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Major changes were made in Hungarian schools after the Communist takeover (1945). As in other parts of the Soviet Empire, substantial resources were devoted to education. Educational opportunities were expanded. For the first time peasant and working-class families had access to educatiin beyond the primary level. The basic system continued unchanged, only exapanded. Younger children attended primary schools which lasted until about age 14 years. Teenagers attended secondary schools. With the advent of Communism, virtually all children at lest began secondary school. A variety of secondary schools existed. There were grammar schools (academically selective secondary schools), specialised secondary schools, and vocational schools. Academic standards and discipline standards were high. There was none of the progesssive approaches becoming popular in the west of lowering standards or tolerating bad behavior. [Clark] Schools were also set up for adults who before the advent of Communism had not been able to attend secondary schools. We note that merit was not always what determined if secondary school graduates went to university under the communist regime. Children whose fathers were aristocrats or businessmen before the communist take over were labeled as a "class alien" and thus excluded from university. [Grove] Short pants were commom through the 1950s. They declined in popularity during the 1960s, but some boys still wore them. Some boys in the 1960s were wearing smocks, but HBC is not sure how common this was. The Communists introduced a military-styled uniform for the boys and and a dress and pinafore for the girls. Both were based on Soviet styles. After the Hungarian Revolution (1956), the Soviets more closely controlled Hungarian affairs. And one sure way of demonstrating your political reliability was to copy Soviet approaches.
We have not made much progress in assessing decade trends during the Soviet-impossed Communist era following Workd War II. Our primary source of information is the photographic record and ourr Hungarian archive is still very limited. Here we see a school scen in 1951 (figure 1). The boys are not wearing uniforms. The economy seems ti be recovering from the disaster of World war II. One boy has come to school barefoot, but earlier th numbr of such boys would have been mucg larger. We see a much more prosperous group a few years later. We are not sure just what impact the Hungarian Revolution had (1956). We do not think there was a major impact on the economy. There was some damage in Busdapest when the Red Army tanks rolled into the city, but major industrial sites were unaffected. We do not have many images from later in the Communist era. Thus we are unabke to sketch out any basic trends yet. We hope to acquire some images as HBC expands its school section.
Major changes were made in Hungarian schools after the Communist takeover (1945). As in other parts of the Soviet Empire, substantial resources were devoted to education. Educational opportunities were expanded. For the first time peasant and working-class families had access to educatiin beyond the primary level. The basic system continued unchanged, only exapanded.
Younger children attended primary schools which lasted until about age 14 years. Teenagers attended secondary schools. With the advent of Communism, virtually all children at lest began secondary school. A variety of secondary schools existed. There were grammar schools (academically selective secondary schools), specialised secondary schools, and vocational schools.
Academic standards and discipline standards were high. There was none of the progesssive approaches becoming popular in the west of lowering standards or tolerating bad behavior. One Hungarian writes, "My favourite teacher taught us that without mastery of Hungarian grammar we would lack confidence to articulate our thoughts and feelings. We could make only one mistake if we wanted to attain the highest grade. Unlike Britain, there were 'viva voce' exams in Hungary in every subject. In literature, for example, set texts had to be memorised and recited and then the student would have to answer questions put to them orally by the teacher." [Clark]
Schools were also set up for adults who before the advent of Communism had not been able to attend secondary schools.
We note that merit was not always what determined if secondary school graduates went to university under the communist regime. Children whose fathers were aristocrats or businessmen before the communist take over were labeled as a "class alien" and thus excluded from university. [Grove]
As in other East Bloc countries, the Young Pioneer youth group was established. Other youth groups such as the Scouts and Guides were banned. The Pioneers were a school based prigram and thus virtually mandatory. A child could theoretically refused to join, but it was not the kind of thing small children woukd do. And such rfusal would draw attention on a the parents, not an advisable things in a police state. This varied over time. Duruing the Stlist Era and after the 1956 Revolution, it could be very dangerous. Many children did not like the Pioneers because of tge regimentation, in many respects a continuation of school. Some children did like it. One former Pioneer writes, "I loved my schooldays, and in particular my membership of the Pioneers - a movement common to all communist countries.
Many in the West believed it was a crude attempt to indoctrinate the young with communist ideology, but being a Pioneer taught us valuable life skills such as building friendships and the importance of working for the benefit of the community. 'Together for each other' was our slogan, and that was how we were encouraged to think. As a Pioneer, if you performed well in your studies, communal work and school competitions, you were rewarded with a trip to a summer camp. I went every year because I took part in almost all the school activities: competitions, gymnastics, athletics, choir, shooting, literature and library work. On our last night at Pioneer camp we sang songs around the bonfire, such as the Pioneer anthem: 'Mint a mokus fenn a fan, az uttoro oly vidam' ('We are as happy as a squirrel on a tree'), and other traditional songs. Our feelings were always mixed: sad at the prospect of leaving, but happy at the thought of seeing our families again. Today, even those who do not consider themselves communists look back at their days in the Pioneers with great affection." [Clark] We havev no doubt that some Hungarians like Clark enjoyed the Pioneers, but the disappearance of the Pioneers after the collapse of Communism suggests to us that this was not the opinion of most Hungarians.
A Hungarian writes, "Whenever we had a national celebration, I was among those asked to recite a poem or verse in front of the whole school. Culture was regarded as extremely important by the government. The communists did not want to restrict the finer things of life to the upper and middle classes - the very best of music, literature and dance were for all to enjoy." This comment gives rise to an interesting question. How did culture far in Hungary and other Communist countrie. The arts were heavily subsidized. Skill and creativity is at the heart if all great art. While Communist countries often developed artisgtic skills, creativity was commonly constrained by political tests.
Short pants were commom through the 1950s. They declined in popularity during the 1960s, but some boys still wore them. Some boys in the 1960s were wearing smocks, but HBC is not sure how common this was. The Communists introduced a military-styled uniform for the boys and and a dress and pinafore for the girls. Both were based on Soviet styles. After the Hungarian Revolution (1956), the Soviets more closely controlled Hungarian affairs. And one sure way of demonstrating your political reliability was to copy Soviet approaches.
Clark, Zsuzsanna. "Oppressive and grey? No, growing up under communism was the happiest time of my life," Mail Online (October 17, 2009).
Grove, Andrew S. "Stigmatizing Business," The Washington Post, July 17, 2002, p.23.
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