Founded in 1864, imagine the echoes of young voices resonating within the walls of Școala Poenărescu. This building stands as a testament to Bucharest’s enduring commitment to education. Școala Poenărescu is near Antim Monastery a historical landmark.
Petrache Poenaru a great scholar established this school. He was a founder of Romanian national education. Initially Școala Poenărescu was not a large building. Poenaru was a man of many talents. He was an engineer, a philologist and a pedagogue. He studied in Vienna, Paris and London. Poenaru was also a student of Gheorghe Lazăr. He served as a pandur under Tudor Vladimirescu. He was a revolutionary in 1848. Poenaru signed the act emancipating Roma people. He promoted the unification of 1859. He became an academician in 1870.
Poenaru advocated for educational reform. He was appointed director of the Eforia Școalelor in 1832. Later he became director and professor at Colegiul Sf. Sava. He also directed the Școlilor Naționale. In 1864, Prince A.I. Cuza appointed him to the Council of State. There, he developed the Law Project regarding the Organization of Public Instruction. Before this law education was mainly in confessional schools. These schools were affiliated with different religions. Education also took place in private schools for minorities. Public schools were less common. The law established mandatory and free public primary education in Romania. It ensured a unified character across the country. Three levels of education were created: primary, secondary and superior. The school network was expanded.
Thirty-five primary schools were founded in Bucharest at that time. Today only four buildings remain. Școala Poenărescu is one of them. It is located on Str. Antim near Justiției.
Petrache Poenaru died in 1875. A relative likely named Poenărescu wanted to honor his memory. They also wanted to benefit personally. They established a foundation with the local community. The goal was to rebuild the school near Antim Monastery. This was to meet the needs of the time. The war delayed the reconstruction until 1878. The number of classrooms likely increased. An administrative pavilion and housing for teachers were added. The school then became known as Școala Poenărescu.
Reforms introduced by Spiru Haret in 1898 modernized the school. About 2000 schools were improved. Teacher training was reorganized. Școala Primară Poenărescu was rebuilt. As the plaque on the school mentions it was given its current form. It had two classrooms on the ground floor and two upstairs. A famous staircase connected them. The principal’s office and laboratory were upstairs. The stage washing area and administrative pavilion were on the ground floor. Next to it were the sanitary facilities annexes for staff and a beautiful yard with an iron fence and chestnut trees. It remained a primary school for boys. It had a very good reputation in the area. Graduates usually continued their secondary and high school education elsewhere in Bucharest.
The education reform of 1948 restructured the curriculum. Religion classes were removed. The name was changed to Școala Elementară nr. 3 for boys. Secondary classes up to the seventh grade were added.
In 1971 a new modern school nr. 122 was built nearby. It covered the needs of the entire neighborhood. The students of Școala Poenărescu were transferred there. The building was assigned to Lazăr high school for practical classes. This was to introduce practice in schools. The building kept this purpose until 1985. The School Inspectorate was moved from the building. The building remained entirely for Lazăr high school. It retained this function until 1990. Since 1995 it has been assigned to the Education Syndicate Frăția.
A final meeting of teachers and former students took place in 1964. It marked the 100th anniversary of the school. Teachers Popovici Sebastian Dumitrescu Valentina and Fotache Dumitru were present. Former students included Catargiu Mihai Răuț Valeriu and Pittiș Florian. Pittiș was just starting his artistic career then.
Today Școala Poenărescu stands as a monument. It represents the historical significance of education in Bucharest. Its walls have witnessed generations of students passing through. The legacy of Petrache Poenaru lives on. It inspires future generations to pursue knowledge and contribute to society.