Dénes Dienes: History of the Reformed Church Collég in Sárospatak (Sárospatak, 2013)
SPIRIT AND MOOD - Animated Student Life
he authored but also the research which he had undertaken to study Comenius’ intellectual legacy and work in Hungary. Lajos Dezső was the first one in the country to pursue this topic in depth. His successor in the position of director was Béla Hodossy (1864-1943) who had never been a student in Patak, having studied in Csurgó and Buda. It was at the turn of the century that he - originally a music teacher - served as director, doing so effectively and well enough to ensure the continued integrity of the staff. He also contributed greatly to the College strengthening its ties with the region, mediating this as founder of the Sárospatak periodical, president of the Zemplén County General Teachers’ Association and as vice-president and organizer of the Kazinczy Circle’s activities in Sátoraljaújhely. The separation of the Teacher Training School from the main College furthermore found its symbolic expression in the actual physical location itself of the two institutions. The Teacher Training School continued to operate, in 1869, in a building which the College sold to the state. Although further additions were built over the subsequent decades, the resulting space was never able to overcome the constant state of overcrowdedness. The only viable solution was a new building. The new, U-shaped complex was completed by 1913 and serves even today as the TTS in Sárospatak, it being the very first building in Hungary which was specifically designed - by Jenő Lechner and László Warga - and constructed to be an institution for teacher training. In addition to the standard classrooms, included were a dormitory which provides housing for one hundred students, classrooms for practice teaching, a laboratory for teaching, a psychology laboratory, a natural science room, a library, a gymnasium, a cafeteria and administration offices necessary for the functioning of the school. The building was built in Renaissance style and fulfills every requirement of teacher training in the upper-Hungarian region as prescibed by the four-year education program. Surrounding the building is a spacious garden, a playground and an agricultural garden. By the last year of peace preceding the war, it appeared that state-directed teacher training in Patak had finally achieved its aims. 175 The Teacher Training College of Sárospatak ANIMATED STUDENT LIFE The College of Patak was always famous for its intense student life and how the student community lived together. It was mentioned earlier that often the lack of money and space induced these positive forms of cooperation. The best example of this is the traditional significance of student governments on the banks of the Bodrog River. Admittedly, despite the many needs endured, this animated intellectual atmosphere commands respect even in the light of centuries removed. Students not only loved studying in Patak but retained a firm loyalty to their schools even as adults, thus perpetuating from generation to generation the so-called ‘Patak way’ as a particular form of pride. It was much the same in the era in question. Many things changed during this time. Both Sárospatak and Zemplén were losing their drawing power in the region and the College’s reputed unity was falling apart, itself victim of the modern trends of disintegration. The programs offered by the different faculties were more differentiated than ever. The College’s financial management was
