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
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.