William Penn Life, 2015 (50. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2015-08-01 / 8. szám

Tibor's Take with Tibor Check, Jr.

Four Years, Part

FOUR YEARS IS A LONG TIME. It may seem short compared to a decade, but four Christmases, Easters and WPA picnics add up to many life experiences that are quickly dissolved into vague afterthoughts. Unless a circumstance of huge significance occurs, most events fade quickly from our memory. You probably remember the weather and minor details of your wedding or graduation, but recalling details of what transpired on Labor Day 2012 is difficult at best.

I can easily recall what I was doing when my mom pulled me out of school the morning of 9/11, or as a threeyear-old, my grandmother passing unexpectedly. Sometimes, painful memories seem to be recalled more easily and in greater detail while recollections of happier times tend to be smaller and more trivial.

Recently, I reminisced with my siblings about how we enjoyed playing catch with my Grandfather Cseh and being pushed on the swings by my nagyanya1 at the old Geauga Magyar Club. We smiled about how mom would pack special school lunches with cheese pogacsa2 and apricot kifli3. With fondness did I think about how I tried to dance to a csárdás and gólya táncÁ with my sister.

Why is it that simple, unheralded events of the past come to prominence due to something that happened at the current moment? For example, I once came across a family photo of our Gettysburg vacation. As I shared the picture with my brother András, our sentiments migrated to an old Civil War board game we used to play called "Battle-Cry." We loved that game. But over the years, the abuse and neglect imposed upon it by the Cseh family reduced the game to a only a few chewed up playing pieces and a tattered box. For my most recent birthday, András presented me with a nearly new "Battle-Cry." I was shocked that he could not only find the game, but find one in near-pristine condition. This was the first time

we played in over 10 years. As a bonus, each succeeding game led to a recollection of other events from our childhood. The game was not as exciting as I remember, but playing it all those years later served as a catalyst for rekindling our fond memories of childhood.

In the past four years, many people, places and events once prominent in the American-Hungarian community either passed away or faded into memory. Hundreds of Hungarikum types passed on to Magyar heaven. The American-Hungarian Clubs in Youngstown and Pittsburgh were closed or sold. Magyar churches were shuttered. Many picnics and gatherings that were long-time events steeped in Hungarian culture, tradition and history were eliminated.

Just four years ago, I was about to enter law school, and my sister had just graduated high school. Since then, I earned my Juris Doctorate, was editor-in-chief of the Law Review and earned an LLM; Liz has earned a business degree and is just one semester shy of earning a master's degree. It is hard to believe that so much was earned and attained in 48 months.

Since the year 2011, many things within the American- Hungarian community remained status quo. I can still acquire krémés or tortes from Farkas Bakery, enjoy Debrecen kolbász from Dohár Meats, attend an old-fashioned Hungarian wedding or grape harvest picnic at the Hungarian Cultural Center of Northeastern Ohio in Hiram, Ohio, or order a "Kiss Me I'm Hungarian" sweatshirt from Magyar Marketing. WPA members receive every month William Penn Life via postal delivery or Internet. At least five times a year, our family members get a personal phone call from Alan "Attila" Szabó, the famed WPA insurance agent, wishing each of us a boldog születésnapot5.1 hope each of these traditions continue for many years to come.

Four years has brought improvement to American

Point to Ponder....

The family and education system of Hungary seems to turn children into truly patriotic adults. I wish we, as Americans, could nurture our youngsters into becoming proud adult American citizens just as successfully.

I had the opportunity to visit two schools in Hungary. Magyar classrooms appear austere and mundane in comparison to the typical American classroom. I saw no Smart Boards, overhead projectors, televisions, computer tablets or glitzy bulletin boards. There was one technology lab that housed a dozen old computers. I was told that students visit the lab once a week for an hour.

What each classroom did have was a chalkboard the size of a sheet of plywood, a Magyar flag, posters of the alphabet and tables with chairs that were shared by two or three students. Instead of thick, hard-bound textbooks, students studied from disposable workbooks that are updated annually.

The Hungarian government controls all aspects of the curriculum and even requires each subject to be taught on a simultaneous nationwide timetable. There are private parochial schools, but they serve a specific purpose in preparing youngsters for future service in respect to their religious affiliation.

The basics are stressed at the village schools until the students reach about age 13. Then, each student is evaluated and delegated to a specific themed program where a more specialized education is offered. At that time the student usually continues their education in a larger city and either lives on campus or commutes daily by bus.

Does the education system in Hungary seem to be a better fit for students and parents compared to what is currently taking place here in America? Let me know your thoughts.

6 0 August 2015 0 William Penn Life