The Tenth Anniversary of the Organized Hungarian-Language Education in Csángó-Land

Celebration was held, at the end of the week, in Gyimesközéplok, for the tenth anniversary of the Hungarian (Magyar)-language education, for the Csángó children of Moldva. "After 10 years, there is truly a reason, for celebration" declared Hegyeli Attila, the person responsible, for the education program. He added, at the beginning, in 2000, i did not expect the great success we were able to achieve, but thanks to our organization and our teaching-staff's efforts, we were able to accomplish it. At this time, there are 22 settlements in Bákó county, where the Hungarian-language is taught. This year, there are 1600 children, learning Hungarian, but according to the "MCSMSZ" or "Moldvai Csángó-Magyar Szövet-ség" (The Organization of the Csángó-Hungarians of Moldva) the numbers could be even higher.

 

 

The importance of teaching the hungarian-language.

A decade ago organized and started elective teaching had and has it's importance. In the 1950's, for a short time, there were Hungarian public schools, allowed by the State. However, in the following, almost 40 decades, the Government tried to eradicate the Hungarian-language, in all of Moldva's educational institutions and elsewhere. After 1989, Perka Mihály began to teach the Hungarian-language, to the children of Szabófalva. In Lészped, Olaru Fazekas, "uncle" Kolonel Jóska and "aunt" Fehér Kati gathered the children of the village, in their own homes, for the same reason. In Csikszereda Borbáth Erzsébet, in Gyimesfelsőlok, Berszán Lajos school-founder and priest organized the high-school (gimnázium) for the Csángó "teen-agers". "I did not doubt for a minute, that my private- venture (individual- initiative) would spread to Moldva, albeit somewhat slowly"...stated Borbáth Erzsébet the Kájoni János High-School's former teacher. Many of the former students, who started out with little knowledge of the Hungarian-language, today, proudly declare their Origin and "Mother-tongue". Also, there are those, who return to teach in the schools.

 

 

Let us not bury the hungarians of Moldavia.

Sógor Csaba, representative of the EP or European Parliament, advised to be wary and do not believe those, who constantly try to bury Hungarians and their ancient language. Thankfully, there are organizations, among them the MCSMSZ, along with their dedicated teachers, counteracting the malevolents. "Regardless of the actions in Bucarest, the European-Parliament or the European-Council, without private, individual initiative, nothing will get done, nothing will function"... declared the politician of the RMDSZ. To curb the assimilation, the education-program is not enough...stated Hegyeli Attila. We have to start with our religion-problem, the social-problems, improvement (and development) of the country-side and organizing cultural-programs for our youth. Also, we must take part in the local political process, where we rarely taken any interest in the past.
The education program needs some extra efforts, and although our educators group is well skilled, the task is so great, that more, than the present, fifty teachers are needed. In the county of Bákó and Neamt, the organization has on record about 30 settlements, where the children speak the Hungarian-language, but because the lack of necessary funds, no education is possible, in their "Mother-tongue".

 

 

Teachers are asked to stay on longer or return.

Altough, there were some disagreements with school-principals, priests, mayors, police and sometime, even with parents most of the former and present teachers remember with fondness of the years spent in Moldva. Those, who "did not belong" were soon found out and departed, but the majority of teachers consider teaching in Csángó-land their calling, their vocation said Mr. Hegyeli, to the "Krónika". Ládi Erika (in her 50's) from Hungary, considers her experience as an educator in Csángó-land the best 3 years of her life. She proudly declares herself an "Educator of Csángó-land". Szász Anna, also from Hungary fell in love, not only with the Country, but with a fine Csángó-man. Now, as his wife, both are active in the education program.
Farkas Ferencz Endre, from Hungary, married a young lady from Erdély (Transylvania) once part of Hungary. They chose Csángó-land, for their home. Egyed Zsuzsanna returned to Moldva, from Germany, after she heard Nyisztor Ilona, the well known folk-singer of Moldva, on the Duna-Tv. She decided to return, where her heart is, rather than remain in Western-Europe.
Many teachers come from the "Mother-land" (Hungary) and also, from Erdély and the surrounding parts.

 

 

After graduating from High-school and the University, Rosu Anna returned to Pusztina and Gyurka Valentin to Külsőrekecsin. He spoke of a sad encounter, with one of his pupil, who stated,my Father told me... "what is the use of pursuing higher-education in the Hungarian-language your teacher has done so, and he is back here". Than, there are Márton Attila's 2 pupils, from Lészped.
The two boys decided to take part in a poetry-reciting competition in Bákó, organized by a shopping-center, where most of the audience and the panel of judges, did not understand Hungarian. At the request of the judges, the poetry was translated, for the audience. If the Csángó children, those educated in our schools, in the Hungarian-language decide later to attend other schools, one thing is certain, they will never forget their identity or their ancient "Mother-tongue" ...according to Hegyeli Attila... nor will the educators forget their experiences in Csángó-land, and the many things they learned, from the local people. In fact, they established a group of musicians, called the "Veres-Kheldar" or "Red Bucket", whose repertoire built exclusively on Csángó folk-lore.

 

 

After reciting the educators name, involved in the program, Solomon Adrián, president of the MCSMSZ expressed his thanks, for their self-sacrificing work and encouraged them to "Remain... Come-back... It is worth it!"

 

Author: Szucher Ervin

 

Krónika, May-10-2010

 

P.S.: The often mentioned "Anya-ország" or "Mother-land" refers to Hungary. In 1920 Great-Hungary was torn apart. From Her (over) thousand year old body, only one-third remain. That is present-day Hungary, in the middle or heart of the Carpathian-Basin. Her "children" are all around Her, in the cut-away parts of Her ancient body.

 

Ilona Hooper translated the article from a Hungarian language

 

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