People keep asking me about the Bata system. I thought I would share some of my grandfather, Jan Antonin Bata's thoughts and ideas on this topic. This article will give your readers a sense of the Bata system from an educational and a practical perspective. The key to success is knowledge. The best way to secure knowledge is through the proper combination of work, study, training, and relaxation.
The Bata Theory
Bata's education plan was based on the theory that just as muscles develop with exercise, mental abilities are sharpened and brought out by work -- work, that is to say, graded to the measure of the personal capacity of whoever has to perform it.
Under this system, young men and women require:
1. A substantial amount of work.
2. A correct mode of living with plenty of good food and sleep.
3. Exhausting sporting activity.
4. A substantial amount of education, which can easily be obtained in the evening hours.
5. As little un-utilized leisure time as possible.
What Bata expected of his students was that his students did their utmost to become self-reliant and determined, yet were responsible; ambitious, cooperative-minded and ethical; he required them to be energetic and quick acting; well disciplined and constructive; to be professionally, physically and thoroughly skilled and well rounded, and to become efficient members and leaders of the Bata organization.
Jan Bata was convinced that unemployment was the direct and primary result of a lack of people with enterprising spirit who could lead the rest of humanity to work in industry and business. Not only were his ideas designed to prevent unemployment, they were designed to make more of the people happy individuals. The above concepts and methods were developed and implemented by Jan Antonin Bata during the mid to late 1930s.
After reading the article, readers who may be interested in seeing the an actual video of the Bata system in action can view video called Střevíček. This video was originally filmed by the Bata film studios in 1935. You should find the video interesting because it will give you insight into the Bata's way of organizing as well as the level of process improvement he had achieved.
John Nash, grandson of Jan Antonin Bata
23.6.2016
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John Nash
10 Stowecroft Drive
Hampton, NH 03842
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P.S.
These pictures were probably taken in Lexington Massachusetts in the early 1960s - Stewart Nash (left). John Nash (right). They show J.A. Bata as a family man who is interested in his grandchildren.J.S.
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