REORGANIZATION OF CZECH SCHOOLS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A004600360001-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 10, 2007
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 23, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/08/10 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA004600360001-4
INFORMATION REPORT 25X1
This meterW oontalm Information affecting the 1fa-
tional Defense of the United etatse within the mean.
Ing of the ipionWo LAM, Title 18. U.B.C. Sea. 710
and 71e. the trammnisi a or revelation of which in
any manner to an unauthorised person In prohibited
by law.
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
23 August 1954
4
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
s4072y
1. Reorganization of schools-
a,'According to a decree of the Ministry of Education,44tod 13 September 1952, the
nine-year and eleven year schools came into being on 1 September 1953. The
nine-year school is a fusion of former elementary schools and three classes
of junior high schools. The eleven-year school replaces elementary schools
and high schools and has the syllabus of the three former types of schools.
It ends with a high school certificate examination which is an admission
requirement for universities. University courses now last for five years,
b. In the school year 1952-53 the high school course was shortened by one
year. After the former seventh grade had been completed, students studied
duriag their vacation and took the high school certificate ^xam{nation in
August 1953. Since then the material to be studied has been condensed
still further and the final examination is taken in June.
c, High school study is divided into two'brancheas classical and technical.
Nqn-elective subjects are- Czech, Russian, mathematics., history, geography,
social sciences. From the seventh grade, the following additional subjects
are non-electives natural sciences, another language (English, French or
German), drawing, physical training, apart from these::the classical br q k
takes Latin and the technical branch takes descriptive geometry,
d. Besides the creation of eleven year schools, other new regulations have been
introduced. At the end of each school year, annual examinations are held and
passing than is a condition for moving up into a higher grade. Pupi18.1 books
were introduced and marks for each subject with axpr commendations or reprimands
are entered regularly. These books have to be signed regularly (each week)
by the parents. The quarterly classification is also put into the book and
has to be signed by the parents.
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e. The necessary subjects for high school certificate examinations are Czech,
Russian, mathematics, and one elective subject. The examination board con-
sists of the principal, the teachers in the individual subjects, represen-
tatives of the Czech Youth Organization (CSM), the Communist Party and the
National Committees. Examination is both written and oral.
f. Pupils are encouraged to form special studies circles for each subject. The
participation is not compulsory but the results achieved in these circles are
recorded on school certificates.
g. The condition for admission to universities is an oral interview concerning
both politics and the subject to be studied. The interview is, of course,
a mere formality since the cadre report of the candidate determines his
admission.
2. Pre-military training in schools-
a. Two hours of military training per week are held within the framework of the
physical training classes. Military training is both theoretical and prac-
tical and is concluded each school year with two military, exercises carried
out in presence of military personnel.
b. The theoretical lessons comprise a theory of arms and shooting, elementary
tactical problems, direction finding with the help of maps, azv regulations,
uniforms, ranks, and first aid,
c. The first aid course consists of the basic anatamy of the human body and methods
of administering first aid. Those who complete these courses are entitled
to wear the PZO (Prepared for health defense) badge and to assist in communal
health service centers.
d. The practical pre-military training consists ofs cross-country marching with
the help of nape and a compass., jumping; fencing; and firing with military air
guns and small-caliber rifles. The instruction is given by the physical
training instructor or by members of armed forces. Military exercises are
carried out in summer or autumn either by a whole school or by several schools
together. The conduct of these exercises is supervised by an army officer.
In Karlovy Vary an officer with the rank of major oondted the exercises
several times. Commanders of the individual companies, platoons, and squads
are either teachers or students. Military instructors are attached to these
units. Arms are issued by the an authorities. For the purpose of the
exercises, the army authorities lend maps,, scale 1125,000, published in 1947.
The maps are marked Secret and Oonfidential. Individual recipients must
sign a receipt for the maps and are responsible for them] the maps must be
returned after the exercises. Besides the arms and maps the gray authorities
lend compasses (either an old German type or new wrist compasses with an
attachment for ascertaining the time by the position of the sun). Each mili-
tary exercise is evaluated by the officer in charge.
e. A military exercise takes usually the following courses The school is divided
into three companies. Two companies form the attacking force and one oomparp
are the defenders. The defenders take up a position and the attackers have
to approach their position by using maps and compasses, deploy and take the
position. In addition to this there is shooting at targets and rendering of
first aid.
Basic military training in universities-
According to the latest regulation of the Ministry of Educatior the curriculum at
universities was extended by one year and students have to do their basic
 military training during their studies. The military training takes ten hours
a week. Every student is compelled to take part in the training; each faculty
is assigned to one combat arm (for instance the Agricultural College in Prague
has its students assigned to anti-tank artillery). For the training, the
students are issued uniforms. During their vacations they undergo training at
VVTs (Military training camps). After completing the course, the students are
given the rank of second lieutenants.
a. All subjects taught at schools are politidally slanted and often greater em-
phasis is laid on knowing the political implications than on the subject itself.
The favorite authors are Fucik, Nezval, Drda, Neumann, Resac, and other Com-
munists. Lately there has been a strong campaign against Masatyk. In the
Russian lessons the supremacy of the USSR in every way is emphasized. In the
Russian study circles lectures about the USSR are given, visits to Soviet
films organized, and members for the Association of Friends of the Soviet
Union are recruited.
b. Social sciences are the principal subject used for political indoctrination
of young people. The subject deals with world events with Communist inter-
pretation, the theory of Marx-Leninism, the economics of a Casemnist state
and its prospective development,
c. In history classes the Communist conception of history is studied and the his-
torical works of Western authors discredited. Much attention is devoted to the
history of the USSR and Czechoslovakia.
d. In geography classes one whole year is devoted to the USSR and Czechoslovakia
and a large number of hours to countries of the Eastern bloc while the Western
world is almost completely passed over.
e. English and French lessons are mostly devoted to teaching the language but
the passages in the text books have a definite political tendency, and some-
times extracts from the Daily Worker and L'Rumanite are read. Lectures on
the history of Great Britain were given outside the syllabus at the special
request of the students but the material was carefully selected.
f. The natural sciences circle studies mainly the Michurin theory of acclimati-
zation.
5. Czechoslovak Youth Association groups at the higher grade sohoolsi
a. At every third-grade school (students 15 years or more old) a group of the
Czechoslovak Youth Association (CSM) was organized. The purpose of this
organization is to encourage students to join voluntary working brigades, to
increase the student's interest in his studies, and to foster a sense of
loyalty among the students.
b. Members of the school group choose a committee which than becomes the execu-
tive organ. This committee deals with proposals to expel students from the
school, arranges political instructions, organizes plenary meetings, and has
the final word on the admission of new members*
c. From the high school students, instructors are chosen for the Piozyr organi-
zation. Work for the CSM and instructorship in the PiozVr were conditions
for admission to higher education. In spite of this, the membership in the
CSM existed mostly or paper and, lately, the CSM has shown very little
activity.
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d. High school students are also obliged to take part in various kinds of political
instructions and each student must work one month pf his two months'vacatiom
on a working brigade. If he evades this obligation without a valid reason, he
might be excluded from further studies.
6. Transfer of politically unreliable pupils to the PTPs
Recently the transfer of politically ally unreliable students to the PTP (Technical
battalions) was begun. Theological students especially are affected
as large numbers of these have been transferred. There is no time limit for ser-
vice in PTP units and release from this service takes place only after a soldier
has been sufficiently politically indoctrinated.
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