de la cathedrals Alexandre Nevski de Sofia pendant la PAque orthodoxe, a permis de sentir vivre Ie renouveau culturel bulgare qui s'exprime par un retour aux sources. Un programme theatral a permis d'apprecler la grande renornmee des voix bulgares. L'OMEP est reconnaissante a son Cornlte Bulgare d'avoir lance de tacon si approprlee son programme pour la celebration de I'A.I.F. et attend Ie compterendu scientifique avec grand Interat. THE TEACHER OF THE NATIONS -JOHN AMOS COMENIUS, MARCH 1992 - PRAGUE Margaret Roberts, Fonner World President • U.K. John Amos Comenius - born March 1592 While joining in the 400th celebrations, in the Palace of Culture in Prague, with nearly 1000 other participants from many different countries it was a pleasure to share in the uplifting, inspirational speeches, music (songs and dancing) exhibitions and sectional seminars, covering every aspect of Comenius' life and work. It was a particularly great experience to be with the Czechs and Slovaks and to share their pride in the achievements of this eminent international figure. Comenius' Heritage and Education of Man for the 21st Century. Addressing the chosen theme every speaker managed to link the thought and work of Comenius with today's developments in all aspects of knowledge and communication. Especially this was achieved through the exhibitions portraying not only the man himself, but also his school-room, his globes, his picture books - the first visual aids for children - and his charts depicting all aspects of natural life. In the evenings, 73 when the exhibition was open to the public, young people crowded round the modern computers, trying their hands at making programmes and designs. The Comenius Museum. Special displays of priceless manuscripts were arranged. These included 'The Labyrinth'; an allegory similar to John Bunyan's 'Pilgrims Progress', though written 5 years before his birth. Here also, we were entertained to a delightful concert, in celebration of the life and work of Comenius. This demonstrated his holistic approach to knowledge and experience - all is related and interrelated in harmony with the Creator's design. The Early Childhood Section. It was a further pleasure to be a member of this section, organised by our OMEP archivist, Dr Vera Misurcova, to meet many OMEP friends and to hear their presentations. There were seven sections in all, Section 2 being devoted to I The Rights of the Child and the development of its Personality'. Many papers were presented, and despite the inevitable overlap in different sections, it was clear, from the opening session, addressed by many important offtclale, including President Vaclav Havel, that the celebration gave voice to the spirit of optimism growing in strength in Czechoslovakia. I was glad to be able to bring back facsimile literature, which was presented to Brian Seagrove, senior archivist at the British and Foreign School Society Archive at Borough Road College to add to his Early Childhood Section. Comenius clearly must be recognised as one of the founding fathers of this now world-wide movement.

The teacher of the nations — John Amos Comenius, March 1992 — Prague

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Page 1: The teacher of the nations — John Amos Comenius, March 1992 — Prague

L'OMEP est reconnaissante a son CornlteBulgare d'avoir lance de tacon siapproprlee son programme pour lacelebration de I'A.I.F. et attend Ie compterendu scientifique avec grand Interat.

THE TEACHER OF THE NATIONS -JOHNAMOS COMENIUS, MARCH 1992 - PRAGUEMargaret Roberts, Fonner World President • U.K.

John Amos Comenius - born March 1592While joining in the 400th celebrations, inthe Palace of Culture in Prague, withnearly 1000 other participants from manydifferent countries it was a pleasure toshare in the uplifting, inspirationalspeeches, music (songs and dancing)exhibitions and sectional seminars,covering every aspect of Comenius' lifeand work. It was a particularly greatexperience to be with the Czechs andSlovaks and to share their pride in theachievements of this eminent internationalfigure.

Comenius' Heritage and Education of Manfor the 21st Century.Addressing the chosen theme everyspeaker managed to link the thought andwork of Comenius with today'sdevelopments in all aspects of knowledgeand communication. Especially this wasachieved through the exhibitionsportraying not only the man himself, butalso his school-room, his globes, hispicture books - the first visual aids forchildren - and his charts depicting allaspects of natural life. In the evenings,

when the exhibition was open to thepublic, young people crowded round themodern computers, trying their hands atmaking programmes and designs.

The Comenius Museum.Special displays of priceless manuscriptswere arranged. These included 'TheLabyrinth'; an allegory similar to JohnBunyan's 'Pilgrims Progress', thoughwritten 5 years before his birth. Here also,we were entertained to a delightfulconcert, in celebration of the life andwork of Comenius. This demonstrated hisholistic approach to knowledge andexperience - all is related and interrelated in harmony with the Creator'sdesign.

The Early Childhood Section.It was a further pleasure to be a memberof this section, organised by our OMEParchivist, Dr Vera Misurcova, to meetmany OMEP friends and to hear theirpresentations. There were seven sectionsin all, Section 2 being devoted to I TheRights of the Child and the development ofits Personality'. Many papers werepresented, and despite the inevitableoverlap in different sections, it was clear,from the opening session, addressed bymany important offtclale, includingPresident Vaclav Havel, that the celebration gave voice to the spirit ofoptimism growing in strength inCzechoslovakia.

I was glad to be able to bring backfacsimile literature, which was presentedto Brian Seagrove, senior archivist at theBritish and Foreign School Society Archiveat Borough Road College to add to hisEarly Childhood Section. Comenius clearlymust be recognised as one of the foundingfathers of this now world-wide movement.