Pálné Veres facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Veres Pálné
|
|
|---|---|
_uncut.jpg)
Oil painting of Veres by Miklós Barabás, 1855
|
|
| Born | December 13, 1815 Lázi, Austrian Empire
|
| Died | September 28, 1895 (aged 79) Pest, Austria-Hungary
|
| Nationality | Hungarian |
| Other names | Pálné Veres |
| Occupation | teacher |
| Known for | opening the first school for women in Hungary |
Pálné Veres (born Hermin Beniczky, 1815–1895) was a brave Hungarian teacher. She was a strong supporter of women's rights. She is famous for opening the very first secondary school for girls in Hungary. She also started the Hungarian National Association for Women's Education.
Her Early Life
Pálné Veres was born on December 13, 1815, in a place called Lázi. At that time, Lázi was part of the Austrian Empire. Her birth name was Hermin Beniczky. In Hungary, it was a tradition for a wife to use her husband's name. So, after she married Pál Veres, she became known as Pálné Veres. The word "né" means 'wife of'.
Her father, Pál Beniczky, was a Protestant landowner from a noble family. Her mother, Karolina Sturmann, came from a family that became rich through business. Pálné Veres's grandfather, Márton Sturmann, was a Hungarian patriot and a dedicated Protestant. When she grew up, she moved to Pest. There, she met and became friends with a famous writer named Imre Madách. Pálné Veres passed away in Pest on September 28, 1895.
Championing Girls' Education
Pálné Veres was a very educated woman herself. She believed that girls deserved a good education. In 1869, she opened the first secondary school for girls in Hungary. This was a huge step forward for women's rights!
Her main idea was that girls should learn to be independent and self-sufficient. She also wanted them to appreciate culture and avoid focusing too much on fancy things. She believed that girls should learn to be good role models in their future lives.
The school had different levels of classes. There were four elementary classes, four intermediary classes, and three superior classes. The advanced classes taught many subjects. These included:
- Religious instruction
- Hungarian Language
- Hungarian Literature
- How to appreciate beauty (Aesthetics)
- How to teach (Pedagogy)
- Understanding people and their minds (Anthropology and Psychology)
- Logic (how to think clearly)
- History of Civilization (especially about women's roles)
- Algebra and Geometry
- German language
- French language
- Manual arts (like crafts)
- Singing and playing instruments
- Gymnastics (physical exercise)
- Mathematics and Stereometry (3D shapes)
- Drawing
Pálné Veres was a bit sad that many students left before reaching the highest level. Families from the upper class and noble families often felt their daughters didn't need to study beyond a certain age. They thought the advanced classes were only useful for young women who wanted to become teachers.
Even so, Pálné Veres made a big difference. She helped convince many wealthy and noble families that education was important for all children, both boys and girls. Her work truly opened doors for girls' education in Hungary.
