Outlining Klamarik János’ (1832-1898) Course of Life

Speaking about instruction at the age of dualism, the history of education pays little attention to those professionals that played significant roles as «background men» in the elaboration and execution of epochal laws, resolutions related to the names of some religion and public education ministers. Contemporary public opinion kept count of their activity, but from the viewpoint of posterity they merged into the public education staff formed in the second half of the 19th century. At the age of dualism the Religion- and Public Education Ministry official staff, working as "public service" in higher posts, were not just civil servants, but mostly scientists and professional lecturers. Klamarik János was not only a qualified school teacher of mathematics, but also a ministerial specialist dealing with secondary schools. This research aims at outlining his course of life and inspires young researchers to study Klamarik's activity in detail. He studied mathematics and physics at Pest and Vienna universities. He started teaching at Kiskunfélegyháza, then moved to Pécs and Baja. In 1861 he was relocated to Besztercebánya royal grammar school. He had been working here for 22 years as a teacher, manager and director. These years made him famous and related his name to the issue of secondary schools. In 1881 he published his main work under the title "The structure and operation of Hungary's secondary schools". In 1883 he was called to the Religion- and Public Education Ministry after adoption of the secondary school law. The 1883 secondary school law was an important cornerstone of Hungarian public education and administration of educational affairs. Its elaboration contributed to the country's economic development, fostered the spread of modern civil education, and reduced the differences between the educational levels of secondary schools. Side by side with adoption of state control and having it accepted, the law guaranteed the rights of both education authorities and confessions, however, it demanded meeting all the requirements. In 1897 he retired from the post of under-secretary of state. At his ministerial post he worked a lot on reconstructing the Hungarian secondary school system. He was the honorary chairman of the Hungarian Pedagogical society.