Records of the Yidisher lerer fareyn (Yiddish Teachers' Union), Vilna

The Yidisher lerer fareyn (Yiddish Teachers' Union) was a professional organization active in Vilna from 1915 to 1940. It worked for the interests of teachers of Yiddish secular schools and was closely affiliated with the TSYSHO (Central Yiddish School Organization) and the TSBK (Central Education Committee) in Vilna. By the early 1920s teachers of other types of schools were also members. For example, by 1925 the YTU represented the interests of the Tarbut Hebrew Teachers' Seminary. There are visible signs of cooperation between the Yiddish and Hebrew Teachers' Union in the form of joint meetings. In addition, religious schools such as Toras Emes and Ezra were among those contributing membership dues.

Founded in September 1915 after the Russians' retreat from Vilna, the YTU's original purpose was both political and practical. Its early by-laws recognize the socialist principle of class struggle and uphold the secular Yiddish school system and the policy of Yiddish as the language of instruction. In practical terms the YTU was a union of teachers, which met regularly to protect and improve the working conditions of teachers as well as promote the general welfare of students and teachers in the schools. It established uniform salary scales throughout the Vilna region and lobbied actively for higher salaries, both at the Vilna Kehillah Education Department and at the TSBK central office. It led several teachers' strikes against the Vilna Kehillah in the late '20s and '30s, forming a special strike committee which supervised daily strike activities.

The YTU ran a placement service for teachers seeking positions in Yiddish schools. It maintained special funds, such as a sick fund and distributed clothes and money regularly to needy teachers. It adjudicated in teacher administration conflicts. In the educational field, the YTU had some control over curricula in the Vilna region and published a program of geography and science. In 1916-1917 the YTU gave courses in which 50 teachers participated. Committees were appointed to work out Yiddish terminologies of arithmetic, geometry and geography. A YTU library was set up and the budget provided for library upkeep and improvement.

On the community level the YTU assumed an interest in cultural, educational activities as well as in relief work. For example, when a YTU investigation of living conditions in a Vilna children's home revealed that the home was in a deplorable state, the OZE (Society for the Protection of the Health of the Jewish Population) was requested to step in and provide relief. The YTU participated in cultural events such as the city-wide commemoration of I.L. Peretz, and sent representatives to these events.

YTU income was based on subsidies from the Vilna Kehillah and TSBK, donations from abroad, and, most importantly, membership dues sent in regularly by schools. Expenses included general maintenance costs, publicity, aid activities such as the sick fund, loans to needy teachers, cultural activities, publications and the library.

Members of the Executive Board included Gershon Pludermacher, B. Silberbein, Shloyme Bostomski, Halpern, Reines, Khane Shur, Gurwicz, Lubocki. Members of the Hebrew Teachers' Union, which may have merged with the YTU at a later date included Yitzhak Senitsky, Yeveliovitch, Tsemel, Olnitsky.