CZECH UNIVERSITIES WILL REMAIN CLOSED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 52, 2 March 1943, Page 7

CZECH UNIVERSITIES WILL REMAIN CLOSED

In November, 1939, ail Czech universities and institutions, of higher learning were closed for three years. The closing of these schools ancl the massacre of hundreds of Czech students in Prague and Brno were acts of punishment inflicted on the Czechs because of a student demonstration held on Czechoslovak Independence Day, October 28, 1939. Three years have passed, but from the. comments made by the Prague newspapers it is evident that the Czech universities will remain closed. Former students who speak German may be admitted, for study to some faculties of the universities of the Reich. Thus far only a few Czech students have shown any desire to take advantage of this, privilege. Addressing the Czech young people. over the London Czechoslovak broadcast on August 30, Pavel Svaty appealed to them not to swallow without protest the continuous reduction and nazification of the schools. When the number of pupils of the secondary schools has been reduced by from 60 to 85 per cent, within three schoof years, Czech youth must ask—"What should be done?" No young Czech must fear sacrifices and risks in the present struggle, in Avhich the young people have an extraordinary opportunity of expressing their ideas, initiative, inventiveness, sagacity, cleverness, and courage as offsprings of o their ancestors; who always knew how to make weapons from flails and pitchforks. To bring out again these old military virtues is the great task and unique opportunity of the present Czech younger generation.