Ede Porges 1819-1904

Ede Porges  

Born in Prague (Czech) (18/05/1819)
and died in Pècs (Hungary) (01/10/1904)
No other family information available.


The biography of "school's parent"


Ede Porges was born (on) 14th may 1819, in Prague. His parents passed away when he was still a young child. His first form of subsistence was covered by teaching. He obtained his technical thesis at the University of Technology in Prague .

He wanted to be a teacher. He moved to Hohenems, and became instructor at the public school of the city.

Afterthe Hungarian war of independence (1849), the Austrian government made a resolution that german should become the national language ofHungary. This decision caused the Austrian government to look for suitable instructors.

On the evidence of his pedagogical achievements, Ede Porges was foundappropriate for changing the educational politics of the governmentin Vienna.

In 1859, he was incharge of leading the German lingualprimary school at Pècs.

The german politics of the Austrian government hadfailed also in the education, so theyclosed the pattern-school at Pècs. Atthis time Ede Porges was working as a bookkeeper and during this year he had the idea to opena commercial school at Pècs. On June 26,1875 he asked for permissionto establish a three class, public commercial school.

On October 20,1875 he opened the Commercial Secondary School at Szechenyi sqr. 6.
But his personal will was not enough (financial problems) to maintain the public school.
He had only a few students. He thought, that is because, his qualificated students didnt get a voluntary right (they only have to join the army for one year). He reached his goal : his students got this right in 1887. Then he had 30 students and in the next term he had 92.
In 1895, after 20 years of successful work Ede Porges with the support of the Ministry of Religion and Public Education-handed the direction to Bla Kondor, who was a qualified teacher of commercial schools.

Ede Porges died on October,1 1904, in Pècs.

He was a democratic and developing establisher, woodwork competently and wood make great sacrifices for his school. He wrought his name unforgettable into the cultural history of the city. After his death, the school was in the hand of the town until 1948. The religious schools war peculiar, however Ede Porgess school has appeared from with its democratic spirit. The students war prepared to attend in the commercion, the payment trade or in the administration in this democratic spirit. The school produced well-trained, directing professionals for important positions to Pècs, and almost to Hungary.

Translated from Hungarian by Mariann Grner (2007)