School workshop, Kaunas [Kovno], 1930.  World ORT Archive Students with teacher Israel Nomberg, Kaunas [Kovno], 1937.  Photograph by J. Fridman, World ORT Archive
Student-performance record book of Wolfas Akselrodas, student at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, 1937.  LCVA
Training workshops: a place where one could hear an impressive symphony of work No vocational school could exist without workshops. At the ORT school in Kaunas, over the period 1921- 1928, at different times there were six workshops: metalwork, tin-smithy, shoemaking, tailoring and dressmaking. Some of these were closed in 1922 and 1924 as handmade products could not compete with industry. In 1934 only three workshops were in operation: mechanical metalworking, tailoring and dressmaking. By 1939 a locksmith's shop, smithy with benches, metal plating workshops (painting, milling, nickel plating), a foundry, welding workshops, a drawing studio, a diesel engine servicing shop, electrical engineering, dressmaking studios and other workshops were in operation. ORT took much effort to improve the school facilities. In 1939 it received various instruments and an electric engine from the USA.
Wolfas Akselrodas, an ORT teacher. LCVA Graduated from Kaunas [Kovno] high technical school in 1937. Studied at the department of construction, technical faculty, Vytautas the Great University in 1937-1939. Worked at the ORT vocational school as a technical drawing teacher from 1938.
Vocational school students, Kaunas [Kovno], 1937.  World ORT Archive
A Modern  vocational  school ORT Kaunas A Modern Vocational School Teachers and Students Jacob Oleiski Tailors’ Courses Vocational School Craft Courses
ORT Kaunas vocational school: curriculum and teaching methodology Students would spend all day at the school. According to 1927 data, 39 hours a week were devoted to practical work in the workshop, 13 or 14 hours to theoretical subjects (later, according to the requirements of the Ministry of Education, the number of hours devoted to theoretical disciplines was increased, while practical work was reduced).Both general and special subjects were taught, including: Lithuanian and Yiddish, mathematics, technical drawing, geometry, physics, technology, machine science, and other theoretical disciplines. There were two types of practical work: work done according to the curricula and external orders. During the first year only subjects from the curriculum were taught, beginning with how to handle a file or a needle. In the second and third years students already fulfilled orders from various city enterprises and factories. For instance, by 1927 the mechanical workshops had fulfilled orders for several thousand litas for the Jewish Central Bank; in 1928 a big order was received from the Ministry of Justice; iron gates, balconies and other things were made for private individuals. The school patronage consisted of an inspector, a teacher and several members of the committee. They would send students to private workshops to learn those specialities for which the school had neither the necessary staff nor equipment. They ensured that students sent there had favourable contracts, followed the instruction process, and that they were treated properly. Once a month the inspector would visit the workshops and provide information to the patronage commission. In 1939, fifty-nine boys and girls studied 18 specialist subjects.