Pedagogical publisher of the Zurich teachers' association
The Pedagogical Publishing House of the Zurich Teachers' Association was founded in 1919 by the Zurich teacher Edwin Morf (1887–1937). The publisher only sells handicraft sheets . The publisher is based in Zumikon in the canton of Zurich .
The publisher sees itself as an idealistic company that only works according to commercial criteria as long as its continued existence is guaranteed; a profit is not sought. The publisher does not advertise, has no sales force and does not take part in exhibitions. It is run by teachers on a voluntary basis.
history
The first handicraft sheet from the Pedagogical Publishing House appeared in 1919. It came from the Zurich primary school teacher and publisher's founder Edwin Morf, who, condemned to inactivity by the Spanish flu, devised a Swiss version of the model sheets. As a model, Morf had the “BG Teubner Artists' Modeling Arches” in mind, which since 1907 has published more than 58 models.
Edwin Morf
Edwin Morf (1887–1937) grew up at the Münsterhof in the city of Zurich. After attending the Küsnacht seminar , he taught for many years in the Mühlebach schoolhouse in Zurich, and from 1934 in the Langmatt schoolhouse in Zurich-Witikon. He was very interested in folklore topics, made city tours and wrote a city guide. Morf, a dedicated anti-alcoholic and excellent violin player, was considered an extremely helpful, fine, rather shy person and was popular with students, teachers and parents. He died during a service in the Witikon Church.
Morf was concerned with creating high quality and cheap teaching aids and toys for the youth; he placed no value on personal fame and commercial success. The models should be child-friendly, instructive and take into account Swiss conditions and needs. A circular from Morf in 1933 attests to this:
" When the evenings fall earlier, the important question arises for everyone who feels responsible for the well-being of the youth: How do we keep our young team, especially the thirsty boys, entertaining and beneficial? The young people should read! I hear say. Just read? No, even with hand and tool our youth want and should become capable, should practice accuracy and perseverance and this in a way as if it were game. The joy of clean work should go unnoticed. She would like to see something beautiful emerge that will be a testament to her diligence, perseverance and inventiveness for years to come - she has a right to that. "
As the first models, Morf designed a Davos farmhouse and from Zurich the Grendeltor , the Wellenberg , the Hardturm and the Rennwegtor . The Zürcher Liederbuchanstalt supported the printing of the first four sheets with 4000 francs. The price was initially 1.50 francs, later it was lowered to 1 franc. The depiction of buildings, some of which had long since been demolished, and later typical regional farmhouses met the needs of both local history and handicraft lessons. The models of the means of transport were also intended as play equipment. By the time he died, Morf had designed 30 handicraft sheets. His successor was Heinrich Pfenninger.
Heinrich Pfenninger
Heinrich Pfenninger (1899–1968) grew up in Stäfa as the son of a master painter. Like his predecessor, he also attended the Küsnacht seminar and then taught in the Bläsi school in Zurich-Höngg. As a workaholic, he worked nonstop, including during the holidays, which he preferably spent in Mediterranean countries, where he painted and photographed watercolors. Later he was a didactics teacher for works at the Unterstrass seminar for many years . Pfenninger, like Morf, was rather shy, reserved and helpful. From 1940 the extremely creative Pfenninger designed 80 sheets, from simple fairy tales to the tricky Gruyères Castle . His drawing of Sargans Castle was even used by the St. Gallen Monument Preservation Department as a template for the restoration of the canton's coat of arms on the weathered castle wall. In addition to the model sheets, Pfenninger also wrote SJW booklets , handicraft books, made school radio broadcasts and worked on the Swiss National Exhibition in 1939. Pfenninger, a heavy smoker, died of pulmonary edema.
Until 1968 all bows came from the founder Edwin Morf and his successor Heinrich Pfenninger. Since Pfenninger's death, the models have been worked out by several teachers, graphic designers and architects.
arc
All model sheets are made of strong craft cardboard printed on one side. They are folded and have a format of 49 cm × 34.5 cm. Individual models are in three parts and measure 73.5 cm × 34.5 cm. The scale of the models is different. Some sheets come with tracing paper, colored tissue paper and gold foil. Since 2016, individual models have been pre-cut to make assembly easier.
Attached to the sheet is an instruction sheet that contains information on the object shown and detailed, illustrated construction instructions. This sheet is partly also available in French. Most bows only require scissors and glue to construct. In rare cases, additional material such as a pin, nail, string or sample clips is needed.
range
The range includes a good hundred model sheets. The choice of themes for the models ranges from fairy tales and zoos to festivals, traffic, history and geography. In addition, some booklets with craft suggestions are offered. Some models have remained practically unchanged for years or even decades. As a result, children sometimes tinker with their fathers or mothers on bows that they had already put together as children. 190 sheets have been published so far.
The range is changing slowly but steadily: a few sheets are replaced every year. The publisher tries to stay in business with modern subjects such as new means of transport and games. For the 90th anniversary of the publisher, a BMW Sauber F1 racing car is to appear as a model sheet. A book about all models published so far is also planned.
In an “eternal list of the best”, the “Advent Calendar 1” occupies the top spot with 713,530 sheets ordered. This is followed by the “Golden Angel” arches (581,470) and the “Christmas crib” (528,430). The first non-Christmas arch is the “Römerhaus Augst” with 480,880 arches sold. the total number of copies of all sheets and workbooks within the 90 years is 20,677,270.
distribution
The bows are distributed almost exclusively through schools; The address list contains over 2000 schools from all over Switzerland. A sample shipment is sent to each school building in autumn. The orders are collected in the classes and sent back to the publisher by a person of trust. Over 250,000 sheets are ordered every year. For a good 75 years the price was one franc per sheet, on January 1, 1995 it was increased to two francs. Thematic sheets are also available in individual museums such as the Swiss National Museum .
The current publishing director, Rolf Müller, takes the order in the basement of his house in Zumikon by email, fax and telephone. The dispatch takes place via the warehouse in Grüningen ZH . Müller took over the office from his father, who, together with his wife, had taken over the distribution of the model arches for the educational publishing house of the teachers' association in Zurich.
In autumn 2009, on the occasion of the 90th anniversary, the book “90 Years of Swiss Model Arches” was published, which traces the history of model arches in Switzerland and its authors on 250 pages.
Individual evidence
- ^ Paul Schneeberger: Helvetische Errungenschaften, Verlag NZZ, Zurich 2009
- ↑ «90 years of Swiss model arches»
- ↑ Rolf Müller from Zumikon is the master of the cut-out sheets, article in the Tages-Anzeiger from March 2, 2009
Web links
- Home. In: paedag.ch. (Website of the publisher).
literature
- Paul Schneeberger: Helvetic Achievements, Verlag NZZ, Zurich 2009
- Dieter Nievergelt (Ed.): 90 Years of Swiss Model Arches , Pedagogical Publishing House of the Teachers' Association Zurich, 2009