The Eighth Hungarian Tribe, 1987 (14. évfolyam, 1-8. szám)
1987-05-01 / 5-6. szám
Prof. Joseph Szurcsik, Miklós Duczer, Barbara Huszar, Dr. Csaba Keszthelyi, his children László and Anna. Project "Három" (three) brings instruction in English, French and Hungarian to three area schools. French is being taught at elementary schools in Maurepas (a French Settlement), Hungarian is being taught at Albany. Mrs. Friedrichs also teaches a Hungarian language course at Southeastern Louisiana University at Hammond. "What this Hungarian Settlement has that Chicago, New York, Cleveland and Pittsburgh do not." Mrs. Friedrichs remarked once, "is a program of Hungarian instruction in public school." Later on, the need for more qualified teachers became apparent. They petitioned the Federal Government for support and sent a formal request to the Hungarian government to provide exchange teachers. The first year two teachers were sent, another year, there were three. But in 1980, after three years of support, the number was reduced to one, with the salary shared by the State of Louisiana and the Livingston Parish School Board. There is a wheelchair ramp alongside one of the buildings of the Albany Elementary School complex. It was built to assist one of the school’s most favorite teachers, it is a monument to the affection and respect this small community has for the courage of one individual: Ambrus Gaiantai. Mr. Galantai came to Albany from Hungary to teach his language and culture to the descendants of his Hungarian countrymen. In November, 1981, this 37 year old guest teacher was on his way to New York to greet his wife, who had come to America to join her husband, when he had an accident that changed his life forever. While driving through Georgia, he and two Hungarian friends stopped in an emergency lane to switch drivers. Standing by the trunk of the vehicle, Galantai was trapped when the car was hit by another motorist. His right leg was severed, his left leg crushed, his car destroyed, one of his friends was injured, and his life was irreversibly altered. Using his wheelchair skillfully, he not only played ball with the children of the kindergarten and first grade classes, but managed to navigate from one classroom another. During his absence, because of the injury, membei of the Hungarian Community acted as substitute teachers. The Keszthelyi Family front of the Hungarian Reformed Church. Page 7
