Daniel Funeriu, former Minister of Education, intervenes in the dispute generated by the promotion head of the “Mihai Viteazul” College in Ineu, whose viral speech angered many teachers. Funeriu claims that her speech is the “terribism of a smart child” and “it's not wrong to be a terribilist at 18”.
Daniel Funeriu intervenes in the scandal of the day in the area of education. PHOTO: Inquam Photos
Daniel Funeriu, former Minister of Education, intervened in the debates generated by the already famous speech of Iulia Cociuba, head of promotion at the “Mihai Viteazul” College in Ineu.
“Someone has to say that the “speech” – which has become famous – of the young lady from Ineu is nothing more than a spiel of a smart child (I guess not from “real”, but from “human”), but who still hasn't understood which is the role of the school -as imperfect as it is-, it has not yet understood exactly that it is responsible for its own life -in which, from what is given to you, i.e. the school, you sort, expand, use in the building of your own personality-“, started Funeriu, on Facebook.
He tried to explain that what the young woman at school is asking for are, in fact, things that fall under her responsibility: “Practically, what the young lady did is what an owner would do who rushes to the builder of a house still under construction – who has barely poured the foundation – because he does not yet see the interior decorations. Almost everything the young lady asks for are things you build yourself, on the foundation of knowledge laid by the school.“
Funeriu's message to the “terrible young woman”
Funeriu regrets that there was no warm, intelligent and profound response from a teacher to give the young woman something to think about: “Of course, the temptation to admire the masses in the style of “mom, what did he say to them” is great – yes, the “system” has many flaws – but the only thing I regret is that there was not a teacher in the classroom who – give her, on the spot, a warm, intelligent, deep answer that will give the young lady, and us, something to think about”.
The former minister defends the girl, showing that “There's nothing wrong with being a terrorist at 18, many of you were.”
The funeral even has a message for the young woman from Arad: “I wish her success, to set as her goal the improvement of our country, so that her children will be happy. And to invite her to continue building her personality – still in formation – on the foundation of what the school, as she is, gave her.”
He further explained that students can conform not only to the low standards but also to the rigors imposed by Nobel laureates.
“And if this horrible school today has taught someone to lie, I ask that someone to read about the lives – from Coposu to Mandela – of those whom even decades of cruel imprisonment did not make them lie“, added the former minister.
What is the role of Education
Funeriu appealed to the Constitution, which states that the role of the school is to “it teaches you”. “The rest, until you reach higher education, is your business and your family's. This is what reality and… the Constitution tell us”, sputs the former dignitary.
The speech of Iulia Cociuba, the promotion head of the “Mihai Viteazul” College in Ineu, who said, among other things, that “instead of being a place of learning and development, school has become a source of frustration and disappointment for many” and that “shschool taught me to conform, to lie, to sponge off my personality and hide behind absurd standards”, became a hot topic of discussion on several Facebook groups where most of the members are teachers.
The teachers harshly criticize the teenager, reproaching her for making such a speech at an inappropriate moment, “shadowing the graduation ceremony”. Other professors are even more categorical and dismiss her opinion altogether, accusing the graduate of hypocrisy and reproaching her for “he went on the attack when he saw the bags in the cart”.
Opinions for and against
Instead, there are teachers who recognize that the Romanian education system has real problems and part of the blame lies with the teachers.
“Students have become opportunists, grade hunters, they are no longer interested in values, Miss Promotion Head. We only know how to attack when we see each other with bags in the cart”is one of the comments.
“Self-sufficient, full of arrogance, from another planet, incapable of gratitude, eternally dissatisfied. She herself admitted that she is a liar and superficial. He got a free education, based on the knowledge he gained he will go to college and have a decent life. She's upset she didn't have a red carpet”another member of the private group with more than 85,000 members believes.
In another comment, a member of the group points out that it was not so much the content of the message that was inappropriate, but the timing. Moreover, the teacher says that she “was taught” to act. “It's not about whether or not this girl is right, it's not about whether the system can be improved, it's about when this teenager was taught to act. It was supposed to be a celebratory moment of a system she excelled in that was turned into an accusatory one. And now let's see how many students will follow it (as some hope)”, is the message.
“I wish the lady with the speech in question becomes a teacher and has students who will 'thank' her as she did. Then let me see her! Until then, ladies and gentlemen, teachers, let's see each other!”, comments a teacher.
