By Dina Vitzileiou
"Goodbye forever.."
...this was the title that the children had to write on the blackboard of the primary school of Poulithra, leaving for their summer holidays.
But they did not know then that they would never return to this historic school of Poulithra, which this year closed its 133 years of life once and for all.
According to the new law on mergers, the children had to be transferred to the elementary school of Leonidi.
The classrooms are tidy and decorated with the students' creations, waiting in vain for the children's return.
The following information is excerpted from an unsigned manuscript text in the Leonidi archive, which refers to the history of the school.
The elementary school of Poulithra was first founded in the year 1878 and operated as a one-room school in the same schoolhouse by the mayor Mr. Ioannos Papasimakopoulos..."
..The above-mentioned elementary teacher served there until the year 1902, when he was succeeded by Mr. Sotirios Katsoulos, who after some years was ordained priest of Poulithra, serving there until the year 1933...
..The school was opened in the year 1876 and right from the beginning it had a hall, of which the police station was a continuation.
..In the year 1933 the school was provided with the second consecutive classroom, due to the transfer of the Police Station to another building.
..in the year 1935 the school was transferred to a one-room schoolhouse and was used as a warehouse, and was in a deplorable state.
..In the year 1947 it was completely renovated with money from the Poulithriotes of America, the noble care of Mr. George Papanikolaou and the personal contribution of the residents.
..In the year 1951 it was promoted to a battalion by transferring to it the teachers Evangelos Tsebelis and Matina I. Mihopoulou, who served until 1964.
...In 1959, following the actions of the Director, Mr. Evangelos Tsebelis, a lunchtime soup kitchen for 15-18 needy students was started by contributions from expatriates in Athens and America...
Until the school was repaired in 1947, the children studied under this carob tree that was near the school.
The same carob as it is today
Memories of the student and later teacher at the same school, Evangelos Tsebelis
The teacher Mr.Evangelos Tsebelis and his wife, also a teacher, from Paralio Astros - Matina Mihopoulou - met at the school of Pouliithron where they served, fell in love and got married in 1954. Since then they continue their common life and unfold their memories from those very difficult - but also beautiful - years.
Evangelos Tsebelis was born in Poulithra in 1919. He attended the primary school of Poulithra and his teacher at that time was Papa Katsoulos.
He tells us:
"I will not forget our teacher, Father Katsulos in the chair, reading newspapers and smoking, always saying at the end of the lesson: Books and abacus in your bags!.."
However, Mr.Tsebelis has more to remember from his later service, as a teacher at the school of Poulithron, from 1951 to 1964.
"...Many of the children came from far away and stayed in Pulithra all week so that they could attend classes. For this reason they carried with them the little food they had (a loaf of bread, a lump of cheese and a few greens ) so we decided to run a soup kitchen, asking for and receiving financial help from the wealthy Poulithrians.
I will never forget the first day we opened the soup kitchen. Our first meal was roast pig! Later I remember the fisherman Mr. Lazarus calling out in the mornings:
- Master, I brought a marionette!.."
And Mr.Tsebelis continues.
"...The school then operated on a double shift, from morning to noon and again in the afternoon. And in winter, when it was very cold, the children had to carry a piece of wood from home for the stove. We also went every now and then to the nearby lime quarry to carry stones for the school repairs. And we set up an altaña in the courtyard to plant vegetables."
Finally, he feels proud that...
"...I may have been strict with my students as a teacher, but I was efficient.
Because of my rich activity in the school, my superiors rewarded me with 6 prizes which today decorate my house in Pulithra."
Pictures from the school's gymnastic demonstrations
Pictures from the excursions...
After 1964, Matina Michopoulou and then her husband Evangelos Tsebelis were transferred to the school of Leonidi where they continued their educational activity.
