Oldest glassmaking school in Europe threatened with closure

Students protesting the possible closure of The Secondary School of Glassmaking in Kamenick? ?enov, Czech Republic.

Just three years after celebrating its 150th anniversary, The Secondary School of Glassmaking in the Czech town of Kamenick? ?enov in Northern Bohemia is facing an uncertain future. An urgent open letter from the principal Frantisek Janák went out via email this week. The school, which trains students for professions in the glass industry and has been in continuous operation since 1856, may be shut down.

Since the Velvet Revolution in 1989, education in the Czech Republic has been restructured so that regional governments rather than the national ministry of education are responsible for funding individual schools. With two other glassmaking secondary schools within the same region — Železný Brod and Nový Bor — authorities appear to be making a move to consolidate these highly specialized educational institutions.

A press conference today organized by the mayor of Kamenick? ?enov and school principal Frantisek Janák indicates that they want to bring international pressure to bear on local authorities. They appear to be putting the focus on preserving the school as an important cultural heritage site. An international petition has been launched, and those looking to lend their support can download a PDF letter to collect actual signatures here, or fill out an online petition.

Frantisek Janák’s letter reads as follows:

Dear friends,

I want to inform you that our provider wants definitely to close our school
on April the 1st 2010. it was said today in a press conference in Liberec,
which I was not invited to. They have a plan to connect our school with the
secondary glassmaking school in Nový Bor. But it means the physical liquidation of our school.
Their plan is to bring students from our school to N. Bor. The deadline is 1st
of April. But this is a proposal only, which must be agreed with the Liberec
County assembly in January. Till then we must do everything to inform the
politicians about the worldwide importance of our school!

Best regards!

Frantisek Janák M.A.

(the last one?) principal

The Secondary School of Glassmaking
Havlickova 57
47114 Kamenicky Senov
The Czech Republic
Phone: +420 487 764 964
+420 487 765 965
FAX: +420 487 764 964
Mobil: +420 739 633 700
email: janak@supss.clnet.cz
website: www.supss.clnet.cz

With the recent success of the fight against the closure of the Broadfield House Glass Museum in England, the considerable power of international pressure to influence the decisions of local governments has been demonstrated. Whether or not a similar level of international outcry can be raised, and whether the Czech authorities respond, remains to be seen.

Stay tuned to the GLASS Quarterly Hot Sheet for further developments as this story continues to unfold.