Collection search - The Pestalozzi Children's Village

Record information – Brief

1

The Pestalozzi Children's Village

Item number (ISN):

467590

Hierarchical level:

Item (Accession level)

Date:

1968-01/1968-03

Item number (ISN):

467590

Type of material:

Sound recordings

Found in:

Archives / Film, Video and Sound

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Record information – Details

Fonds/collection:

WASSERMAN, Charles Ulrich

Accession:

1980-0050

Media:

Sound

Part:

1 of 1

Production date:

1968-01/1968-03

Production company:

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

Production credit:

reporter/script/narration, Charles Wasserman

Description:

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Report about the Pestalozzi Children's Village in the village of Trogen, Switzerland. The village is composed of chalets housing more than 200 orphaned children from many countries. The village was founded more than 20 years ago by the Swiss writer and philosopher Walter Robert Corti. In the centre of the village there is a building called Canada Hall, a combination theatre-gymnasium. It was given to the children's village by the Canadian Committee for UNESCO. Every Monday morning the children and staff gather there for a ceremony, with all present singing the village hymn. There is an excerpt of the hymn. Wasserman interviews village founder Walter Robert Corti. Corti and some friends began to raise money to build the village to give shelter to Second World War orphans from many countries. It was also designed as an experiment in international cooperation, where the orphans are taught to live in peace and understanding. Returning to the morning ceremony, two Greek boys sing. Each week one of the national groups contributes some songs, music and dancing. In learning to live together, the students are not supposed to forget their own heritage. The child population of the village has changed over the past 20 years. Some Eastern European children were removed on the orders of their governments. They have been replaced by children from non-communist countries. Recently, three new groups have arrived, from Tunisia, South Korea and Tibet. This extension of the original idea is also a commentary on the present state of the world. Next is an interview of Swiss educator Arthur Bill, who runs the Children's Village. This is followed by a visit to one of the South Korean chalets, where Wasserman does an interview about the needs of children in developing countries. Next, Wasserman visits the Tunisian chalet, where the children are taught French and Arabic in their residences and German in the village. There is an excerpt of Tunisian children singing in Arabic. The Tibetans are childrne of Tibetan refugees who fled to India following the communist take-over. In Tibet, these people lived in isolation. They found the climate in India very difficult. The Swiss mountain climate is better for them. The children face difficulties because they cannot go back to Tibet. Arthur Bill comments on the problem. Wasserman interviews the wife of the Tibetan Lama, Mr. Rakra, as an exotic bird sings in a cage. Academic learning and handicrafts are taught in the village. One of the Finnish teachers operates a woodworking shop. Wasserman visits the shop and speaks with Arthur Bill about handicrafts and the future of the village. There is a branch of the Pestalozzi Foundation in Britain and there are British children in the village. Wasserman interviews one of their teachers, Tony Knight. Another British member of the staff, Mrs. Marsten, talks about the emotional strains faced by the children and their home life. There is also an international school where older children study a high school curriculum in German. There is actuality from one of the classrooms, where students learn an Italian song. The teacher is German-Swiss and speaks to them in German. Francis Kramer, a member of the administrative staff, comments on the danger that the idealistic basis of the village is being neglected because of the emphasis on high academic standards. Arthur Bill expresses a different point of view. <29mn 30s>

Language:

English

Notes:

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1. Recorded from January to March 1968.~2. Recorded for broadcast on the CBC Radio series Trans-Canada Matinée.

Detailed holdings information:

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Vault ISN:

651057

Format:

SOUND

Location number:

1980-0050/038

Vault code:

GAT

Number of items:

1

Kind of sound:

R/R

Made from:

DEPOSIT

Status:

ORIG

Vault ISN:

1010110

Format:

SOUND

Location number:

467590-1980-0050-038.wav

Number of items:

1

Kind of sound:

BWF

Duration:

22:06

Made from:

1980-0050/038

Status:

MASTER
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Conditions of access:

Open

GENCAT identity number:

MSS 21473

Reproduction access:

with the written permission of the copyright owners

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