Χαρακτήρας και είδος της εκπαίδευσης του περιφερειακού Ελληνισμού : τα ελληνικά σχολεία στην Αν. Ρωμυλία (Νότιο Βουλγαρία), αρχές 19ου αι.-1885

Abstract

The growing economic vitality of the Greeks of Bulgaria from 1800
onwards, coupled with the existence from 1830 onwards of a national centre to
guide and strengthen them, led to the development and expansion of a
network of Greek education throughout Southern Bulgaria. Particularly after
the establishment of the autocephalous Bulgarian Church in 1870, when the
Greeks of the region began to realise the risk of passive or forcible assimilation
and the great associations of Athens and Constantinople began to exert
an influence, Greek education and learning blossomed. Primary schools were
founded even in the smallest villages; secondary schools multiplied in urban
centres; the education of women was fostered and grew; modem teaching
methods were employed; and well-trained teachers were appointed. The main
reason for using all available means to bolster Greek education was the
realisation by its agents —the community, the Church, and the associations—
that “nothing can strengthen Hellenism... as much as Greek education and
language”.