Jana Skořepová

To begin with, I was born in Březnice into the family of a Czechoslovak Hussite parish priest. My two sisters, mother and grandmother and I grew up here together in the Christian spirit. Since 1948 I lived in Březové Hory, where my father was a parish priest. I graduated from primary and secondary school here with a high school diploma. My application to the university of education was rejected because of my alleged "religious burden". I was only allowed to study technical or agricultural studies.

I took up an unskilled job as an administrative worker in a grocery store - even here I was not allowed to study a pedagogical course while employed, as it was not necessary for my profession. I got married in 1964. After the birth of two daughters I decided to apply under my new name to the Faculty of Education in Prague. I graduated and started working as a teacher in a kindergarten in Příbram.

I was "lucky" that there was a need for a class for children with various disabilities in Příbram. I was happy to get involved in cooperation with the pedagogical-psychological counselling centre. Moreover, I completed a distance study in special education at Charles University, thanks to which we could start working with new methods. We set up a small gym with special aids, introduced children's yoga classes, ceramic workshops, cooperation with speech therapists and a child psychologist, and were the first in the district to set up a first and second grade primary school with a limited number of children as a detached workplace. We were certainly ahead of our time, yet we still had enough misunderstandings and problems with the inspection and the superior staff who did not want to acknowledge the need for special kindergarten care for the child. I am glad that the operation of this special facility continues.

I became the director of this nursery in 1984 and remained in the position until my retirement. After the Velvet Revolution, all the directors were given the confidence by their colleagues to continue in office. Many did not receive it. I always got it from my colleagues. It was fortunate, if the transition had not occurred, I would have had to join the Communist Party. Then I would probably have left my post and become a teacher. I didn't want and don't want to be in any political party. I am responsible for my life through my work.

Then came the second stage of my life. While still retired, I initially helped out with the children in "my kindergarten" when representation was needed. Then my interest and efforts turned to the church. My father worked as a pastor for 55 years and did much for it and the people around him. I was not going to let his ministry fade away. Restrictions on the study of theology during the communist era meant that there was no replacement for the old parish priests. At retirement age, I graduated from the Hus Institute of Theological Studies and began working as a pastoral assistant. Subsequently, I became a pastor, which I still am today.

The Czechoslovak Hussite Church is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year - trying to be accessible to our society in its sacred but also social form. We organize concerts, exhibitions, workshops and lectures. We appreciate the participation of the children of our Hussite Children's Home, who help us in maintaining the church and rectory gardens.