History and present

The tradition of this anniversary began in Bucharest, on November 22, 1867, when the second normal school in the Romanian Principalities opened. The year itself marked the beginning of major changes in the history of the education system and education in the Romanian Principalities, as a result of the decades-long efforts of the Pashuptin intellectuals to culturally elevate the Romanian people.

“We will only have good village schools if we first have teachers.”
In the context of the era, there was a need for better-trained village teachers in a school organized on pedagogical principles. The only normal school in Iași could no longer provide, on its own, the great need for teachers required by the country’s needs. In order to create this school, in October 1867, the sociologist Dimitrie Gusti, Minister of Public Instruction and Religious Affairs, submitted a report to King Carol I in which he emphasized, among other things, that “we will not have good village schools unless we first have capable teachers who are up to their calling”. By the decree signed on October 20, 1867, King Carol I appointed a commission whose role was to prepare the works for the organization of “a preparatory school for village teachers” in Bucharest. The commission was composed of Carol Davila, Constantin Esarcu, V.A. Urechia, Gr. Ştefănescu and August Treboniu Laurian, with Dimitrie Gusti as the coordinator.

Bucharest Period (1867-1896)

The prince’s first visit to the school took place on November 30. Since then, “St. Andrew” was adopted as the school’s spiritual protector, and the date itself became, conventionally, the school’s “birthday”. Until the construction of its own building, the school operated in Bucharest, in rented premises, for 29 years. In the first year, the school was called the “Bucharest Pedagogical Institute” and had no budget. The first director, between 1868-1881, was George Radu Melidon. A personality of Romanian education, Melidon was one of the militants of the cultural uplift and enlightenment of the Romanian people by organizing schools in the villages. To this end, he strived for the normal school in Bucharest to become a model center of methodical guidance for the other normal schools in the country. In 1870, the school gave the first series of 40 graduates with three years of study. At the celebration, the awards were distributed by Lady Elisabeta, the wife of the prince.

The Campulungean period

At the suggestion of King Carol I, the steps to relocate the “Carol I” Normal School from Bucharest to Câmpulung began in 1887. The land on which a separate building for the normal school in Câmpulung was to be built was chosen by Dimitrie Sturza and Spiru Haret, near the Flâmânda Church, where there had been a school with free maintenance for those who studied, since the end of the 18th century. The negotiations for the purchase of 10 hectares “under the Flâmânda hill, above the city” were held between Dimitrie A. Sturza, the Minister of Public Instruction, and Istrate Rizeanu, the mayor of Câmpulung, as a representative of the Communal Council. The residents of the city and Muscel County, happy for such a decision, sent a telegram of thanks to Nicolae Kretzulescu, the president of the Senate (who was also born in Leordeni). The telegram was read in the meeting of January 11, 1890. The school construction plan was drawn up by the architect Socolescu, and the construction works were led by Giovani Batista Dreina. The cornerstone of the monumental building was laid on October 26, 1892. Present were: Tache Ionescu, Minister of Public Instruction, Alexandru Rîmniceanu, Prefect of Muscel County, Istrate Rizeanu, Mayor of the city, M.Sachelarie, President of the Tribunal, Gh.Ionescu, School Inspector of the County, etc. Consisting of 113 rooms and a large and beautiful amphitheater, the school has a study area of ​​8,000 square meters. It cost 12,000 gold coins, offered by Carol I as early as December 22, 1867 for “the construction of a proper building in which the Pedagogical Institute of Bucharest will be located, intended to provide teachers to rural communes”. The school was inaugurated in 1896.

In the first series of graduates from here was Constantin Rădulescu-Codin, born in the village of Zgripceşti, Beleţi-Negresti commune, Muscel. Teacher, school inspector, remarkable folklore collector. Among the first scholarship holders admitted in 1896 was Ion Mihalache, born in the village of Goleştii Badii, Muscel (1882-m.1965). He graduated as head of the class in 1901. In the school museum there is his bust, a donation from the PNŢ-CD Argeş.
After the education reform of 1948, it was renamed the Câmpulung-Muscel Pedagogical High School. At that time, works of great value were also lost, including the painting “Ascension of the Madonna” (later recovered), donated in 1898 by the Ministry of Public Instruction, and a bust of King Carol I.

PERSONALITIES OF THE NATIONAL PEDAGOGICAL COLLEGE “CAROL I”

Ion C. Massim is the first professor on the list proposed by D. Gusti for appointment to the Bucharest Normal School. He also endorsed the position of director until the appointment of G. R. Melidon. In terms of intellectual formation and pedagogical conception, Ion C. Massim belonged to the Transylvanian enlightenment current, joining the ranks of Transylvanian scholars who crossed the Carpathians, contributing to the national reawakening. He worked as a professor of Romanian at the Normal School. He published reference works such as “The New Romanian Alphabet” with methodical approaches to writing and reading; in his capacity as a linguist he is the author, together with August Treboniu Laurian, of the Dictionary of the Romanian Language edited by the Romanian Academy. (1873-1877). As a sign of gratitude, the school library bears his name.

Ion Ionescu from Brad, a leading economist and agronomist, took specialized courses in France, including those in natural sciences at the Sorbonne. The experience gained in the lessons given to students at the normal school was put to good use in the work “Elementary Lessons in Agriculture”. An advocate of scientifically based agriculture, he campaigned for the use of agricultural machinery, establishing a school and a model farm in Brad.

Among the first scholarship holders admitted in 1896 was Ion Mihalache, born in the village of Goleştii Badii, Muscel (1882-d.1965). He graduated as head of his class in 1901. He was Minister of the Interior, president of the Teachers’ Association of Muscel and later, president of the Teachers’ Association of Romania.

Constantin Esarcu, Romanian naturalist and politician, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania (1891), was the initiator and president of the Committee for the construction of the Romanian Athenaeum. He was among the first professors of the Bucharest Normal School, and was also the first professor of biology at the University of Bucharest. His prodigious activity was crowned by his election as a corresponding member of the Romanian Academy.

Petre S. Aurelian, Prime Minister (in the title of the era, President of the Council of Ministers) between Nov. 1896 and March 1897, leader of the P.N.L. flag group, distinguished himself as an agronomist and economist, supporting the protectionist trend in the economy. In N. Iorga’s view, he was “one of the first Romanians to have serious knowledge of agriculture”.

The Department of Pedagogy of the Normal School after G.R. Melidon continued to enjoy prestigious staff, with Petre Dulfu at the forefront. Known especially for “The Exploits of Păcală”, he is also a renowned pedagogue.

Ilarion Velculescu, an eminent professor of pedagogy, led the school’s destinies as director between 1898-1921, with a three-year interruption, including during the difficult moments of World War I, when the building was transformed into a military hospital.

Ion Nanu-Muscel worked in the school in Câmpulung, became a professor at the Faculty of Medicine in Bucharest, a member of the Romanian Academy. He conducted research on cholera and relapsing fever.

In the first series of graduates from here was Constantin Rădulescu-Codin, teacher, school inspector, remarkable folklore collector, standing alongside the great folklorists Simion Florean Marian, I. Pop Reteganul. An exemplary patriot figure, he fought in the War of Reunification, being decorated with the order “Mihai Viteazul”.

I.C. Petrescu was a leading representative of the Romanian pedagogical school, professor of pedagogy at the University of Bucharest. With studies in Germany and France, he will hold important dignities in the Ministry of Public Instruction, taking measures for the development of the entire Romanian education system. In Bucharest, in appreciation of his pedagogical activity, the “I.C. Petrescu” National Pedagogical Library was established after 1989. The fact that the “Carol I” Normal School fulfilled its mission is demonstrated by its leading graduates, who often became, over the years, its outstanding teachers. In this double capacity, we can mention Ilie Patraulea, who became a professor of pedagogy, and Ilie Stănculescu, in turn, head of the School’s promotion, who became a professor of pedagogy at the end of his higher studies, both at the Normal School and within the Pedagogical Institute of Pitesti. He remains in the annals of the School as one of the most appreciated teachers and directors. His work entitled “Child Psychology and Pedagogical Psychology” is a reference in this field.

Prof. Univ. dr. Ion Tudosescu, a graduate of the school, former dean of the Faculty of Philosophy in Bucharest, distinguished himself through his vast work, which includes the following titles: Order and Hazard (1996), Metaphilosophy (1997), The Axiological Identity of Romanians (1999), Human and Efficient Action (2000), Being, Essence, Existence. Treatise on Ontology, I (2002), Existence, Becoming, Determinism, Treatise on Ontology, II (2003), Social and Human Existence. Treatise on Ontology, III (forthcoming). Through his work, he is a prominent representative of Romanian philosophical thought.

Prof. Univ. dr. Nicolae Oprescu, head of the honor roll of the “Carol I” Normal School, year 1944. stood out with his doctoral thesis “The formative role of mathematical education in grades I-IV”. This highlights his concerns in the field of pedagogy, complemented by other works such as: Curs de pedagogie (1984), Les jeux didactiques dans le processus éducatif (Sofia, 1965).

Prof. Dr. Ioan Neacşu (b. 1945) is a professor at the Faculty of Psychology, University of Bucharest. He has published: “Methods and techniques of efficient learning” (1990), “Instruction and learning” (1999), “Pedagogical lectures”.