Education paper by Kovács, Ilona
Immigrant Integration and Identity Maintenance by Education. Helen Horvath's Special Educational Method for Hungarian Immigrants in Cleveland.
Type of Abstract (select):Abstract (max. 250 words):
Immigrant Integration and Identity Maintenance by Education -- Helen Horvath’s special educational method for Hungarian immigrants in Cleveland, 1901 -1940
The problem how to find the balance between assimilation and identity maintenance of the migration process to lead proper integration in a new society was a crucial question in the history and is the present age as well. This issue raised different problems for every waves of Hungarian immigration in America depending on the historical, economical and cultural conditions. There are, however, human factors as well being the same and valid among all conditions and for all generations: the problems of human dignity, partnership, understanding and acceptance at both sides. The recognition of the importance these values mean the basis for Helen Horvath’s philosophy and for her successful educational program arranged for Hungarian immigrants in Cleveland in the first decades of the twentieth century, a unique model for adult education of her time. This paper attempts to present her special approach and methods carrying this idea and applied in the classroom of her language schools or citizenship courses and outside the classroom in the community as well. It is worthwhile to study her dual role in the Cleveland Hungarian community and the American society in the Americanization program of the City of Cleveland. She was well known and remembered from time to time by the next generations, but her approach and attempt and value system needs more research and deserves more recognition even today.
Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Kovacs Ilona librarian, retired department head of the National Széchényi Library, Budapest.
She gained her diplomas at the Budapest University (ELTE, 1961) and at Kent State University, Ohio (MLS, 1975), and her doctoral degree at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA 1993). Her research area is Hungarians abroad focusing on American Hungarians. As head of the Hungarica Documentation she was director of grants for collecting information and documentation and build up Hungarica databases and also conducting surveys to publish a series of publications on Hungarica material of libraries in Europe, Australia and Canada. She attended several international conferences in Europe, USA, Canada and Hungary and published over 100 articles, studies and books. She was a Fulbright scholar at the American Hungarian Foundation in the AYs 1995 and 2001/03. bpilona.kovacs@gmail.com