Some Remarks on Utraquistic School in Carinthia from 1923 to 1938

Abstract

The author describes the endeavours of the Carinthian Slovenians between 1923 and 1938 for the improvement of conditions of secondary socialisation on basis of mother tongue. The negotiations on cultural autonomy have failed on account of the educationai question. In paralel with these negotiations a wide discussion ran among teachers on reforming the educationai scheme of the utraquist school which has confirmed its basic function and the status of Slovenian language in that school. The main task of the utraquistic school remained — to teach the Slovenian children German while the Slovenian (language) was stili treated as an auxiliary language for inurement to the German language. Negotiations during the authoritarian Austrian regime did not bring improvement. The same holds for the report of the district school inspector Hans Skorianz. Only Franz Wedenig has — according to knovvn sources — devoted the Carinthian utraquism among teachers a deeper thought. After the »Anschluss« in March 1938 the Slovenian language forcedly disappeared from schools and ali public life.