A fact from Bolhrad High School appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 24 October 2009, and was viewed approximately 287 times (disclaimer) (check views). The text of the entry was as follows:
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Latest comment: 15 years ago5 comments3 people in discussion
I'm not sure if anything needs to be changed, but this phrase caught my eye: "In 1879, after the union of Wallachia and Moldavia and the establishment of the Principality of Bulgaria, the school gradually lost its entirely Bulgarian character under Romanian and Russian rule". Now, Bolgrad did indeed come under Moldavian rule in 1856, but the Union of Moldavia and Wallachia came soon after, in 1859. The town remained under Romanian administration until 1878 (see here). It was then under Russia until 1918, Romania (1918-1940/44), USSR (1940/44-91) and Ukraine (1991-). So after 1879, the school was actually under Russian administration, not re-entering Romania until 1918. - BiruitorulTalk20:13, 24 October 2009 (UTC)Reply
Ideally, we should source the 43 number if we are to keep it (since the Bulgarian government says64), but I understand if that kind of fact can't be verified right away. - BiruitorulTalk21:25, 24 October 2009 (UTC)Reply
I'm aware of the changes in state authority that affected Bessarabia in the late 19th and 20th century. The source I'm using, however, divides the school's history into a "Romanian period from 1879 to 1886, Russian period from 1886 to 1918, and another Romanian period from 1918 to 1940". It clearly states that it was a Romanian lyceum until 1885, with some education in Bulgarian. I'm not sure whether the Russians would have permitted a Romanian lyceum in the newly-acquired territories, but that's what I have as a source. The current wording is okay, except that it doesn't mention the school was a Romanian lyceum. Todor→Bozhinov11:36, 25 October 2009 (UTC)Reply
The number 43 is from Nistor's book, page 201, line 20 from top. :-) I can give an example of at least one village that is in the 64 and not in the 43: Parcani. It is very notable. I know for a fact that there were a number of villages in Odessa-Nikolaev-Kherson area, but I don't have specific info. I believe that this high school could supposedly have served also for people from Parcani (and other such localities), not only for those from near Bolhrad, despite the fact that Parcani is about 4 hours away by train. Perhaps we can reformulate in such a way as to include both numbers: 64 and 43.
About mentioning the school as a Romanian lyceum, I believe that 1918-1940 is definitively ok. For example: "Between 1918 and 1940, it was Romanian lyceum with some education in Bulgarian." We could add "There are indications that it might have served as a Romanian lyceum also in 1879-1886, although this is not certain."
Education in Romanian was forbidden in Bessarabia since 1860 altogether, this is why me and Biruitorul don't understand this. But, I admit the possibility that this could have been the one exception that confirms the rule.
Yeah, I also found it puzzling that my source insists it was a Romanian lyceum in the Russian era, but that's what I've got as verifiable data. If it's true that, as we seem to think, education in Romanian was not allowed in the Russian Empire, then the current wording is all fine. Indeed, the school was surely a Romanian lyceum in 1918–1940, with some optional courses in Bulgarian language, history and geography.
Bulgarian migration to the southwestern Russian Empire was not limited to Bessarabia, there were also colonies in Crimea and elsewhere on the north coast of the Sea of Azov. My source is pretty vague on the matter of where those 64 villages were located. If you can include the source for the 43 figure, I'll be fine with that one.
Thanks for the compliments :) The article was actually on DYK yesterday: I never fail to submit at least half of the stuff I write to DYK, be it good or not!:)
