Jaroslav Kozlík
Encyclopedia
Jaroslav Kozlík is a Czech pedagogue, theorist of pedagogy, senior member of Sokol
, pioneer of Volleyball
in Czechoslovakia, and former Czechoslovak Volleyball champion. He was born in Bystřice pod Hostýnem. Kozlík is an author of 30 books and over 300 articles, mostly devoted to theory of education and sports organization. Kozlík developed the concept of physical education for elementary schools in the Czech republic
and Slovakia
. In 2009 he was named an honorary citizen of Prague 4, the largest city district of Prague
. Despite his age, Kozlík remains active in the Sokol organization, criticizing its current administration for a lack of edificatory impingement on society and youth.
, Kozlík was a member of winning teams at Czechoslovak volleyball championships in 1929, 1936, and 1939 and won championships of the Sokol organization as a captain of the Sokol Kroměříž team ten times between 1926 and 1936.
in Kroměříž
in 1926. From 1933 to 1945 he taught at the Experimental elementary school in Zlín
. The aim of the experimental elementary schools (of which there were three in the Czechoslovakia) was to develop and apply progressive teaching methods including project teaching. After World War II
, Kozlík moved to Prague and accepted position in the Research Institute of Education, where he stayed until 1972, when he was forced to retire because of his openly expressed disagreement with the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia
in 1968. Kozlík had an influence on the concept of physical education at elementary schools in the Czech republic and Slovakia, putting over obligatory training in swimming and skiing. He participated on several school reforms between 1945 and 1972 and on the education reform in Czechoslovakia after the Velvet revolution
in 1989.
, then a patriarch of the prominent Czechoslovak entrepreneur family. Kozlík first visited Baťa in 1933 in the Baťa company headquarters to negotiate about Baťa´s sponsorship of a new gymnasium hall. Baťa and Kozlík held different opinions on the concept of the building. Kozlík, who regarded Baťa´s concept unfit to the use as a school gymnasium, told Baťa that "someone understands the spindle industry, someone understands the shoe industry and I have a little understanding of physical education". Upon this, Baťa signed Kozlík´s proposal without further debate.
Kozlík´s diligence and courage made a deep impression on Baťa, who later asked Kozlík to become his personal trainer.
Sokol
The Sokol movement is a youth sport movement and gymnastics organization first founded in Czech region of Austria-Hungary, Prague, in 1862 by Miroslav Tyrš and Jindřich Fügner...
, pioneer of Volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
in Czechoslovakia, and former Czechoslovak Volleyball champion. He was born in Bystřice pod Hostýnem. Kozlík is an author of 30 books and over 300 articles, mostly devoted to theory of education and sports organization. Kozlík developed the concept of physical education for elementary schools in the Czech republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
and Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
. In 2009 he was named an honorary citizen of Prague 4, the largest city district of Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. Despite his age, Kozlík remains active in the Sokol organization, criticizing its current administration for a lack of edificatory impingement on society and youth.
Career as a Volleyball player
Born in Bystřice pod HostýnemBystrice pod Hostýnem
Bystřice pod Hostýnem is a town in the Zlín Region, Czech Republic....
, Kozlík was a member of winning teams at Czechoslovak volleyball championships in 1929, 1936, and 1939 and won championships of the Sokol organization as a captain of the Sokol Kroměříž team ten times between 1926 and 1936.
Career as a pedagogue and researcher
Kozlík started his career as a pedagogue at Girl School of Karolína SvětláKarolína Svetlá
Karolina Světlá was a Czech female author of the 19th century. She was a representative to the literary May School. She married Professor Petr Mužák in 1852, who had taught her music. She also had an affair with Jan Neruda. She introduced Eliška Krásnohorská to literature and feminism...
in Kroměříž
Kromeríž
Kroměříž is a town in the Zlín Region of the Czech Republic. The town's main landmark is the Baroque Kroměříž Bishop's Palace, where some scenes from Amadeus and Immortal Beloved were filmed...
in 1926. From 1933 to 1945 he taught at the Experimental elementary school in Zlín
Zlín
Zlín , from 1949 to 1989 Gottwaldov , is a city in the Zlín Region, southeastern Moravia, Czech Republic, on the Dřevnice River. The development of the modern city is closely connected to the Bata Shoes company...
. The aim of the experimental elementary schools (of which there were three in the Czechoslovakia) was to develop and apply progressive teaching methods including project teaching. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Kozlík moved to Prague and accepted position in the Research Institute of Education, where he stayed until 1972, when he was forced to retire because of his openly expressed disagreement with the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia
Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia
On the night of 20–21 August 1968, the Soviet Union and her main satellite states in the Warsaw Pact – Bulgaria, the German Democratic Republic , Hungary and Poland – invaded the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic in order to halt Alexander Dubček's Prague Spring political liberalization...
in 1968. Kozlík had an influence on the concept of physical education at elementary schools in the Czech republic and Slovakia, putting over obligatory training in swimming and skiing. He participated on several school reforms between 1945 and 1972 and on the education reform in Czechoslovakia after the Velvet revolution
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
in 1989.
Personal life
Kozlík married Anna Chalupová, a sportswoman. The couple had three daughters (Iva, Jarmila and Alena) and remained together until Chalupová´s death in 1998. While working at the Experimental elementary school in Zlín, Jaroslav Kozlík has established close relationship with Jan Antonín BaťaJan Antonín Bata
Jan Antonín Baťa was a Czech shoe manufacturer from Uherské Hradiště , brother of Tomáš Baťa....
, then a patriarch of the prominent Czechoslovak entrepreneur family. Kozlík first visited Baťa in 1933 in the Baťa company headquarters to negotiate about Baťa´s sponsorship of a new gymnasium hall. Baťa and Kozlík held different opinions on the concept of the building. Kozlík, who regarded Baťa´s concept unfit to the use as a school gymnasium, told Baťa that "someone understands the spindle industry, someone understands the shoe industry and I have a little understanding of physical education". Upon this, Baťa signed Kozlík´s proposal without further debate.
Kozlík´s diligence and courage made a deep impression on Baťa, who later asked Kozlík to become his personal trainer.