek Lyceum of Char. Mitropoulos, who had studied in Germany. Both schools were located in Galaţi and had been founded in 1857 and 1859 respectively. 5 During the same period the first Greek schools for girls were founded, where often an emphasis was given to the teaching of French and where, apart from Greek, many students were of Romanian, Jewish and Bulgarian origin. A noteworthy school for girls, the In Brăila French School for Girls, was founded in 1860 by the French Antoinneta Sarjanny, wife of the Greek teacher Nikolaos Sarrioannis, whereas from 1864 it was directed by Eliza Dimopoulos Greek incorporations and the reorganization of the Greek education The Greek education started to practically develop from the beginning of the seventh decade of the 19th century, when the first Greek communities were founded, whereas in the same time, at the end of the 1860 s and the beginning of the next decade, various Δημιουργήθηκε στις 24/1/2017 Σελίδα 1/6

2 educational associations were founded. 7 One of the targets determined in the community regulations was the foundation of a school for girls, and, indeed, the community of Galaţi created a community preliminary school already from 1864, before even building a community church. 8 The development of the Greek education in the region of Dobruja, which was under Ottoman control until 1878, appears to have been delayed, since the local Greek communities (Tulcea, Sulina, Constanţa) were not particularly wealthy. Nevertheless, various schools were founded there too, either by associations in the first two cities either by the community s committee, almost always in collaboration with the Greek Philological Association of Constantinople. 9 It is noteworthy however that in Brăila, which was the most important Greek colony of Romania, the excessive costs and the long building of a community church triggered the creation of the Greek Association of Arts, which made sure to found a school for girls in However, the splitting of the club in 1874 and the disorganization of the school led the community to assume the responsibility of the school for girls. Later, in 1887, the community brought under its control also the school for boys of the Beneficent Club of the Greek Employees Hermes. 10 From the beginning of the 1880 s, the schools which had been founded by clubs were replaced by community ones. The creation of schools from the communities and the clubs marks a turning point in the history of the Greek education at the Romanian coast of the Black Sea, since the interest for the education of the Greek children is incorporated into the public speech of the communities and will from now on be a nucleus of the duties of community commissioners and the colony elites. 3. The Greek schools during the second half of the 19th century The foundation of community schools did not mean that the reasons for the creation of private educational institutions had disappeared. On the contrary, the clearly philanthropic character of the social institutions led the wealthier of the Greeks of the communities to send their children to private schools, especially the girls. After all, the schools which operated with the responsibility of the community committees had a very large number of students 11 and, furthermore, were exclusively of elementary education, almost always lacking any gymnasium classes. We should also not forget that the ephors of the most important private schools were the most renowned Greek merchants and industrialists of the colonies. The best organized Greek private schools in the whole Romania were located at the cities of Brăila and Galaţi, especially in the former one. At Galaţi the Greek School of A. Venieris continued its operation until the beginning of the 20th century. It had gymnasium classes, whereas, apart from Greek, the students were taught Romanian, French, German and Italian. The later professors of the universities of Bucharest, Iaşi and Athens Demosthenes Routsos, Nik. Dosios and Christos Androutsos were included amongst the teachers. Also noteworthy was the school of Georgios Chrysochoidis at Brăila. 12 In the beginning of the 20th century, one of the most important Greek schools was the one operating under the direction of the doctor of Philosophy Dionysios Pylarinos from Kefallonia (he had studied at Munich), which was located at Galaţi, and the school Proodos at Brăila. 13 Between the schools there was a competition which led to the decision of the Greek ministry of Education to recognize them both as gymnasiums Teaching staff-program The male and female teachers of the Greek schools in Romania hardly ever had any higher education and in general their level varied. Nevertheless, the directors of the schools, community and private ones, were usually doctors of philosophy, either of the University of Athens either of German universities, whereas many of the teachers in the gymnasium classes of the private schools were graduates of gymnasiums of Athens and of cities of the Ottoman Empire, usually of Monastirio (Bitola) and of Thessalonica; female teachers had graduated either from Arsakeio school either from various schools for girls of Constantinople. In general, the level of the female teachers was considerably lower, as also happened in Greece. 15 Concerning programs, an effort was made to follow the program of the schools of Greece, with the addition of course of the teaching Δημιουργήθηκε στις 24/1/2017 Σελίδα 2/6

3 of the Romanian language. Furthermore, in many schools for boys merchant lessons and foreign languages (mainly French and German) were taught. School books were almost always identical to the ones used in Greece, like, for example, Papamarkos First Reader The policy of the Romanian state concerning the Greek schools For the Romanian authorities all Greek schools belonged to the same category, i.e. they were all private, no matter whether they were founded by individuals, communities or educational clubs. 17 However, the policy of the Romanian authorities concerning the Greek schools did not remain the same during the whole 19th century. Initially, it appears that especially local authorities understood that the private schools covered existing needs, not only of the Greeks but of the Romanians also, especially concerning the education of the girls. Characteristically, the authorities of Brăila strongly supported the foundation of the French-Greek school for girls in Although the attitude of the local authorities was flexible, the one of the state educational authorities was more rigid, at least theoretically. Already in 1860 the school inspector of the prefecture of Brăila denounced the private schools of the city, mainly the Greek and the Jewish ones, for not cultivating the national feelings to the students. 19 In general, from the end of the 19th century the policy of the Romanian authorities became tougher, as indicated by the temporary closing of some schools at Galaţi and Sulina. 20 However the operation of the multitude of the Greek educational institutions was banned in 1905, after the decision of the Romanian government to interrupt its diplomatic relations with Greece and to denounce the agreement of 1900, according to which the Greek communities had been recognized. As a reason for the closing of the schools the deficiencies in teaching personnel, which did not speak Romanian, the lack of respect for the history of Romania, the dangerous and unhealthy buildings and the use of forbidden teaching manuals were mentioned. The actual reason, however, was the agitation of the relations between the two states due to the conflicts in Macedonia. Only the community school at Galaţi, the private school of D. Pylarinos in the same city and the community school for girls at Tulcea survived. In total 7 schools were closed. 21 The Greek communities reacted but without any result and most of them managed to have their school operating again only after the reestablishments of the Greco-Romanian relations from the beginning of the next decade onwards. 5. The Inter-War years The information we have, concerning the Greek education in Romania during the Inter-War years, are lesser. However, it is certain that the private educational institutions were no longer operating and the Greek schools were by now under the control of the communities. The most powerful communities, those of Constanţa, Galaţi and Brăila maintained at least two elementary six-grade schools, a school for boys and a school for girls, in buildings owned by the community. Also, with the support of the Greek state, gymnasiums had been organized at Galaţi and Constanţa. 22 On the contrary in various Greek communities (Tulcea, Sulina) which faced financial problems, the schools, often mixed ones, closed and needed the aid of the Greek state in order to function properly. 23 With the establishment of a communist regime in the country after 1945 the community Greek schools gradually closed, although Greek schools under the supervision of the Romanian government were established for the children of the Greek political refugees of the Civil War. 1. Camariano-Cioran, A., Les Académies princières de Bucarest et de Jassy et leurs professeurs (Thessaloniki 1974). 2. At Galaţi in the beginning of the 19th century the school of Dimitrios Ithakesios operated. Δημιουργήθηκε στις 24/1/2017 Σελίδα 3/6

4 3. Perianu, R., Istoria şcoalelor din oraşul şi județ ul Brăila ( ) (Bucureşti 1941), p ; Filip, C., Comunitatea greacă de la Brăila, (Brăila 2004), p In general for the private Greek schools in the two Principalities see Papacostea-Danielopolu, C., Convergences culturelles gréco-roumaines ( ) (Thessaloniki 1998), p Perianu, R., Istoria şcoalelor din oraşul şi județ ul Brăila ( ) (Bucureşti 1941), p , Μπελιά, Ε.Δ., «Ο Ελληνισμός της Ρουμανίας κατά το διάστημα (Συμβολή στην ιστορία του επί τη βάσει των ελληνικών)», Δελτίον της Ιστορικής και Εθνολογικής Εταιρείας της Ελλάδος 26 (1983), p ; Papacostea-Danielopolu, C., Comunităț ile greceşti din România în secolul al XIX-lea (Bucureşti 1996), p Analytical data on Venieris school we find in Μπαμπούνης, Χ.Δ., «Το Ελληνικό Εκπαιδευτήριο Βενιέρη στο Γαλάτσι της Ρουμανίας ( )», in Θητεία. Τιμητικό αφιέρωμα στον Καθηγητή Μ.Γ. Μερακλή (Αθήνα 2002), p See also Regulation of the Greek School of Galaţi. Compiled on the base of the regulations of the French Public and Private Schools (Κανονισμός του εν Γαλατσίω Ελληνικού Εκπαιδευτηρίου. Συνταχθείς επί τη βάσει κανονισμών των εν Ελλάδι και Γαλλία Δημοσίων και Ιδιωτικών Εκπαιδευτηρίων (Galaţi 1859). 6. Historical Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece, file 77/2α, 1863, Vice Consul of Brăila V. Antoniadis, to the minister of Foreign Affairs P. Kalligas, no. 563, 18th October For the program of the school see Regulation and organization of the Brăila French School for Girls (Κανονισμός και διοργανισμός του εν Βραΐλα Γαλλικού Παρθεναγωγείου), (Brăila 1864). The regulation was published also in French and Romanian. 7. For the Greek associations of Romania see Κοντογεώργης, Δ.Μ., «Οι ελληνικοί σύλλογοι στη Ρουμανία κατά το 19ο αιώνα. Συμβολή στη μελέτη της ανάπτυξης του συλλογικού φαινομένου στον παροικιακό ελληνισμό», in Δημάδης, Κ.Α. (ed.), Ο ελληνικός κόσμος ανάμεσα στην εποχή του Διαφωτισμού και στον εικοστό αιώνα, vol. Γ (Athens 2007), p Regulation of the preparatory School of the Greek Community of Galaţi (Κανονισμός της προκαταρκτικής Σχολής της εν Γαλατσίω Ελληνικής Κοινότητος (Galaţi 1864). 9. Μπελιά, Ε.Δ., «Ο Ελληνισμός της Ρουμανίας κατά το διάστημα (Συμβολή στην ιστορία του επί τη βάσει των ελληνικών)», Δελτίον της Ιστορικής και Εθνολογικής Εταιρείας της Ελλάδος 26 (1983), p Especially on the Greek schools at Constanţa see Μάνεσης, Σ., «Η ελληνική κοινότης Κωνστάντζης Ρουμανίας», in Mélanges offerts à Octave et Melpo Mérlier II (Athens 1952), p Filip, C., Comunitatea greacă de la Brăila, (Brăila 2004), p See also Report of the Committee of the local Greek Community of the past year Comprised of the gentlemen M. Gionis, G. Matsas, M. Grimanis, G. Travlos and P. Lazaris, read at the general assembly of the members on 17th February 1880 (Λογοδοσία της Επιτροπής της ενταύθα Ελλ. Κοινότητος του λήξαντος έτους Απαρτιζομένης εκ των κυρίων Μ. Γκιώνη, Γ. Μάτσα, Μ. Γριμάνη, Γ. Τραυλού και Π. Λαζαρή, αναγνωσθείσα εν γενική των μελών συνεδριάσει τη 17η Φεβρουαρίου 1880 (Brăila 1880), p Direcț ia Județ eană a Arhivelor Naț ionale Brăila, Fond Comunitatea Greacă din Brăila 12/ On the great number of students in the community schools in relation to the private ones see Rados, L. (ed.), Școlile greceşti din România ( ): Restituț ii documentare (Bucureşti 2006), p Μεταξάς-Λασκαράτος, Δ., Ελληνικαί παροικίαι Ρωσσίας και Ρωμουνίας (Brăila 1900), p. 125; Papacostea-Danielopolu, C., Comunităț ile greceşti din România în secolul al XIX-lea (Bucureşti 1996), p , ; Filip, C., Comunitatea greacă de la Brăila, (Brăila 2004), p Papacostea-Danielopolu, C., Comunităț ile greceşti din România în secolul al XIX-lea (Bucureşti 1996), p ; Filip, C., Comunitatea greacă de la Brăila, (Brăila 2004), p Historical Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece, file 45/1, Légation royale de Grèce en Roumanie [Α. Tombazis], no. 764, 30th October 1904, to Α. Romanos, Minister of Foreign Affairs. 15. Rados, L. (ed.), Școlile greceşti din România ( ): Restituț ii documentare (Bucureşti 2006), p and the documents in the pages 105, Rados, L. (ed.), Școlile greceşti din România ( ): Restituț ii documentare (Bucureşti 2006), p and the documents in the pages , , Cf. the notes of Rados, L. (ed.), Școlile greceşti din România ( ): Restituț ii documentare (Bucureşti 2006), p. 8. Δημιουργήθηκε στις 24/1/2017 Σελίδα 4/6

5 18. File Arhivele Naț ionale Istorice Centrale ale României, Ministerul Cultelor şi a Instrucț iunii Publice, 87/1862, Comitetulu Scolaru din Brailla (Major K. Petrescu [Presedinte comitetului], I. Minowits), no. 106, 27 Iunie 1862, to the Minister of Education. 19. Arhivele Naționale Județ ului Brăila, fond Prefectura Brăilei, 21/1860, Profesor Superior G. Patriciu to On. Administrațiu de Braila, αρ. 11, 12 Februarie Historical Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece, file Β29/3, 1885, Greek Embassy in Romania (Μ.Ν. Dragoumis), no. 239, 18th/30th March 1885, to the Minister of Foreign Affairs A. Kondostavlos. 21. Cf. Rados, L. (ed.), Școlile greceşti din România ( ): Restituț ii documentare (Bucureşti 2006), p Documents concerning the closing of the schools of Brăila and Galaţi op.cot., p , and Historical Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece, file 31/2, 1906, Consul of Brăila M. Papadakis, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, no. 505, 3rd December 1905, and Consul of Brăila M. Papadakis, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, no. 525, 17th/30th December Greek Community of Galaţi, Account of the acts with an analytical table of the budget of (Ελληνική Κοινότης Γαλαζίου. Λογοδοσία των πεπραγμένων μετ αναλυτικού πίνακος ισολογισμού χρήσεως , Constanţa without a date), p. 4-7; Μάνεσης, Σ., «Η ελληνική κοινότης Κωνστάντζης Ρουμανίας», in Mélanges offerts à Octave et Melpo Mérlier II (Athens 1952), p , 114. In this point it is worth noting that the gymnasiums of Galaţi served also the Greek colony of Brăila, since the two cities were located in a short distance from one another. 23. A plethora of information on the organization, the personnel and the students of the community schools in Romania is found in the Historical Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, file Α /22: Greek Schools of Romania Βιβλιογραφία : Μάνεσης Σ., "Η ελληνική κοινότης Κωνστάντζης Ρουμανίας", Mélanges offerts à Octave et Melpo Mérlier, τόμ. ΙΙ, Αθήνα 1952, Ράδος Λ., "Τα ελληνικά σχολεία της Ρουμανίας στο τέλος του 19ου και τις αρχές του 20ού αιώνα", Δημάδης, Κ.Α. (επιμ.), Ο ελληνικός κόσμος ανάμεσα στην εποχή του Διαφωτισμού και στον εικοστό αιώνα, τόμ. Γ, Αθήνα 2007, Papacostea-Danielopolu C., Comunităț ile greceşti din România în secolul al XIX-lea, Bucureşti 1996 Μπελιά Ε., "Ο Ελληνισμός της Ρουμανίας κατά το διάστημα (Συμβολή στην ιστορία του επί τη βάσει των ελληνικών)", Δελτίον της Ιστορικής και Εθνολογικής Εταιρείας της Ελλάδος, 26, 1983, 5-62 Κοντογεώργης Δ., "Οι ελληνικοί σύλλογοι στη Ρουμανία κατά το 19ο αιώνα. Συμβολή στη μελέτη της ανάπτυξης του συλλογικού φαινομένου στον παροικιακό ελληνισμό", Δημάδης, Κ.Α. (επιμ.), Ο ελληνικός κόσμος ανάμεσα στην εποχή του Διαφωτισμού και στον 20ό αιώνα, τόμ. Γ, Αθήνα 2007, Filip C., Comunitatea greacă de la Brăila, , Brăila 2004 Giurescu C., Istoricul oraşului Brăila din cele mai vechi timpuri până azi, Bucureşti 1968 Perianu R., Istoria şcoalelor din oraşul şi județ ul Brăila ( ), Bucureşti 1941 Πηγές Δημιουργήθηκε στις 24/1/2017 Σελίδα 5/6

6 Historical Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece, file 45/1, Historical Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece. File 31/2, Arhivele Naționale Istorice Centrale ale României, Ministerul Cultelor şi a Instrucțiunii Publice. Direcția Județeană a Arhivelor Naționale Brăila, Fond Comunitatea Greacă din Brăila. Direcția Județeană a Arhivelor Naționale Brăila, Fond Comunitatea Greacă din Brăila, fond Prefectura Brăilei. Μεταξάς Λασκαράτος, Διονύσιος, Ελληνικαί παροικίαι Ρωσσίας και Ρωμουνίας (Brăila 1900). Rados, Leonidas (ed.), Școlile greceşti din România ( ). Restituții documentare (Bucureşti 2006). Regulation of the Greek School of Galați. Compiled on the base of the regulations of the French Public and Private Schools (Galați 1859). Regulation and organization of the Brăila French School for Girls (Brăila 1864). Regulation of the Greek community of Galați (n.d., n.p.). Regulation of the Greek community of Brăila (Brăila 1870). Δημιουργήθηκε στις 24/1/2017 Σελίδα 6/6