2025. 10. 22. · Facebook · 3 min read
Between 12-17 October, a team of nineteen from our school visited our partner school in Debrecen, the Kölcsey Ferenc Reformed Practice Primary School, from which, since 2001, we have been bringing back – together with our trainee teacher students – a value-conscious professional commitment, high-level methodological knowledge, and the cohesive power of community thinking.
ON MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY morning we were able to attend lessons in grades I-IV. A total of 24 teachers welcomed us. Each trainee teacher observed 8 lessons, took notes and evaluated. Alongside the interactive lessons, interesting, creative, playful learning techniques, everyone highlighted the student-centred, positive, liberating atmosphere, the mutual respect and trust, the pedagogical attitude of lovingly attentive care for students, constantly maintaining their interest, playfully enriching and reinforcing their knowledge, and showing appreciation (with high-fives, kind words, rolled-up worksheets). We thank them once again.
On Monday, as a joint programme, we also visited the Great Reformed Church of Debrecen, where we revisited not only the history of the church but also of Debrecen itself, including the fact that on 14 April 1849, Kossuth Lajos read out the Declaration of Independence here. We learned that due to frequent fires, even the town's students volunteered in the afternoons in one of the tower rooms, serving as real fire wardens. We also climbed the stairs of the two towers, and as a break we listened to Ady Endre's poem "The Old Bell of Rákóczi", whose words echoed back as we admired the view: "It once saw the great times long since past, / It once saw those who heroically fought for freedom. / Once it saw the brilliance of Hungarian glory, / It echoed the heartbeat of a mighty, free people..."
ON TUESDAY we were given the gift of a visit to the Nyíregyháza Wildlife Park by our Debrecen hosts. "I really enjoyed this programme. It was an experience to discover the wildlife park with friends at our own pace. I got to know animals I had never seen before in real life. The seal show stood out with its spectacle, and at the same time we could marvel at how intelligent seals are."
In the afternoons we took part in various family and family-like programmes. Some walked in Debrecen's Great Forest (Nagyerdő) or on the Hortobágy, listening to the history of the Nine-Hole Bridge. Some enjoyed the health-recharging power of swimming, exercise and minerals at the pool or thermal bath. Some watched the comedy "How Could I Live Without You" at the cinema or Molnár Ferenc's "The Glass Slipper" at the Csokonai National Theatre, or listened to the Kodály Philharmonic's concert themed "Bear in the Box", featuring works by Schubert, Dvořák and Haydn. Some tried the escape room, went bowling, tasted treats at the Cat Café or the Kismandula pastry shop, or at the historic Rickl House, today's Lábasház (which was also an important setting for Szabó Magda's "Old-Fashioned Story"). Some baked Fanta cake at home for the family or made pizza together with the family. Some tried board games as a shared family programme, watched the Portugal-Hungary match together, and talked a lot, marvelling at the differences and beauties of each other's language varieties.
I especially highlight the Tuesday afternoon Bible study experience, which we, the teachers, were able to attend. At our partner school in Debrecen, this community event is organised monthly, where a guest pastor gives an opening lecture, followed by communal singing and prayer. A special feature of the event is that four colleagues treat those present to home-made cakes, and in recognition, the school management rewards them with oven gloves and a certificate, and at the end of the year everyone receives a publication of the collected recipes.
As provisions for the journey, we received not only scones baked in the warmth of the Debrecen people's love, but also each person brought a Bible verse on their gift cup.
Thank you for the intellectual gifts, good practices, and the hospitality of the Debrecen colleagues and families.
We look forward to welcoming you back in March:
Deák Magdolna, Deme Ildikó, accompanying teachers
the 17 students
and the school Community
