The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-11-04


Prague, Czecho- Slovakia. 1t is con-
Quoted by DR.. Bakule. The money Is
being used for enlarged quarters ana
additional equipment.
While the Junior Red Cross is ex-
tending aid to the children of all OF
the war-devastated countries, largely
through educational channels, there is
no one project, perhaps, which pre-
sents greater appeal than that Of the
Bakule school. This institution was
organized for the training Of crippled
and deficient children and it has met
with remarkable success.
The original II crippled youths who
first received training under DIR. Ba-
kule are still with the school, but In
the capacity of instructors. They have
become not only self-supporting but
they are contributing largely toward
the support of the school and are
teaching between 200 and 800 children
taken in from the streets of Prague.
About two years ago, DR.. Bakule
was obliged to leave the school where
he was living with these boys and they
Immediately decided to go forth with
him. Boldly they set out, and for a
time they lived like gypsies. Finally
DIR. Bakule succeeded in renting three
small rooms where they ate, slept and
worked while the teacher lectured to
secure tne funds necessary to set up
his school anew.
Rapid progress was made and now
the school is firmly established on the.
outskirts of Prague, and there DR.. Ba-
kule has opened to children in whose
lives, otherwise, only sordidness and
misery would have existed. hope. hap
piness and ambition.
Red Cross workers say that one of
the most remarkable schools in the
world is that conducted by DR.. Bakuie
in Prague. 1t is achieving such amaz-
ing results that educators in many
countries, especially manual training
teachers and child welfare workers,
are watching with deep interest the
efforts of Bakule and his staff and are
seeking for al available information
regarding his methods of instruction.
The Bakule school is not very old.
According to such facts as have come
to the United States, the doctor was
an instructor in an asylum for de-
formed children maintained by the
government Of Austria-Hungary when
war broke out in the summer Of 1914.
AS the conflict proceeded and the gov
eminent approached collapse the In
stitution practically went to pieces and
Bakule found himself out OF job.
Being out of a Job wasn't calamity,
in his estimation; the tragedy lay with
the cripples themselves, whose plight
was desperate.
With faith that in some way Prov
idence would help, DIR. Bakule gathered
about him number of his pupils, set
up a school Of his own in barn and
during subsequent months managed to
keep the group together. The collapse
Of Austria Hungary, the end of the
war and the calls for aid by millions
Of destitute and starving people to the
outside, world, brought, among other
relief agencies to Prague, the Junior
Red Cross of America.
Bakule's great work-his genius, his
courage, his faith-came to the atten-
ton Of the Junior workers. At first
they gave him moderate aid, then more
and more, until today the famous Ba-
kule school is subsidized by the Jul
nior Red Cross Of America.
Without doubt the most famous
product Of the school and now an in
structor there, is youngster named
Frantik, who was born without arms.
This boy holds the distinction of pos
sessing the handiest pair OF human
feet in the world today. Frantik's