The Life and Work of a Teacher of the Kazinczy Highschool in Győr
Part of the first prize winning entry to the “Their destiny, our history” student contest initiated by the Jewish Roots in Győr Public Charity Foundation (2023-24)
by Zsombor Harai, Áron Takács and Hanna Boldizsár
Kazinczy Ferenc High School and College, Győr
Supporting teacher: Ms Ildikó Pintér
Dr Ignác Kovács, a prominent scholar and teacher of the predecessor of the Kazinczy Ferenc High School in Győr, played an important role in the teaching of natural sciences and the development of the high school’s natural science laboratory. The finest pieces of his collection are still on display in chemistry, biology and geography classes: the preserved specimens of his collection of nearly a thousand minerals and rocks are still indispensable teaching tools.
The beginnings
He was born on 29 June 1882 in the village of Cece in Fejér County, the son of Mihály Karpelesz and Száli Sterk. He completed his secondary school education at the State High School in Budapest District VI from 1892 to 1897, and then at the State High School in Székesfehérvár until 1901.
film shot by the Kazinczy Ferenc High School’s contest team
He was tuition-free throughout his secondary school years. His school reports and certificates show that he was a hard-working man with a thirst for knowledge and a generous spirit: during his studies in Budapest, he was a regular member of the Student Self-Help Circle and made several donations to the school coin collection. In Székesfehérvár, he was the recipient of several book grants in recognition of his outstanding academic achievements.
School Bulletin of 1912 – Source: hungaricana.hu
excerpt from the film of the Kazinczy Ferenc High School’s contest team
He began his higher education at the Faculty of Humanities of the Royal Hungarian University of Budapest in 1901 and graduated in 1905. During his university years he changed his name from Karpelesz to Kovács. He received his teacher’s degree in natural history and geography on 20 November 1907 and in chemistry on 21 October 1922.
name in the university student directory – Source: excerpt from the film shot by the Kazinczy Ferenc High School’s student team
He was awarded his Doctor of Philosophy degree on 29 December 1909 for his doctoral dissertation entitled “The oro-hydrography of the Low Tatras”.
1909 – Source: excerpt from the film shot by the Kazinczy Ferenc High School’s student
team
Jewish school in Vágújhely – start the career
On September 1, 1910, he began his teaching career at the State-aided Israelite High School in Vágújhely (town in Slovakia today – note by the editor). He taught geography, natural history, gymnastics, history, Hungarian language and shorthand. He also lectured at the school’s Workers’ High School and gave interesting lectures on earthquakes and the North Pole, illustrated with projected images, at the school’s free lyceum. In 1911, he passed his examination as a fire officer.
Active participant in study trips. In addition to his work as a teacher, he was also a keeper of geography and natural history cabinets and compulsory afternoon games instructor. During these afternoons and in the gymnastics lessons, military drills and marches were often held. His patriotism is reflected in his speech at the 15 March celebrations and the 50th anniversary of the school.
in Vágújhely, between 1910-14 – Source: excerpt from the film shot by the Kazinczy Ferenc High School’s student team
First World War
At the outbreak of the First World War, he was the only one of the school’s teachers to enlist during the first mobilisation. He was assigned to the 17th Hungarian Infantry Regiment in Székesfehérvár, and later to the 14th Hungarian Infantry Regiment in Nyitra, where he served as a lieutenant. He was wounded in action at Lublin in the eastern part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire on 2 September 1914. After his recovery, he was appointed as a training officer and was promoted to lieutenant on 1 September 1915. He then served for more than eight months as a company commander in the Northern Front.
Austro-Hungarian Monarchy (the Latin “GRATI PRINCEPS ET PATRIA, CAROLVS
IMP.ET REX” = “In gratitude to the Emperor and the Fatherland,
Emperor and King Charles”) – Source: hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%A1roly-csapatkereszt
Even during his military service, he kept in close contact with his school: in his letters he encouraged his students to do good and good deeds, and sent home 210 crowns to help young people who excelled in geography and natural history. For this, he received ministerial recognition. In 1915, he gave lectures on the popularisation of the sciences to wounded soldiers. He also studied in the trenches, using quieter hours to deepen his knowledge of shorthand. He returned home on 20 May 1916, exhausted, ill and with a frazzled nervous system. In May 1916 he was awarded the silver Signum Laudis with swords. After May 1916, he served as an off-duty officer in Bratislava. Between June 1916 and 1917 he was awarded the Charles Cross. In 1917, he donated 60 crowns to the synagogue in Vágújhely and 30 crowns to the school association. During the war he served a total of 30 months at the front.
Győr – the trajectory is being completed
He could not return to Vágújhely after the Paris Peace Treaty, and the Ministry of Religion and Public Education transferred him to the Győr Hungarian Royal State Girls’ High School. He began his activities here on 17 April 1919.
The curriculum of the girls' school, which started in 1908, puts the emphasis on teaching literature and history, but also gives high priority to the natural sciences. The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Public Education provided well-equipped classrooms, which were later continuously improved and supplemented by donations from the school's teachers, pupils and supporters. It was in such circumstances that Dr Ignác Kovács, an excellent teacher of geography, natural history and chemistry, arrived at the school from the annexed territories.
Rómer Flóris Museum of Art and History
Almost immediately, he set about expanding the natural history cabinet, which he financed himself: over the years, he bred nearly 40,000 silkworms, and spent all the proceeds from the sale of these – 300,000 crowns – on beautifying the department and adding to the collection.
He added nearly 1,000 pieces to the collection of rocks and minerals making it the second largest collection in the city.
excerpt from the film shot by the Kazinczy Ferenc High School’s student team
He also created the school’s botanical garden. “The garden consisted of three sections, one directly adjacent to the other, in one of which were the most notable trees and plants of the forest, in the other important ornamental plants, and in the third, besides cereals, fodder and food crops, such flowering and non-flowering plants as are mentioned in the textbooks.” The plants were cultivated by the pupils and they took full care of them under the supervision of a teacher.
To demonstrate the chemical processes, he collected Hungarian industrial products, which he also used to decorate the classrooms. In his early years in Győr, he taught geography, natural history and chemistry.
On 4 September 1923, the Minister of Religion and Public Education appointed him as a full teacher at the High School. Throughout his life he worked to secure the prestige and authority of chemistry, biology and geography. His work clearly shows that the only way to teach the subject of the material world effectively is to maximise its visualisation in the classroom.
On 29 May 1925, he was appointed treasurer of the Győr branch of the National Association of Secondary School Teachers, and its successor organisation.
Kazinczy Ferenc High School
Shorthand – a passion
He taught shorthand at the Commercial High School (now Révai Miklós Gymnasium) as a guest teacher from 1918 to 1931.
Between 1921 and 1933, he was a member of the School Board of the Jewish Community’s Elementary School in Győr. During this time, he made several donations to poor pupils and outstanding students.
The reward for his patriotism: the “most valuable member” of the institute is dismissed
As a result of the second law on Jews of 1939, he was was forced to retire from his teaching post on 1 February 1940.
Dr Géza Gábor, the school’s director at the time, bade him farewell with a very courageous statement:
„With his departure, the Institute has lost one of its most valued members, a true teacher’s soul, who knew and fulfilled his duty at all times and in all places. Under his guidance, the instruction of stenography was placed at the very top of the national ranking. His reorganisation of the natural history and botany departments, his exemplary orderliness, his collection of 20,000 plants and his unstinting care of them, have earned him unparalleled merit. At the end of his career, the trials of life demanded a new sacrifice, which he accepted with the serenity of a religious soul. May the uplifting consciousness of conscientious work, the esteem of his peers, and the respect of his disciples, be a worthy reward for his honest labours, and may they bring to his children the joy which a life of honour and work deserves. May God’s blessing be with you for the rest of your life.”
He died suddenly on 7 July 1943 and his funeral was held two days later, on 9 July, at the Jewish cemetery in Győr-Sziget.
Ignác Kovács’s life’s work is exemplary for today’s students, because although the storms of history made his activities almost impossible, he always worked for his country, his family, his students and science.
Edited and photos added by Péter Krausz
Further submissions by the Kazinczy Ferenc High School team:
- Pebbles of memory – in memoriam Dr. Kovács Ignác (film)
- Our fellow students’ life in the shadow of the laws on Jews (PPT)
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Táncrend holokauszt után, Szombat, 2023. július 12. szerda