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Gheorghe Sincai National College (Baia Mare)
Encyclopedia
Gheorghe Şincai National College is a public day high school for grades 9
to 12
in Baia Mare
, Romania
, attended by some 900 pupils aged 14 to 19. Grades 5
to 8
opened in 2010. The school is named after historian, philologist and educator Gheorghe Şincai
. It is one of three high schools in Baia Mare designated a "National College", the most prestigious rank for institutions of secondary education in Romania. It also ranks high on the national level in results at the Romanian Baccalaureate
, university admissions and school contests. Over 17,000 have graduated from Şincai, with the majority going on to university.
. Its first head, appointed by the Directory Council of Transylvania , was Prof. Dr. Gheorghe Hetco, who remained in his position until 1940. When it opened, the high school had 172 students, 17 teachers, eight classrooms, a chemistry laboratory and a physics one. The library had 10,099 books. 561 pupils graduated during the interwar period
. In 1940, the Second Vienna Award
granted Northern Transylvania
, including Baia Mare, to Hungary
. The Romanian high school was closed and a Hungarian-language
one functioned in its stead.
Gheorghe Şincai High School reopened on 1 December 1944, once it had passed back under Romanian control, although classes did not resume until January 1945, with the canon
and catechist
Dr. Vasile Ţiplea being named director. In 1959, the school building was expanded with twenty new classrooms and a gym. Expansion continued in the 1970s, with the building eventually housing 44 classrooms, some of which were used as laboratories.
After World War II
, the high school had one Romanian-language section and one in Hungarian, until a Hungarian high school was established in Baia Mare. In 1959, as part of a crackdown on Hungarian institutions in Romania, this again became a section of Şincai, a status maintained until 1998, when the Hungarian high school was re-established.
Outside the computer labs, there are additional computers in the classrooms, along with teaching equipment that is constantly being updated (printers, copy machines, scanners, four video projectors, DVD players, televisions, tape recorders, microscopes, dissection kits, laboratory kits for physics, chemistry, and biology, etc.).
The original building was constructed in 1903-06, and is classified as a historic monument by the Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs. This, along with the 1959 addition, was refurbished in 2000-2007.
The Gheorghe Şincai Cultural Society functioned from 1919 to 1940. In 1969 the magazine Speranţe ("Hopes") first appeared, on the occasion of the school's semicentennial. It was published, with interruptions, until 1994, after which faculty and students attempted to start other publications, none of which had more than one issue. From 1994, Şincai has been in a network of pilot schools experimenting with and applying elements of education reform.
Starting in 1958, Şincai began to appear among the schools with excellent performance at academic olympiads, a goal that continued to be met in the ensuing decades. As of 2008, pupils had won 679 prizes at national olympiads, 32 at international olympiads, and 13 at presentations of compositions. The school’s gymnastics, basketball and volleyball teams have won national championships, and numerous prizes at county and regional contests.
Ninth grade
Ninth grade is the ninth post-kindergarten year of school education in some school systems. The students are 13 to 15 years of age, depending on when their birthday occurs. Depending on the school district, ninth grade is usually the first year of high school....
to 12
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
in Baia Mare
Baia Mare
Baia Mare is a municipality in northwestern Romania and the capital of Maramureş County. The city is situated about 600 kilometres from Bucharest, the capital of Romania, 70 kilometres from the border with Hungary and 50 kilometres from the border with Ukraine...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, attended by some 900 pupils aged 14 to 19. Grades 5
Fifth grade
Fifth grade is a year of education in the United States and many other nations. The fifth grade is the fifth school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 10 – 11 years old, and are preteens...
to 8
Eighth grade
Eighth grade is a year of education in the United States, Canada, Australia and other nations. Students are usually 13 - 14 years old. The eighth grade is typically the final grade before high school, and the ninth grade of public and private education, following kindergarten and subsequent grades...
opened in 2010. The school is named after historian, philologist and educator Gheorghe Şincai
Gheorghe Sincai
Gheorghe Șincai was an ethnic Romanian Transylvanian historian, philologist, translator, poet, and representative of the Enlightenment-influenced Transylvanian School....
. It is one of three high schools in Baia Mare designated a "National College", the most prestigious rank for institutions of secondary education in Romania. It also ranks high on the national level in results at the Romanian Baccalaureate
Romanian Baccalaureate
The Bacalaureat is an exam held in Romania when one graduates high school .Unlike the French Baccalaureate, the Romanian one has a single degree...
, university admissions and school contests. Over 17,000 have graduated from Şincai, with the majority going on to university.
History
Şincai was founded on , shortly after the Union of Transylvania with RomaniaUnion of Transylvania with Romania
Union of Transylvania with Romania was declared on by the assembly of the delegates of ethnic Romanians held in Alba Iulia.The national holiday of Romania, the Great Union Day occurring on December 1, commemorates this event...
. Its first head, appointed by the Directory Council of Transylvania , was Prof. Dr. Gheorghe Hetco, who remained in his position until 1940. When it opened, the high school had 172 students, 17 teachers, eight classrooms, a chemistry laboratory and a physics one. The library had 10,099 books. 561 pupils graduated during the interwar period
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
. In 1940, the Second Vienna Award
Second Vienna Award
The Second Vienna Award was the second of two Vienna Awards arbitrated by the Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. Rendered on August 30, 1940, it re-assigned the territory of Northern Transylvania from Romania to Hungary.-Prelude and historical background :After the World War I, the multi-ethnic...
granted Northern Transylvania
Northern Transylvania
Northern Transylvania is a region of Transylvania, situated within the territory of Romania. The population is largely composed of both ethnic Romanians and Hungarians, and the region has been part of Romania since 1918 . During World War II, as a consequence of the territorial agreement known as...
, including Baia Mare, to Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946)
The Kingdom of Hungary also known as the Regency, existed from 1920 to 1946 and was a de facto country under Regent Miklós Horthy. Horthy officially represented the abdicated Hungarian monarchy of Charles IV, Apostolic King of Hungary...
. The Romanian high school was closed and a Hungarian-language
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
one functioned in its stead.
Gheorghe Şincai High School reopened on 1 December 1944, once it had passed back under Romanian control, although classes did not resume until January 1945, with the canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
and catechist
Catechumen
In ecclesiology, a catechumen , “‘down’” + ἠχή , “‘sound’”) is one receiving instruction from a catechist in the principles of the Christian religion with a view to baptism...
Dr. Vasile Ţiplea being named director. In 1959, the school building was expanded with twenty new classrooms and a gym. Expansion continued in the 1970s, with the building eventually housing 44 classrooms, some of which were used as laboratories.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the high school had one Romanian-language section and one in Hungarian, until a Hungarian high school was established in Baia Mare. In 1959, as part of a crackdown on Hungarian institutions in Romania, this again became a section of Şincai, a status maintained until 1998, when the Hungarian high school was re-established.
Facilities
Şincai has 32 classrooms and 12 scientific and linguistic laboratories. The latter consist of three computer labs with 60 computers, three physics labs, two chemistry labs and one for biology, and one each for French, English and geography. The library has some 30,000 volumes and a reading room. The French, English, German and computer science departments have their own libraries. In addition, there are 11 teachers’ offices, a teachers’ room, five personnel offices, a gym, an outdoor athletic area, and a guidance counselor’s office. A psychologist and a doctor are on staff. Classes occur during the morning, with afternoons reserved for arts and sports.Outside the computer labs, there are additional computers in the classrooms, along with teaching equipment that is constantly being updated (printers, copy machines, scanners, four video projectors, DVD players, televisions, tape recorders, microscopes, dissection kits, laboratory kits for physics, chemistry, and biology, etc.).
The original building was constructed in 1903-06, and is classified as a historic monument by the Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs. This, along with the 1959 addition, was refurbished in 2000-2007.
Activities
Intramural sports championships take place at Şincai: the High School Championship, the 9th Grade Classes' Cup, the 12th Grade Classes' Cup; as well as participation in city, county and national sports championships.The Gheorghe Şincai Cultural Society functioned from 1919 to 1940. In 1969 the magazine Speranţe ("Hopes") first appeared, on the occasion of the school's semicentennial. It was published, with interruptions, until 1994, after which faculty and students attempted to start other publications, none of which had more than one issue. From 1994, Şincai has been in a network of pilot schools experimenting with and applying elements of education reform.
Starting in 1958, Şincai began to appear among the schools with excellent performance at academic olympiads, a goal that continued to be met in the ensuing decades. As of 2008, pupils had won 679 prizes at national olympiads, 32 at international olympiads, and 13 at presentations of compositions. The school’s gymnastics, basketball and volleyball teams have won national championships, and numerous prizes at county and regional contests.
Notable alumni
- Augustin BuzuraAugustin BuzuraAugustin Buzura is a Romanian novelist and short story writer, also known as a journalist, essayist and literary critic. A member of the Romanian Academy, he has been the president of the Romanian Cultural Foundation since 1990 and president of the Romanian Cultural Institute between 2003 and...
(b. 1938), member of the Romanian AcademyRomanian AcademyThe Romanian Academy is a cultural forum founded in Bucharest, Romania, in 1866. It covers the scientific, artistic and literary domains. The academy has 181 acting members who are elected for life....
, president of the Romanian Cultural Foundation - Dezideriu Duma (1905-1988), member of the Academy of Medical Sciences
- Mircea Flonta (b. 1932), member of the Romanian Academy, professor at the University of BucharestUniversity of BucharestThe University of Bucharest , in Romania, is a university founded in 1864 by decree of Prince Alexander John Cuza to convert the former Saint Sava Academy into the current University of Bucharest.-Presentation:...
’s Faculty of Philosophy - Vasile Gheţie (1903-1990), titular member of the Romanian Academy, Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of LeipzigUniversity of LeipzigThe University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
, member of the New York Academy of SciencesNew York Academy of SciencesThe New York Academy of Sciences is the third oldest scientific society in the United States. An independent, non-profit organization with more than members in 140 countries, the Academy’s mission is to advance understanding of science and technology...
, member of the Royal Society of MedicineRoyal Society of MedicineThe Royal Society of Medicine is a British charitable organisation whose main purpose is as a provider of medical education, running over 350 meetings and conferences each year.- History and overview :... - Marius Porumb (b. 1943), corresponding member of the Romanian Academy
- Leon Prodan (1902-1984), professor of public health at the Boston University School of MedicineBoston University School of MedicineBoston University School of Medicine is one of the graduate schools of Boston University. Founded in 1848, the medical school holds the unique distinction as the first institution in the world to formally educate female physicians. Originally known as the New England Female Medical College, it was...
- Florian C. Ulmeanu (1903-1973), titular member of the Society of Biotypology in Paris, post-mortem member of the Academy of Medical Sciences