Veisiejai.On February 16, 1976, the Veisiejai Middle School principal, Stabingis, School Inspector Ditkus, and Klimčiauskas, a teacher, "arrested" those pupils who had attended Mass that day. The "arrested" pupils were forced to write explanations, and as usual in such situations, were threatened, using various methods of blackmail.
To the Attorney General of the LTSR
Sorėka Petras, son of Petras, residing at Dešimtmečio g. Nr. 5, Veisiejai, Rayon of Lazdijai
A Statement
On February 17, 1976, Interrogator Zinkevičius arrived at Veisiejai Middle School, beat my son Gintautas, a 7th Grade pupil, and forced him to admit falsehoods.
After leaving the interrogator's office my son was unrecognizable even to (Mrs.) Vailionienė,, who knows him very well.
My son fled, intending to commit suicide, but was stopped by R. Mizaras and another pupil.
That evening the boy felt poorly. A doctor was summoned and she gave him an injection; but Gintautas was not able to return to his classes for three days. The doctor wrote an explanation which was submitted to his homeroom teacher, Mrs. Ragažienė.
Please investigate this incident.
(Signature)
Veisiejai
February 21, 1976
To the Attorney General of the LTSR
Parents of the Veisiejai and Leipalingis Middle School Pupils
A Statement
On February 16 of this year, our children participated in a Mass arranged by us at the church in Šlavantai. As the children were returning, the principal of Veisiejai Middle School, Stabingis, with Teachers Ditkus and Klimeiauskas, forcefully intercepted them as they were alighting from the bus, herded them into the school, and threatened them with some kind of electric shirts, forced them to write explanations.
The following day, February 17, Zinkevičius, Gylys, and an unknown captain began interrogating the children anew. Even though the children were minors, much of the interrogation took place without the presence of their parents. The teachers appeared only occasionally. In some instances the children were forced to sign disclaimers that the interrogators had attempted to use them as informers.
The interrogators asked what the children had told the priest during confession. By all manner of threats and deception the children were forced to attest to that which never happened: that supposedly the Šlavantai pastor in his sermon spoke about the bourgeois Lithuanian Independence Day, interposing mottos like "Long live independent Lithuania!" Fourteen year old Gintautas Soroka was beaten during interrogation. It is no wonder that, after sufferring 4 or 5 hours of non-stop interrogation, some of the children unwillingly wrote or affixed their signatures to what their teachers dictated, and afterwards were very emotionally distraught, unable to study for several days or to sleep nights.
Sorėka experienced a psychic shock. Dismissed from the interrogation room, he wrenched free of his mother's arms and fled to kill himself. He was stopped by other pupils. A physician was summoned to his home. Despite medical treatment, the boy was ill for three days and could not attend school.
We, the parents of these tormented and brutally belittled pupils, most vehemently protest against such a violation of freedom of conscience and of the LTSR Criminal Code, par. 187.
Veisiejai, March 6, 1976
Kapsukas.In 1975 (Miss) L. Žilinskaitė, a pupil at Kapsukas Middle School, dropped a piece of paper in the classroom with the Lord's Prayer written on it. Finding it, (Miss) I. Jasinskaitė, another pupil, turned it in to their teacher, (Mrs.) Skroblienė. The teacher asked Miss Žilinskaitė, whether the paper did indeed contain her handwriting. The girl admitted to it, and Mrs. Skroblienė called her a parasite and ordered her not to show up in school the following day unless accompanied by her mother.
The teacher began to interrogate the mother, whether the handwriting was indeed her daughter's and whether she forces her daughter to attend church daily, etc.
"Yes, that was written by my daughter. I don't force her to attend church; she goes on her own and even participates in the church choir," the mother calmly answered.
"Leave her at home," recommended the teacher. "Let her do housework during that time. I will also tell her not to attend church."
"I won't allow that. I cannot remain silent when God is torn out of children's souls," objected Mrs. Žilinskienė.
To avoid the energetic mother's protests, the teacher stopped persecuting Miss Žilinskaitė.
Pašušvis.On October 24, 1975, children participating in a funeral Mass were ejected from Pašušvis Church. They were chased out by the principal of the Pašušvis Grammar School, (Mrs.) Jadvyga Baltraitienė. These were believing children; some of them had received their First Holy Communion in the summer of 1975. The administrator of Pašušvis Church, the Rev. Juozapas Vaičekauskas, informed Krikštams, vice president of the Radviliškis Rayon Executive Committee in writing, but received no response.
On October 26, 1975, a group of mothers went to Father Vaičekauskas, complaining that their children were returning from Pašušvis School teary-eyed, because the principal, (Mrs.) Baltraitienė, and other teachers were constantly terrorizing them, forbidding them to participate in church services.
On November 23, 1975 (Mrs.) Ona Vedeckienė, from the village of Balandiškiai, complained to Father Vaičekauskas that the principal of Pašušvis School had called her in and warned her that if her son Sigitas attended church and took organ lessons, he would receive a low grade for conduct, a negative character recommendation, and would not be admitted to any school for higher education. Mrs. Vedeckienė is an exemplary mother of a large family. The principal unnerved her so much, the woman was ill for two days.
The principal warned the believers that she would do everything in her power to ensure that Father Vaičekauskas would not be allowed to say Mass in Pašušvis Church.
On January 5, 1976, Father Vaičekauskas visited Vice Chairman Krikštanas of the RadviliškisRayon. When the priest asked why he had received no response to his earlier complaint, Krikštanas answered that the Pašušvis School principal had acted correctly in chasing the children out of church. Children are forbidden to attend church. The vice chairman warned Father Vaičekauskas not to interfere with the children's atheistic upbringing.
Židikai.On November 2, 1975, a funeral Mass for (Mrs.) K. Šulckienė was held at Židikai Church. Present were the gran-daughter of the deceased and about twenty other pupils. Before the Mass, Teacher Dotka asked the pupils to leave the church. Some of the children climbed up to the choir loft but they too were found and chased out of the church.
The results of forced atheistic teaching in Židikai are very sad. In September of 1975 a 9th grade pupil of Židikai Middle School, Bučys, stole a motorcycle. Another 7th grade pupil raped and murdered his younger sister. Are these young people culpable? Yes. But are not they, who forcibly bring them up without God, more guilty?
Radviliškis. In November of 1975 several middle school pupils joined the Radviliškis Church choir. School officials heard about it. Valsiūnienė Middle School Academic dean Venclova, Pioneer Leader (Mrs.) Mackevičienė, and Homeroom Teacher (Miss) Žukauskaitė, called in 7th grade pupil Irena Kauneckaitė to ask her why she attends church, sings in the choir, etc. The teachers offered to take the girl to the motion pictures, to dances and other amusements, just so she would not go to church.
Ona Poškaitė, an 8th grade pupil at the Second Radviliškis Middle School, was called in by her homeroom teacher, (Mrs.) Mon-kienė, who questioned the girl about her attendance at church and choir. The girl made no denials and answered firmly. The teacher also promised to take her to the motion pictures and to dances.
The Vice-Chairman of the Radviliškis Rayon Executive committee, Krikštanas, summoned the pastor of Radviliškis, The Rev. J. Vaičelionis, in connection with the school children's participation in the church choir.
Šiauliai. On March 18, 1976, after the fire in St. George Church, Šiauliai, a group of believers gathered to help repair the main altar, which had not burned. Among them was a parishioner with her twelve year old daughter. It was at this time that a commission, delegated by the Šiauliai Executive Committee, with Vice-Chairwoman (Mrs.) Stulgienė a member, arrived to inspect the church. Seeing the girl aiding in the clean-up, Vice-Chairwoman Stulgienė insisted that the girl's mother take her home, reasoning that it was dangerous for children to be present. The mother saw no danger and did not comply with the directive. Consequently the Vice-Chairwoman ordered the pastor to oust the girl, because school children are not allowed in church.
Gruzdžiai. Mrs. Agulian, the homeroom teacher of grade 7C of Gruzdžiai Middle School, on June 14, 1975 asked those pupils who attend church to stand up. Asked why they attended church, the children answered that their mothers told them to do so. The teacher advised them not to listen to their mothers.
Šakyna. The principal of Šakyna Grammar School, (Mrs.) Ubavi-čienė, is working steadfastedly to turn the children of believers into atheists. At the beginning of the 1975 school year the principal invited two lecturers and called in the parents. The lecturers said they were able to perform miracles: to make candles light spontaneously, but they had no candles nor other equipment for performing this "miracle". They satisfied themselves with repeating atheistic cliches slandering the Church and priests.
Žarėnai-Latveliai. On November 14, 1975, Mrs. Statkienė, the 6th grade homeroom teacher of Žarėnai-Latveliai Grammar School berated those pupils who attended church. The teacher especially terrorized the most loyal churchgoer, Loreta Leonaitytė.
Nedzingė. The homeroom teacher of 6A class, (Mrs.) Juravičie-nė, threatened to publicize the names of those pupils who join the church choir.
7th-grade homeroom teacher, Pigaga, required a pupil,
Lukšys, to make a drawing with an atheistic theme. When the pupil refused, he was humiliated and threatened.
The Letter of a Believing School Girl to The Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania
When I was in the 4th grade, from the beginning of the school year my homeroom teacher insisted that I join the Pioneers. All 4th grade pupils had to be Pioneers. But 1 never joined. My homeroom teacher said if not this year, then for sure next year I would have to join. He threatened me with lower grades and other unpleasantness if I did not. Truly, that is how it was. Some teachers consistently gave me lower grades.
My homeroom teacher frequently saw me going to church in the evenings. Once he asked me where I went every evening. I answered that I attend church.
After that he used every opportunity to stress: "Once and for all, stop this going to church!"
Questionnaires were distributed in class with questions such as: "Do you attend church? Where did human beings come from: from a monkey or from God? Who forces you to attend church? Do you celebrate religious holidays? Does the church harm or help?"
I answered, "I attend church. God created human beings. I attend church of my own will. We celebrate religious holidays. The church does only good."
Once my homeroom teacher called me in and said: "I know that you attend church. Well, then, attend! But when the commission arrives and asks whether you attend, whether you believe, then say that you do not attend and do not believe." At home my parents advised me never to renounce or foreswear God.
In class we were frequently required to write atheistic themes.
In this way my homeroom teacher persecuted me for my beliefs until the end of the school year.
