Isaac Abramovich Schoolboy with children
Photo: State Archive of the Jewish Autonomous Region
December 17, 1920
Honored Teacher of the RSFSR, Honorary Citizen of the Jewish Autonomous Region Isaac Abramovich Prishkolnik was born in the Dnepropetrovsk region.
After graduating from the Smolensk Jewish Pedagogical College in 1937, he was assigned to the village. Waldheim Jewish Autonomous Region. The official biography says that he was then seventeen years old. But in fact, not seventeen, but sixteen. He will celebrate his seventeenth birthday here, in Waldheim, four months after his arrival. And so, this recent boy crossed the threshold of the school not as a student, but as a teacher who remained there for many years.
Isaac Abramovich served in the Pacific Fleet for only a year, he was discharged for health reasons and returned to Waldheim, for the same reason he was not called up to the front in 1941, and this biographical fact was a baked wound for Isaac Prishkolnik.
I. A. Prishkolnik was appointed director of the school on May 15, 1941 – a month before the start of the war, he was only 20 years old.
A schoolboy in his youth (right). Photo: Photo: State Archive of the Jewish Autonomous Region
The director taught Yiddish and German lessons, taught physical education and labor. While doing household chores and caring for his daily bread, the director did not forget that even in war the muses are not silent. The school created a propaganda team that performed in front of collective farmers with concerts and theatrical performances.
In August 1950, Isaac Prishkolnik went to study in the city of Khabarovsk; he returned to Waldheim with honors as a teacher of history and social studies. And again he headed the school team – now for many years.
When they decided to build a school in Waldheim in the mid-fifties, the director had to show his talents as an architect and builder. Although the project was developed by professionals, Isaac Prishkolnik added a lot of his own zest to it, and there is no such special school as in Waldheim anywhere else.
He was a director, a personnel officer, and a secretary in one person, while remaining a Teacher with a capital T. In his lessons, one was allowed to argue and express one’s opinion, but when he explained new material, the class literally froze, transporting along with the teacher into the wilds of the past. Isaac Abramovich valued the experience of other teachers and supported their desire to introduce something new, to get away from routine and standards.
In 1966, Isaac Abramovich was awarded the title “Honored School Teacher of the RSFSR.”
During the work of I. A. Prishkolnik as director, the Waldgeim school became one of the best in the country. Isaac Abramovich created a school museum and took part in the construction of an obelisk erected in memory of fellow villagers who died on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War.
After retiring in 1982, Isaac Abramovich continued to work at the same school as a history teacher until 1991.
In 1994, Prishkolnik Isaac Abramovich was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of the Jewish Autonomous Region by resolution of the Legislative Assembly of the Jewish Autonomous Region No. 14 of May 17, 1994.
In August 1996, Isaac Abramovich passed away. After his death, the school to which he devoted his whole life was named after him, and a memorial plaque was installed on the house where he lived.
December 17, 1942
The newspaper “Birobidzhan Star” (12+) on December 17, 1942 told its readers that a creative evening took place for the artist of the Birobidzhan State Jewish Theater. L. M. Kaganovich F.L. Arones, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of his stage activity. The evening was attended by artists, writers, and Stakhanovites from city enterprises.
Artists of the Birobidzhan State Jewish Theater named after. L. M. Kaganovich. Photo: Photo: State Archive of the Jewish Autonomous Region
In the “Across the City and Region” column, correspondents wrote about the expansion of the savings bank network. To better serve the population of the city, savings bank branches are opened at a clothing factory, bakery and a number of other enterprises.
The newspaper writes that in 1942, a new artel “Khimik” was organized in Birobidzhanwhich will produce laundry soap, grease, wheel ointment, shoe polish, and tooth powder from local raw materials. The artel will also engage in the restoration and production of copy paper and typewriter ribbons. The artel organizes leather processing production.
Under the heading “Motorcyclists, machine gunners” the newspaper informs readers that in Birobidzhan secondary school No. 2 there is a circle in which 17 students study a motorcycle and a machine gun.
December 17, 1982
The newspaper “Birobidzhan Star” wrote on December 17, 1982 that in honor of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the USSR, ceremonial meetings were held in the labor collectives of the region, at which leaders in production and competition winners were awarded Certificates of Honor and valuable gifts.
The newspaper published the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR “On naming the Birobidzhan Power Transformers Plant of the Jewish Autonomous Region of the Khabarovsk Territory after the 60th anniversary of the USSR.
In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the formation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and for the achieved production successes, the Birobidzhan Power Transformer Plant is named after the 60th anniversary of the USSR.
Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR M. Yasnov.”
The same newspaper on the front page tells that the Dezhnevsky state farm in the Leninsky district was awarded the challenge Red Banner of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR and the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions for the Jewish Autonomous Region.
December 17, 1938
Valentina Viktorovna Matytsina, the future Honorary Citizen of Birobidzhan, was born in the village of Birofeld, Jewish Autonomous Region.
Valentina Viktorovna Matytsina. Photo: Photo: Birobidzhan City Hall
Since Valentina's father was a military man, the family had to move frequently. From 1946 to 1954, Valentina studied at various schools in the Khabarovsk Territory.
In 1954 she entered the Birobidzhan Pedagogical School, after graduating in 1958 she was assigned to secondary school No. 1 in Birobidzhan as a primary school teacher.
Valentina Viktorovna graduated from the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology of the Khabarovsk State Pedagogical Institute in 1972. In love with her subject, she was able to instill this love and knowledge in her students. She raised more than one generation of talented children who became wonderful doctors.
For more than 15 years, Valentina Viktorovna Matytsina headed the city methodological association of biology teachers, being their mentor and curator.
While working at school, she was constantly involved in social activities.
For her successful work in teaching and educating students, Valentina Viktorovna was awarded departmental and state awards. By decision of the City Duma dated July 7, 2009 No. 100 V.V. Matytsina was awarded the title “Honorary Citizen of the City of Birobidzhan”.
In 2011, she was awarded the highest professional title and awarded the Honorary Badge “People's Teacher of the Russian Federation”.
Valentina Viktorovna Matytsina passed away at the beginning of November 2021.
