Two Stops with Přemysl Pitter (1895–1976)

The Czechs have given the world many important personalities, including pedagogues. In addition to the well-known Jan Amos Komensky (1592–1670), we can also name Gustav Adolf Lindner (1828–1887). But for a long time another important pedagogue personality of the 20th century, Přemysl Pitter, remained unknown to the world. In today’s world of intolerance it’s worthwhile to pay attention to the activities of a man who cherished the values by which he lived his life: “Without love, without human compassion with one another, nothing will stand”2. These are the words of the humanist Přemysl Pitter, a Czech Protestant-oriented thinker, educator, writer, publicist, radical pacifist, and social worker. He founded the famous Prague educational institute “MiličHouse” during the Second World War, and despite strict prohibitions, he visited and supplied the Jews during that time. After the war, he applied for confiscated castles around Prague, where he took care of impoverished German, Jewish, Polish, Czech, and other children. After the establishment of the communist regime, he was forced to flee the country. There was no word of him for many years. But why was his birth declared a UNESCO anniversary? Why did he receive one of the highest state awards of the Czech Republic from President Vaclav Havel? This text addresses such questions. The journey through the life of this exceptional man is like a limited service bus route, consisting of only two stops: and these two stops I present here.