Romanul unei şcoli de ţară: Potângeni
The Novel of a Country School: Potângeni

Summary/Abstract: The paper relies on an inspection school registry in a village in Iași county. The document, which proves a noteworthy continuity of more than a half of century, is not included in the fonds of the National Archives and has never been published by now. Although the printed form of the inspection reports dated to the end of the 19th century had standard headings, the inspectors considered to ignore them, to overwrite or to note their observations beyond the formal headings. These initiatives affected only to an unsignificant extent the routine, confirming that it is about very conformist milieus (the didactic and the rural ones), not very complicated but in their opinions. Although obscure, this worlds had its stakes, was inhabited by proeminent or only passing characters, had extremely vivid connections with the rural proximities (but not with the city), assisted to personal dramas or crushing historical events, as the two world wars were. On this background, as far as the few information allowed me, I was able to reconstruct figures of teachers, careers, relationships, advantageous social placements, ways of managing resources, and so on. It is surprising that that novel continues, not necessarily in a pleasant manner, as some present-day massmedia signals confirm.

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