Address
52 Vytauto Avenue, LT-44237, Kaunas.
Tel. +370-37-206210.
Fax +370-37-207936.
E-mail:
administracija@pedagoginismuziejus.lt
Opening times
Monday to Thursday
10 a.m. – 5 p. m.;
Friday 10 a. m. –
4.45 p. m.
Additional services
Reservation of excursions;
Organizing of cultural events in the hall of the Museum.
Museum's collection
The collections accumulated by the
museum reflect the history of education in Lithuania: the first school
mentioned in 1397 book of Vilnius Cathedral, and other schools opened in
Lithuania after the introduction of Christianity, parish schools and
colleges of 17th-18th centuries,
education under the tsarist regime, the system of education in the
Republic of Lithuania, its development in the period between the two world
wars, and the Soviet system of education. The collections include teaching
materials, educational periodicals, and the personal libraries of
well-known teachers and academicians.
Exposition
Of ancient times to out times
Exposition introduces development of education in Lithuania
from the beginning of state creation in the 13th century until 1990. It is
intended to show how unique Lithuanian school development was and
empathizing at the same time that it developed on the same groundwork as
Christian Europe. At three exposition halls side by side of pedagogical
history it is explained historic changing methods of exhibiting museum
values. There can be found traditional show-cases, models of school
illustrations, interactive furniture, original image projections, some of
the exhibits can be touched by visitors. At each of the hall, devoted to
different stages of school development, by special equipment it can be
felt the atmosphere of that period.
At the hall of the oldest
period (13th – 19th centuries) there
is shown the way of Christian Europe education spreading in Lithuania,
emphasizing at the same time what influence Order of the Jesuits, the
Reformation, and the University of Vilnius had on it.
Also there is shown how czarist Russian in the 19th century tried to
transform school into Lithuanian russification tool and activity of one of
the first Lithuanian school fosters M. Valancius and S. Daukantas. Great
importance is attached to secret school as a manifestation of national
revival.
There are presented 60 authentic exhibits: Lithuanian literature of
18th-19th centuries, manuals, exercise books, school hand bell, inkpots
and more school accessories; model of secret school.
In
the exposition hall “Education in Lithuania in 1904-1940”
there are exhibited documents, photographs, statute of first educational
associations, rare manuals of national school foundation in early 20th
century.
In independent Lithuania (1918-1940) there were created and was operating
democratic educational system. Each of its element (pre-school,
elementary, secondary, university education) present different stands of
exhibition. Visitors can be attracted by rich collection of educational
means of that period. An interesting accent of exposition is model of
classroom of primary school. There are exhibited more than 300 objects in
exposition hall.
In the exposition hall granted to education
development of Lithuanian and emigrants in 1940-1990 there
are presented school history of scattered Lithuanian nation by political
events of mid-20th century, authentic Soviet educational system documents,
politically ideological educational literature, items of schoolchildren
(exercise books, certificates, bags, uniforms and many more), educational
measures of different subjects, personal belongings of exiled teachers and
schoolchildren, certificates of education in exile, Lithuanian press of
underground work in period of 50s-90s. Education of emigrants is presented
by photographs and documentary material, manuals, periodical press,
objects of children school Montessori in Chicago. Original exhibits (360
units) and review material are presented in non-traditional way.
Exhibitions
The Museum organizes exhibitions
on topics of history of education, modern education, about famous
Lithuanian teachers, Lithuanian and foreign schools, as well as
exhibitions of pupils’ and teachers’ creative works.
Cultural, educational activity
The workers of the Museum take
part in international conferences and seminars, radio and TV broadcasts,
they deliver lectures, publish articles, realize the educational program
“Native Land” to the aim of pupils’ fostering as citizens, arrange
afternoons “The live school”.
Public Museums
The workers of the Museum render a
methodical assistance for all school museums.
History of
the museum
Pedagogical museum, which is one of the oldest museums of the
independent Lithuania, was established in 1922 by Kaunas local government.
Initiator and head of the museum for many years was Vincas Ruzgas (1890–1972),
who was pedagogue, author of manuals, and public man.
During the World War II the museum was closed.
In 1958 the museum was named as Republican Pedagogical Museum and
its exhibits for the visitors were accessible again. In 1980 it was opened
an exposition which examined development of education in Lithuania. In
2002 when the founder of the museum was substituted the museum was renamed
as Pedagogical Museum of Kaunas County.
Head of the museum is ˇ. Jakaitė.
Photos
from archive of the museum
