Part Two
Memorie.al / In January 1920, Sotir Kolea asked Parashqevi Qiriazi to influence the American President for the protection of the national cause: “Our work has remained in the hands of America just like the case of Fiume.” When the Albanian issue at the Paris Peace Conference in the early 20th century was in danger from the chauvinistic interests of neighbors, the efforts of a group of patriots – who were not part of the official Albanian delegation – were immense. They aimed to find strong supporters in the major chancelleries, while the writings of Albanian pens in newspapers and magazines published by patriots in exile struck hard. But unfortunately for the nation, these efforts are marked by a curse-like fact: even a century ago, Albanian political factions often worked “under the rug” against the national cause.
Continued from the previous issue
“Foreigners have indeed come down on our necks, but I will say: those Albanians who have made it their business to become the tools of those who want to put Albania under the yoke are on our necks”, – wrote on February 1, 1920 from the USA Parashqevi Qiriazi, to her friends Sotir Kolea and Hilmi Këlcyra, who at that time directed the magazine “L’Albanie” in Lausanne:
“To Messrs. S. Kolea and H. Këlcyra, esteemed gentlemen and distinguished patriots,
I received your letter of the 9th of the past month, together with copies of the 11 letters that you were kind enough to send me, and I thank you. What made me most happy is that in these critical and dangerous times, it is absolutely necessary that all true nationalists, who have clean hands, pure souls, and open minds, come forward everyone without fear, to gather, or to make the necessary arrangements for regular correspondence and full agreement.
True nationalists greatly appreciate the works of your master and I am telling you clearly that these works have strengthened their feelings and given them new strength to stand firm in the national program.
I assure you, honorable brothers, that as up to now, so also in the future, I will not cease to do my duty as best I can towards the beloved homeland, to which, like all true nationalists, I have also given my life. It is known that all nations have parties, associations, differences of opinion, etc., but the fate of Albania seems to me to be much greater.
For eight months in Paris I tried day and night as much as I could, but what my eyes saw and what my ears heard, and what work was done, remains in the pages of history.
The work of our delegates in Paris while I was there, It was an utter failure, as the American says. But why? Because there were as many delegates as there were, so many different programs, and four types of documents were sent to the Conference. Until one day, a smoke came from the Conference, which said: “What is this that you Albanians are doing. All nations send us one document, but from you we receive four different ones. Whom should we trust? etc.
Foreigners have indeed come down on our necks, but I will say: those Albanians who have made it their business to become the tools of those who want to put Albania under the yoke are on our necks. I have no doubt that Your Excellency has had cases when foreigners have wanted to use you as tools to fulfill their goals, but your patriotism, your manliness has not made it possible, because you are loyal and sons of the nation.
Where can I sit and tell you how much the foreigners have tried to get their hands on us. No, I will never be the cause of Albania coming under another yoke. Italy has never, ever wanted Albania’s health and the bitterness of all nationalities knows no bounds, when they see even knowledgeable people becoming its tools.
As you say, your Excellency, today only here in America can anything be done, even with the power we have, we have not let any opportunity escape us. But how can we see the fruits of these efforts, when one builds and the other destroy? The two organizations, like ‘Vatra’ and the Political Party, should have shaken America with our cause, because it is a pathetic cause and thus they would win the hearts and sympathy of the Americans.
Well, how is this done, when ‘Vatra’ is under Italian orders? ‘Dielli’ has not wasted its dollars opposing Greek, Italian and Serbian politics, but for five years it has been fighting the true nationalists without ceasing. This was the reason that the Political Party was organized, to protect the rights of Albania.
It was very good for a while, later the secretary fell completely under the influence of Mr. Çekrezi, who has always been a supporter of Italian politics and so unexpected confusions came, but we still have hope to fix it. The chairman wrote the protests, etc. When the secretary sent them, he changed them.
There is a great need to have a true nationalist in Washington. Unfortunately, to this day, nothing has been done. From time to time, when Mr. Dako and I went to Washington and if we had the opportunity, one of us would stay there the whole time. I intend to go soon and if there is anything important, I will inform you.
These first things I wrote in this letter, however much they may grieve us, must never disappoint us. One thing remains to be done, all true nationalists, free from foreign propaganda, to come to an agreement, to form a force. Your Excellency, I believe that you can more easily come to an agreement with the nationalists who are inside Albania. I will put all my strength here to do what I can.
I do not know if you are in agreement with Dr. Adhamidhi who is in Geneva. Some time ago, his Excellency had sent a circular in English to high-ranking Americans. A copy of that circular fell into the hands of Mr. Dako confidentially. The conclusion presents a project for the future of Albania, among other things, it asks for the Albania of 1913, but Vlora, it says, should be kept by Italy for a short time, etc…. and proposes a border exchange in the province of Gjinokastra, for the benefit of the Greeks!.
I remain respectfully, P.D. Kyriaz
The influence and role that politicians have today, it will not take another century to learn how many sinners are among them, selling the interests of the nation for personal and political gains.
Parashqevi Qiriazi, Master since 1913 in the USA
The magazine “The Oberlin Review” dated January 13, 1922, announcing the appointment of Kristo Dakos to the office of the Ministry of Education in Albania, on December 7, 1921, among other things, recalls that Parashqevi Qiriazi received his master’s degree in 1913 at the Department of Education of Oberlin University.
Parashqevi Qiriazi’s master’s thesis was: “The Development of Schools in the Turkish Empire and an Ideal System of Education for Albania”, prepared as a thesis for obtaining the academic degree, master of education (Parashqevi Qiriazi received the academic degree A. M. in 1913. The master’s thesis was defended in June 1913 at the Faculty of Pedagogy of Oberlin University in Ohio, USA.
It was first published in English, in Boston, in 1919, as part of Kristo Dako’s book, (‘Albania, the key to the puzzle of the Middle East’), as part of Appendix E, from page 248 to page 266. The translation into Albanian is found in Shefik Osmani’s work: “Social-pedagogical Heritage”.
Meanwhile, Parashqevi Qiriazi in the USA also drafted the educational program of the Provisional Government of Ismail Qemali. She wrote and published in Chicago the work “The School for Girls – Kortcha, Albania”.
In her diploma thesis, it is noted that she designed an educational system for Albania. Parashqevi envisions that: “Every city should have elementary and secondary schools, a university should be established in the capital. Only elementary schools should be opened in the villages and in the villages according to need”.
Then; “Every city and the whole province, to have an eldership, responsible to the Minister of Education. One of the members of this eldership to be an inspector. The inspector must have special training for his work”.
She quotes Stockton as having said: “A man, who has no training in the true aims of education, should never be appointed an inspector”. She continues further: “A man who is fit for this position must have extensive knowledge in biology, sociology, psychology, and pedagogy; in addition he must be able to use judgment in the arrangement of courses of instruction”.
Qiriazi also envisages a Minister of Education as chairman of an educational commission, responsible to Parliament. She extends her educational network beyond the usual educational boundaries of the time. “For the improvement of society, the school system must also include special schools for the disabled”. By “cripple” she means “the blind, the deaf and the dumb”.
Based on their education and teaching, she establishes “handicraft lessons”, without excluding a short course of various subjects so that they “have the opportunity to develop their minds and enjoy the treasures of knowledge”. The ideal education system according to Parashqevi Qiriazi should include:
- Kindergartens (Kindergarten or Montessori);
- Elementary school (primary);
- Secondary schools (secondary);
- Higher education (university);
- Normal school;
- Special school (for the cripple).
For the latter she emphasizes that in addition to the study of “Philosophy of the development of the infant’s mind” there should be a “School for the cripple (special) – Based on humanitarian and pedagogical goals”.
A few words from the life and work of Parashqevi Qiriazi
On June 2, Parashqevi Qiriazi was born in Manastir. She continued her primary and secondary school in Manastir. In 1900, she studied at the American College for Girls in Istanbul, in the literature department. In 1904, after graduating, she began working as a teacher and later as a director at the Albanian Girls’ School in Korça.
In 1908, she participated in the Alphabet Congress in Manastir. In 1909, among other things, she compiled and published in Manastir the text “Primer – for the first schools”. In 1910, in honor of the Manastir Congress and the Albanian alphabet, she compiled and published the “Hymn of the National Alphabet”, which was sung on February 14 at the Albanian Alphabet Rally in Korça.
In 1913, she successfully completed her postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Education at Oberlin University in Ohio, USA. In 1914, due to the outbreak of World War I, she left Albania. In 1917-1920, in Boston, USA, she published the magazine “Yll`i Mëngjesit”. In 1919, Parashqevia was a delegate to the Peace Conference in Paris, as the only female delegate from all the countries of that Conference.
In 1922, the Korça school moved to Tirana, was renamed the “Qiriazi” Institute (“Kyrias”) and Parashqevia was appointed director. In 1933, the “Qiriazi” Educational Institute (“Kyrias”) was closed. In 1943, on October 15, Sevastia and Parashqevia, along with other family members, were arrested by Nazi-fascist forces and sent to the Banjica Concentration Camp near Belgrade in Serbia.
In 1944, in October of this year, she was released with the internees and arrived alive in Albania, but the building of the “Qiriazi” Institute was nationalized. It was left in oblivion for many years and in 1970, Parashqevia died in Tirana. Only in 1987, she was remembered and decorated “Post Mortem”, with the title “Teacher of the People”, etc./ Memorie.al
