“어린이는 미래의 인간이 아니라 이미 인간입니다”
이우진 공주교육대학교·교육학
승인 2022.07.17
[옮긴이의 말]
■ 옮긴이의 말_ 『야누시 코르차크: 정의를 위한 교육』 (주프 버딩 지음, 이우진 옮김, 모시는사람들, 208쪽, 2022.05)
야누시 코르차크(1878~1942)의 삶과 사상은 한 편의 시(詩)였다. 시는 말하고자 하는 대상의 외피만을 화려하게 그리지 않는다. 시는 그 대상의 심연(深淵)에 놓여있는 인간 영혼의 무게를 노래한다. 그 비밀의 언어를 들은 독자들은 어느새 시인의 영혼을 느끼게 된다. 코르차크의 삶과 사상을 추적하다보면, 그가 평생을 통해 ‘어린이는 누구인가?, 인간 사회 즉 정의로운 사회라는 이름에 걸맞기 위해서 우리는 어떻게 해야 하는가’에 대한 질문의 노래를 불렀음을 느끼게 된다. 코르차크는 시대를 앞선 선구자였을 뿐만 아니라, 어린이들이 정의를 실현할 수 있는 새로운 방법을 언제나 모색했던 진정한 실험가이자 혁신가였다. 우리가 지금 당연히 받아들이고 있는 ‘어린이의 권리, 어린이의 참여, 어린이의 존엄성’도 많은 부분 그의 유산 덕분이다.
코르차크는 모든 인간이 가만히 앉아 해방을 기다리는 ‘호모 라팍스(homo rapax) 즉 탐욕스러운 인간’임을 알고 있었다. 다시 말해, 우리 모두는 동료를 괴롭히고 심지어 죽음에 이르게 하는 것도 주저하지 않는 ‘탐욕스러운 인간’인 것이다. 우리는 정의롭지 못한 부조리한 현실에 언제나 뒷짐을 지고 가만히 바라볼 뿐 선뜻 나서지 못하는 존재들이다. 하지만 그는 인간의 본질이 이러한 특성만을 지니고 있다고 생각지 않았다. 왜냐하면 인간은 또한 ‘절망적인 현실을 넘어서기를 갈망하는 존재’이기 때문이다. ‘보다 나은 삶, 진리와 정의로운 삶을 갈망하는 것’이 바로 인간의 또 다른 본질인 것이다. 코르차크는 인간의 이러한 이중적 면모를 명확히 이해하고 있었다. 그는 통곡이 난무하는 불바다의 현실에서 보다 나은 미래를 갈망하는 노래를 피를 토하는 심정으로 부르며 살아갔다. 우리에게는 야누시 코르차크라는 이름과 함께 그의 애끓는 노랫말이 여전히 낯설다. 하지만 그가 평생을 불렀던 노랫말에 유럽, 북미와 남미, 일본, 아프리카와 같은 전 세계의 수많은 교육자들이 매료된 상황이다. 그들은 코르차크와 마찬가지로 여전히 비극이 난무하는 이 끔찍한 현실에서 보다 나은 미래를 향한 갈망의 노래를 부르고 있다.
사실 시인이 불렀던 비밀의 시는 쉽사리 이해되지는 않는다. 화려한 어휘와 분석의 도구만을 가지고 해석하다 보면 자칫 그 시에 담긴 영혼의 비밀을 깨뜨리는 실수를 범하게 되기 때문이다. 때문에 그 시에 정통하면서도 친절하게 안내하는 해설자가 필요하다. 이 책의 저자인 주프 버딩(Joop W. A. Berding)은 바로 그러한 해설자이다. 야누시 코르차크의 삶과 사상을 훼손하지 않으면서 그 본연의 이야기를 고스란히 전달해 줄 뿐만 아니라 너무도 친절하고도 명료하게 해설해주고 있다. 그의 안내를 따라가 보면, 가슴 깊이 들어와 꽂히는 감동은 물론이고 너무나 흥미진진하여 어느새 책의 마지막 페이지를 마주하게 된다.
폴란드 트레블링카 수용소 터에 조성된 추모공원에 있는 야누시 코르차크의 추모석. 그 돌에는 이렇게 쓰여 있다. “야누시 코르차크(헨리크 골트슈미트) 그리고 아이들.” 본명은 헨리크 골트슈미트(Henryk Goldszmit), 야누시 코르차크는 필명이다.주프 버딩은 자신의 책을 통해, ‘코르차크의 삶과 교육’, 그리고 ‘어린이의 권리와 정의를 위한 그의 투쟁’에는 본질적인 관계가 있음을 보여주고자 했다. 먼저 코르차크의 생애와 작품들을 흥미진진하게 그리고 있다. 특히 주프 버딩은 이야기꾼이자 시인이요 음악가이자 극작가 더불어 성공한 교육자로서 살았던 코르차크의 인생을 미화하지 않는다. 그 삶에 담긴 코르차크의 실패와 좌절, 고통 등을 면밀하게 그리고 있다. 코르차크의 어린 시절부터 자신이 보살피던 고아들과 독가스 처형장으로 끌려가는 트레블링카(Treblinka)행 열차에 오르기까지의 마지막 인생노정을 ‘한 교육자의 성장이야기’로 그려내고 있다. 한 마디로 ‘교육이란 무엇인가? 그리고 교육자란 어떻게 살아가야 하는가?’라는 코르차크가 평생 동안 지녔던 질문에 대한 해답을 찾아가는 과정으로 제시하고 있다.
여기서 주프 버딩은 코르차크가 인생이라는 힘든 노정을 통해 ‘교육자가 된다는 것’에 대한 나름의 답을 찾았다고 제시한다. 그 대답은 바로 ‘어린이를 교육하는 것은 그들이 원하는 것을 무조건 들어주는 것이 아니라, 그들과 대화하며 토론하고 중재하며 조정하는 것이자, 무엇보다 교육자와 어린이들이 끊임없이 계속해서 노력하는 일’이라는 사실이다. 또한 ‘교육은 교육자의 즐거움이나 편안함을 위한 것이 아니라 어떻게 정의로운 공동체를 구축하고 유지할 것인가에 관한 일’인 것이다. 진정 나와는 다른 이들과 더불어 살아가야 한다는 것은 인간이 감수해야 할 가장 큰 과제이다. 때문에 코르차크는 교육을 ‘지금 어떻게 함께 살아가야 하는가에 관한 일’로서 이해한 것이었다. 교육은 ‘내일도 아니고 어디 다른 곳도 아니며, 나중에 어른이 되었을 때도 아닌, 지금 여기에 구체적으로 눈에 보이는 상황에서 어떻게 더불어 살아가야 하는가’에 관한 문제인 것이다. 이를 해결하기 위해서는 교사나 교육자가 공동체의 모든 구성원이 자신의 권리를 발휘할 수 있도록 ‘존중의 법칙’을 보장해야 한다고 코르차크는 생각했다. 바로 교육은 ‘공화주의적인 삶을 배우고 실천하는 활동’이었던 것이다.
코르차크는 자신의 삶을 통해 더불어 살아가는 사람들 간에 이해관계를 조정해 가는 ‘정의로운 공동체’를 구축하고자 하였다. 그는 교육자로서 권위주의적인 교육이나 양육방식에 의존하지 않고, 제멋대로인 어린이들과 함께 민주적이고 공화주의적인 방법으로 생활하고 일하는 실험을 평생 동안 수행하였던 것이다. 이를 위해서는 무엇보다 ‘존중의 법칙’이 요청된다고 코르차크는 생각하였다. 이 존중의 법칙이란 ‘어린이를 포함하여 모든 사람은 각각의 동기, 욕망, 이해관계를 지니고 있으며, 누구나 자신에게 최선이라고 생각되는 것을 추구할 권리가 있음’을 인정하는 것이다. 코르차크의 말대로 ‘우리는 어린이를 잘 모른다.’ 아니 더 심각한 것은 ‘우리는 편견을 통해 어린이를 알고 있다’는 사실이다. 어른이 되는 것을 이상화함에 따라 강박적일 만큼 어린이의 발달을 자극할 뿐, 그 어린이가 오늘 무엇을 성취하고 무엇을 누릴 수 있는가에 대해서는 거의 관심을 기울이지 않고 있다. 그래서 우리는 어린이들의 발언과 의견을 무시한다. 어른들의 시각에서 어린이는 때때로 인간으로 간주되지 않는 실정이다. 어린이들을 미래의 사람들로만 여길 뿐, 그들이 지금 여기에서 살게 하는 걸 허락하지 않기 때문에 그들은 억압을 느끼게 되는 것이다. 코르차크는 ‘어린이는 미래의 인간이 아니라 이미 인간’임을 강조하였다. 바로 그는 ‘존중의 법칙’을 통해 ‘모든 어린이들이 각기 발언권과 이를 행사할 기회를 지니며 또 서로의 발언을 진지하게 듣고 받아들여야 함’을 이야기하였다.
하지만 여기서 놓쳐서는 안 되는 사실이 하나 있다. 그것은 바로 어린이를 포함하여 어느 누구든 간에 자신의 발언이나 권리를 내세우도록 하는 것으로 ‘존중의 법칙’이 마무리되지 않는다는 점이다. 자기 자신과 마찬가지로 최선의 것을 추구하고자 하는 다른 이들의 권리를 인정하며, 이에 따라 자신의 권리를 제한하도록 하는 것이 진정한 존중의 법칙이다. 서로의 목소리가 표현되고 있느냐보다 경청되고 있느냐가 더 중요한 의미를 지니는 것이다. 코르차크가 생각하는 올바른 권리는 ‘사회적인 권리이자 정치적인 권리’요, ‘개인주의적인 권리가 아니라 서로의 권리를 인정하는 권리’이다. 곧 서로의 권리를 존중하기 위해 자신의 의무와 책임을 인정하는 권리, 이른바 ‘존중의 법칙’을 실현하기 위한 권리인 것이다. 코르차크는 이러한 권리야 말로 정의, 평등, 민주적인 공동생활을 추구하는 공동체에 있어서 중요한 구성 요소가 되며, 이러한 권리를 어린이들에게 심어주기 위해 평생 동안 최선을 다해왔다.
주프 버딩은 코르차크가 정의로운 공동체를 구축하기 위한 실험으로 ‘세계 최초의 어린이법정’을 구축한 것을 높게 평가한다. 그의 말대로, 어린이법정은 무엇보다 이해관계나 욕망, 의견의 대립을 강자의 법이 지배하는 사적인 영역에서 벗어나서 공적인 영역에서 다루고자 했다는 점에서 주목할 만한 가치를 지닌다. 어린이들을 공동체의 일상 운영에 되도록 참여시키고 책임을 공유시키겠다는 코르차크의 의도는 어린이법정에서 가장 급진적인 형태로 실현되었다. 코르차크는 어린이법정 업무의 내용과 구조를 규정하기 위해 다수의 조문이 담긴 법전을 펴내기도 했다. 이를 바탕으로 분쟁 당사자들이 심리를 거친 뒤에 판결하도록 하였다. 놀랍게도 코르차크 역시 어린이들에게 5번 이상 고소당하였다. 이는 바로 그가 누구이건 간에 교육에 있어서 이중적인 도덕의 잣대는 있을 수 없다는 코르차크의 강한 신념 때문이었다. 하지만 더욱 놀라운 것은 어린이법정의 근본정신이다. 그것은 제재가 아니라 ‘용서’였다. 엄밀하게 말하면, 어린이법정은 성공적이지 못했다. 어린이법정이 제 역할을 하지 못하자 법정 업무를 중단시키기도 하는 등 많은 우여곡절이 있었다. 어린이법정 뿐만이 아니었다. 그가 삶속에서 시행했던 수많은 교육학적 실험들은 실패로 점철되었다. 하지만 코르차크는 단 한 번도 포기하지 않았다. 교육자가 된다는 것은 오직 대화를 통해서만이 가능하며, 때로는 맡겨진 어린이들과 충돌하는 일도 감당해야만 한다는 사실을 잊지 않았던 것이다. 무엇보다 코르차크가 교육자로서 지닌 가장 핵심적이면서도 특별한 자질은 언제나 ‘다시 새롭게 시작할 수 있는 힘’을 찾아내고자 하는 것이었다. 코르차크가 지은 ｢교육자의 기도｣에 적혀있는 것처럼, 그는 어린이들을 가장 편안한 길로 인도하기보다는 가장 아름다운 길로 인도할 수 있는 교육자이고자 끊임없이 노력했다.
이 책은 여러 가지 장점들을 지니고 있다. 먼저 저자인 주프 버딩이 코르차크의 아름다운 명언들을 곁들이면서 독자들을 코르차크의 삶과 철학에 흥미진진하게 빠져들도록 만든다는 점이다. 책 표지를 열고 읽어나가는 동안 어느새 우리는 코르차크의 매력에 흠뻑 빠져들게 됨을 느낄 수가 있다. 다음으로, 코르차크의 삶과 교육철학이 본질적으로 ‘정의를 위한 교육’이었음을 저자인 주프 버딩이 체계적이고도 명확하게 그리고 있다는 사실이다. 무엇보다 분량도 결코 많지 않고 읽기가 어렵지 않지만 독자에게 엄청난 생각거리들을 제공해 주기에 쉽사리 책을 덮을 수 없도록 만들고 있다는 점도 있다. 또한 ｢교육자의 기도｣와 같은 코르차크의 명문들을 새로이 번역해서 소개하고 있다는 것도 중요한 의미가 있다. 이 책은 코르차크를 처음 접하는 이에게는 ‘입문서’로, 잘 알고 있는 이에게는 ‘새로운 시각’을 제공하는 교본으로, 전문가에게는 코르차크를 재발견하고 평가하는 논쟁적 토론서로서 충분히 값할 수 있다고 확신한다.
『야누시 코르차크: 정의를 위한 교육』이라는 책을 소개하는 이 글의 마무리를, 우리말로 옮기는 과정에서 눈물이 날 만큼 감동적이었던 구절을 소개하고자 한다. 이는 ｢고아원을 떠나는 어린이에게 전했던 고별인사｣의 한 문장이다. 이 책의 저자인 주프 버딩이 말했듯이 번역자 역시 이보다 더 코르차크의 교육철학을 잘 보여주는 문장은 없다고 생각하기 때문이다.
안타깝게도 말은 약하고 힘이 없어.
그런데도 내가 해 줄 수 있는 건 이 몇 마디 인사말뿐이야.
……
우리가 줄 수 있는 것은 단 하나 뿐이야.
그것은 지금은 아직 아니지만
언젠가 존재할 보다 나은 삶에 대한 갈망,
바로 진리와 정의로운 삶에 대한 갈망이야.
어쩌면 이 갈망이 너를 하느님과 조국과 사랑으로 인도할지도 몰라.
잘 가. 그걸 잊어서는 안 돼.
이우진 공주교육대학교·교육학
공주교육대학교와 한국학중앙연구원에서 교육학과 철학을 공부하고, 차세대 한국학자로 선발되어 University of Washington에서 연구하였다. 현재 공주교육대학교 교육학과 교수로 재직하면서 교육철학을 공부하며 가르치고 있다. 저서로 Korean Education: Educational Thought, Systems and Content 등이 있다.
Janusz Korczak: Educating for Justice
Berding, Joop W. A.
Janusz Korczak: Educating for Justice (SpringerBriefs in Education) 1st ed. 2020 Edition, Kindle Edition
by Joop W. A. Berding (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 2 ratings
This book presents the educational view and practice of the Polish-Jewish doctor, writer and pedagogue Janusz Korczak (Warsaw 1878–Treblinka 1942). In the authors' reconstruction five core elements stand out: respect for every child; participation; justice; dialogue as expression and communication; self-awareness and reflection on the part of the educator.
These elements do not constitute a well-rounded theory or philosophy, but are part of many stories of living together with children, in Korczak’s case orphans. Korczak, actively involving the children themselves, organized this life in such a way that justice ruled. He is the pedagogue of narrativity and of democratic upbringing. Korczak explored many, and today still challenging ways of participative education.The book shows that besides the now domineering positivist outlook on education, with its technocratic language and stress on output, standards, testing, etc., another language is possible, one that is more practice-based and that teachers will relate to immediately: love for children, a pedagogical ethos, and seeking ways to live together in a just way.
1st ed. 2020
Product description
Review
“Berding has succeeded excellently in this with his clear introduction to the life and works of Korczak. One of the merits of the book is that it makes people curious about Korczak’s own work.” (Gerrit Breeuwsma, didactiefonline.nl, July, 2021) --This text refers to the paperback edition.
Review
“Few educators deserve praise and recognition more than Janusz Korczak. Dr. Berding’s Educating for Justice offers fresh insights into how Korczak sought justice in living with children. This included an ethos of respect for the child (as well as the rights of the child), by means of active participation―which Korczak conveyed through his Children’s Court. Educating for Justice makes clear that pedagogy is more than an act of teaching, but one of advocacy and love for children everywhere.” (Daniel L. Berek, M.A., M.A.T., Teacher of students with disabilities and contributor to Janusz Korczak. A bibliography 1939-2012)
“Dr. Joop Berding has been inspired by Dr. Janusz Korczak’s insights for over 35 years. His book is an invaluable resource for parents and educators who, deep inside, know that both parenting and educational systems need an overhaul. Dr. Berding’s book presents to them, in an easy to implement and well organized way, key values needed to do their job well while interacting with young people with respect, encouraging their participation and teaching them about justice.” (Mariola Strahlberg, MS, LAc is a founder and president of the Janusz Korczak Association of the USA)
“This new book by a famous researcher Joop Berding makes a valuable contribution to the study of Janusz Korczak, one of the greatest minds of the pedagogy of children’s rights in the 20th century, whose ideas have become critically important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Korczak’s practice demonstrates how in the most dire circumstances teachers should promote students’ full participation based on respect and justice. Learning about Korczak will make readers more knowledgeable about their inner strengths and more aware about ways to develop students’ resilience and creativity.” (Tatyana Tsyrlina-Spady, PhD, Adjunct Professor, School of Education, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA)
“Why should we study what Janusz Korczak wrote many years ago? Korczak asks questions about children and their role in the world. He doesn’t give ready answers, beside this one – that a child is a human, just a smaller one. And that’s why it deserves respect, just treatment and active participation in the world. Korczak stands up for the rights, the dignity and the citizenship of children. Korczak’s pedagogical thought is still fresh, innovative and revolutionary. And above all – inspiring. Educating for Justice is a guide to pedagogics of respect and empathy.” (Dr Marek Michalak, Chairperson of the International Korczak Association)
“Joop Berding presents Korczak’s humanistic educational approach to the child – to the person. He opens the way for the reader to understand every aspect of this approach. Joop Berding’s writing shows his sensitivity and ability to touch on each point. Sketching Korczak as a person who fights for the rights of children and their right to take an active part in the educational process, places emphasis on the importance of the book for educators, parents and any adult who has an impact on the life of youngsters.” (Batia Gilad, Former Chairperson of the International Korczak Association, Chairperson of the Korczak Educational Center in Israel)
“Janusz Korczak. Educating for Justice gives us a true insight to the work of Janusz Korczak, doing justice to the person, physician, philosopher, author and pedagogue. We become acquainted with his life, philosophy, literary creation, and educational accomplishment, which are relevant to the humanist mission of education everywhere. It is thanks to such studies of Korczak’s life that we are now aware of his educational accomplishments, the principles of his educational teaching and his literary writings. This book tells the story of a unique educator whose relevance to education today stands as firm as ever.” (Dr. Avi Tsur, The Korczak Education Center, Israel)
“Janusz Korczak. Educating for Justice is a passionately written book devoted to Korczak’s contribution to the world of pedagogy and education. The book will appeal to people who may not know much about Korczak as well as those who studied and know him well. It is because of the systemic analysis of Korczak’s contribution to pedagogy and education in the context of socio-political structures that Berding captures and fully reinforces Korczak’s uniqueness. I recommend this book to all educators, philosophers of education and students as well as those concerned with creating a better world for children and adults.” (Malgorzata Kmita, Former Secretary General of the International Korczak Association, Former President of Mental Health Europe)
--This text refers to the paperback edition.
About the Author
Joop W. A. Berding (*The Hague, the Netherlands, 1954) started his career as a teacher in primary schools. Meanwhile, he trained as an advanced educationalist and philosopher of education (B.A., M.A., Ph.D.). During the second part of his career, he worked as a civil servant for youth policy and welfare on both the municipal and state level, as an educational councillor, and, before retiring, eleven years as an assistant professor, manager and researcher on education and youth at the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (teacher training and social studies).
From appr. 1990 onwards, Berding has published extensively, mostly in Dutch but also in other languages (English, German) on education and qualitative research methodology. In his writings, he seeks to link insights from education, philosophy and ethics with everyday practice in families, schools, day care and youth work. Three major sources of inspiration are the work of Janusz Korczak, John Dewey and Hannah Arendt, on whom he has published a number of books and many (reviewed) articles and book chapters. His latest book (November 2019, in Dutch) is on patience and impatience in upbringing and education.
--This text refers to the paperback edition.
===
Janusz Korczak
From Wikipedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
Janusz Korczak
Janusz Korczak, photographed c. 1930
Born
Henryk Goldszmit
22 July 1878
Warsaw, Congress Poland, Russian Empire
Died c. 7 August 1942 (aged 64)
Treblinka extermination camp, German-occupied Poland
Nationality Polish
Occupation Children's author, humanitarian, pediatrician, child pedagogue and defender of children's rights
Website korczak.org.uk
Janusz Korczak, the pen name of Henryk Goldszmit[1] (22 July 1878 or 1879 – 7 August 1942),[2] was a Polish Jewish educator, children's author and pedagogue known as Pan Doktor ("Mr. Doctor") or Stary Doktor ("Old Doctor"). After spending many years working as a principal of an orphanage in Warsaw, he refused sanctuary repeatedly and stayed with his orphans when the entire population of the institution was sent from the Ghetto to the Treblinka extermination camp during the Grossaktion Warschau of 1942.[3]
Contents
Biography[edit]
Korczak was born in Warsaw in 1878. He was unsure of his birth date, which he attributed to his father's failure to promptly acquire a birth certificate for him.[4] His parents were Józef Goldszmit,[1] a respected lawyer from a family of proponents of the haskalah,[5] and Cecylia née Gębicka, daughter of a prominent Kalisz family.[6] Born to a Jewish family, he was an agnostic in his later life who did not believe in forcing religion on children.[7][8][9] His father fell ill around 1890 and was admitted to a mental hospital, where he died six years later on 25 April 1896.[10][11] Spacious apartments were given up on Miodowa street, then Świętojerska.[12] As his family's financial situation worsened, Henryk, while still attending the gymnasium (the current 8th Lycée in Warsaw [pl]), began to work as a tutor for other pupils.[12] In 1896 he debuted on the literary scene with a satirical text on raising children, Węzeł gordyjski (The Gordian Knot).[6]
In 1898, he used Janusz Korczak as a pen name in the Ignacy Jan Paderewski Literary Contest. The name originated from the book O Janaszu Korczaku i pięknej Miecznikównie by Józef Ignacy Kraszewski.[13] In the 1890s he studied in the Flying University. During the years 1898–1904 Korczak studied medicine at the University of Warsaw[4] and also wrote for several Polish language newspapers. After graduation, he became a pediatrician. In 1905−1912 Korczak worked at Bersohns and Baumans Children's Hospital in Warsaw. During the Russo-Japanese War, in 1905–06 he served as a military doctor. Meanwhile, his book Child of the Drawing Room (Dziecko salonu) gained him some literary recognition.
Janusz Korczak with the children in 1920s
The orphanage at 92 Krochmalna Street where Korczak worked. He lived in a room in the attic which was destroyed during World War II and not rebuilt
Korczak's orphanage is still in operation at 6 Jaktorowska Street
In 1907–08, Korczak went to study in Berlin. While working for the Orphans' Society in 1909, he met Stefania Wilczyńska, his future closest associate. In 1911–1912, he became a director of Dom Sierot in Warsaw, an orphanage of his own design for Jewish children.[14] He hired Wilczyńska as his assistant. There he formed a kind-of-a-republic for children with its own small parliament, court, and a newspaper. He reduced his other duties as a doctor. Some of his descriptions of the summer camp for Jewish children in this period and subsequently were later published in his Fragmenty Utworów and have been translated into English.
During World War I, in 1914 Korczak became a military doctor with the rank of lieutenant. He served again as a military doctor in the Polish Army with the rank of major during the Polish-Soviet War, but after a brief stint in Łódź was assigned to Warsaw. After the wars, he continued his practice in Warsaw. Korczak was a lifelong bachelor and had no biological children of his own.[15][16]
Sovereign Poland[edit]
In 1926, Korczak arranged for the children of the Dom Sierot (Orphan House) to begin their own newspaper, the Mały Przegląd (Little Review), as a weekly attachment to the daily Polish-Jewish newspaper Nasz Przegląd (Our Review). In these years, his secretary was the noted Polish novelist Igor Newerly.[citation needed] His orphanage was supported by the CENTOS Polish-Jewish charity.[17]
During the 1930s, he had his own radio program where he promoted and popularized the rights of children. In 1933, he was awarded the Silver Cross of the Polonia Restituta. Between 1934–36, Korczak travelled every year to Mandate Palestine and visited its kibbutzim. Additionally, it spurred his estrangement with the non-Jewish orphanage for which he had also been working. A letter he wrote indicates that he had some intentions to move to Palestine, but in the end, he felt he couldn’t leave his children behind.[18][unreliable source?] He stayed in Poland, even when Wilczyńska went to live in Palestine in 1938 and continued his role as headmaster.[19][unreliable source?]
The Holocaust[edit]
Last issue of Mały Przegląd (Little Review) dated 1 September 1939
Korczak's filling card prepared during compulsory registration of physicians ordered by the German occupation authorities in Warsaw in 1940
Building of Państwowa Szkoła Handlowa Męska im. J. i M. Roeslerów, between November 1940 and October 1941 the seat of Dom Sierot in the Warsaw Ghetto
In 1939, when World War II erupted, Korczak volunteered for duty in the Polish Army but was refused due to his age. He witnessed the Wehrmacht takeover of Warsaw. When the Germans created the Warsaw Ghetto in 1940, his orphanage was forced to move from its building, Dom Sierot at Krochmalna 92, to the Ghetto (first to Chłodna 33 and later to Sienna 16 / Śliska 9).[20] Korczak moved in with them. In July, Janusz Korczak decided that the children in the orphanage should put on Rabindranath Tagore's play The Post Office.
On 5 or 6 August 1942, German soldiers came to collect the 192 orphans (there is some debate about the actual number: it may have been 196) and about one dozen staff members to transport them to the Treblinka extermination camp. Korczak had been offered sanctuary on the "Aryan side" by the Polish underground organization Żegota, but turned it down repeatedly, saying that he could not abandon his children. On 5 August, he again refused offers of sanctuary, insisting that he would go with the children, asserting his belief: "You do not leave a sick child in the night, and you do not leave children at a time like this".[21]
The children were dressed in their best clothes, and each carried a blue knapsack and a favorite book or toy. Joshua Perle, an eyewitness whose wartime writings were saved in the Ringelblum Archive,[22] described the procession of Korczak and the children through the Ghetto to the Umschlagplatz (deportation point to the death camps):
Janusz Korczak was marching, his head bent forward, holding the hand of a child, without a hat, a leather belt around his waist, and wearing high boots. A few nurses were followed by two hundred children, dressed in clean and meticulously cared for clothes, as they were being carried to the altar.
— Ghetto eyewitness, Joshua Perle[23]
According to eyewitnesses, when the group of orphans finally reached the Umschlagplatz, an SS officer recognized Korczak as the author of one of his favorite children's books and offered to help him escape. In another version, the officer was acting officially, as the Nazi authorities had in mind some kind of "special treatment" for Korczak (some prominent Jews with international reputations were sent to Theresienstadt). Whatever the offer, Korczak once again refused. He boarded the trains with the children and was never heard from again. Korczak's evacuation from the Ghetto is also mentioned in Władysław Szpilman's book The Pianist:
He told the orphans they were going out into the country, so they ought to be cheerful. At last they would be able to exchange the horrible suffocating city walls for meadows of flowers, streams where they could bathe, woods full of berries and mushrooms. He told them to wear their best clothes, and so they came out into the yard, two by two, nicely dressed and in a happy mood. The little column was led by an SS man...
— Władysław Szpilman, The Pianist[24]
Sometime after, there were rumours that the trains had been diverted and that Korczak and the children had survived. There was, however, no basis to these stories. Most likely, Korczak, along with Wilczyńska and most of the children, was murdered in a gas chamber after arriving at Treblinka. A separate account of Korczak's departure is given in Mary Berg's Warsaw Ghetto diary:
Dr. Janusz Korczak's children's home is empty now. A few days ago we all stood at the window and watched the Germans surround the houses. Rows of children, holding each other by their little hands, began to walk out of the doorway. There were tiny tots of two or three years among them, while the oldest ones were perhaps thirteen. Each child carried the little bundle in his hand.
— Mary Berg, The Diary[25]
Writings[edit]
Korczak's best known writing is his fiction and pedagogy, and his most popular works have been widely translated. His main pedagogical texts have been translated into English, but of his fiction, as of 2012, only two of his novels have been translated into English: King Matt the First and Kaytek the Wizard.
As the date of Korczak's death was not officially established, his date of death for legal purposes was established in 1954 by a Polish court as 9 May 1946, a standard ruling for people whose death date was not documented but in all likelihood occurred during World War II. The copyright to all works by Korczak was subsequently acquired by The Polish Book Institute (Instytut Książki), a cultural institution and publishing house affiliated with the Polish government. In 2012 the Institute's rights were challenged by the Modern Poland Foundation, whose goal was to establish by court trial that Korczak died in 1942 so that Korczak's works would be available in the public domain as of 1 January 2013. The Foundation won the case in 2015 and subsequently started to digitise Korczak's works and release them as public domain e-books.[26][27][28]
Korczak's overall literary oeuvre covers the period 1896 to 8 August 1942. It comprises works for both children and adults and includes literary pieces, social journalism, articles and pedagogical essays, together with some scraps of unpublished work, totalling over twenty books, over 1,400 texts published in around 100 publications, and around 300 texts in manuscript or typescript form. A complete edition of his works is planned for 2012.[29]
Children's books[edit]
Korczak often employed the form of a fairy tale in order to prepare his young readers for the dilemmas and difficulties of real adult life, and the need to make responsible decisions.
In the 1923 King Matt the First (Król Maciuś Pierwszy) and its sequel King Matt on the Desert Island (Król Maciuś na wyspie bezludnej) Korczak depicted a child prince who is catapulted to the throne by the sudden death of his father, and who must learn from various mistakes:
He tries to read and answer all his mail by himself and finds that the volume is too much and he needs to rely on secretaries; he is exasperated with his ministers and has them arrested, but soon realises that he does not know enough to govern by himself, and is forced to release the ministers and institute constitutional monarchy; when a war breaks out he does not accept being shut up in his palace, but slips away and joins up, pretending to be a peasant boy - and narrowly avoids becoming a POW; he takes the offer of a friendly journalist to publish for him a "royal paper" -and finds much later that he gets carefully edited news and that the journalist is covering up the gross corruption of the young king's best friend; he tries to organise the children of all the world to hold processions and demand their rights – and ends up antagonising other kings; he falls in love with a black African princess and outrages racist opinion (by modern standards, however, Korczak's depiction of blacks is itself not completely free of stereotypes which were current at the time of writing); finally, he is overthrown by the invasion of three foreign armies and exiled to a desert island, where he must come to terms with reality – and finally does.
In 2012, another book by Korczak was translated into English. Kajtuś the Wizard (Kajtuś czarodziej) (1933) anticipated Harry Potter in depicting a schoolboy who gains magic powers, and it was very popular during the 1930s, both in Polish and in translation to several other languages. Kajtuś has, however, a far more difficult path than Harry Potter: he has no Hogwarts-type School of Magic where he could be taught by expert mages, but must learn to use and control his powers all by himself - and most importantly, to learn his limitations.
Korczak's The Persistent Boy was a biography of the French scientist Louis Pasteur, adapted for children - as stated in the preface - from a 685-page French biography that Korczak read. The book clearly aims to portray Pasteur as a role model for the child reader. A considerable part of the book is devoted to Pasteur's childhood and boyhood, and his relations with parents, teachers and schoolmates. It is emphasised that Pasteur, destined for world-wide fame, started from inauspicious beginnings - born to poor working-class parents in an obscure French provincial town and attending a far from high-quality school. There, he was far from a star pupil, his marks often falling below average. As repeatedly emphasised by Korczak, Pasteur's achievements, both in childhood and in later academic and scientific career, were mainly due to persistence (as hinted in the title), a relentless and eventually successful effort to overcome his limitations and early failures.
Pedagogical books[edit]
In his pedagogical works, Korczak shares much of his experience of dealing with difficult children. Korczak's ideas were further developed by many other pedagogues such as Simon Soloveychik and Erich Dauzenroth.
Thoughts on corporal punishment[edit]
Korczak spoke against corporal punishment of children at a time when such treatment was considered a parental entitlement or even duty. In The Child's Right to Respect (1929), he wrote,
In what extraordinary circumstances would one dare to push, hit or tug an adult? And yet it is considered so routine and harmless to give a child a tap or stinging smack or to grab him by the arm. The feeling of powerlessness creates respect for power. Not only adults but anyone who is older and stronger can cruelly demonstrate their displeasure, back up their words with force, demand obedience and abuse the child without being punished. We set an example that fosters contempt for the weak. This is bad parenting and sets a bad precedent.[30]
List of selected works[edit]
Fiction[edit]
Pedagogical books[edit]
Other books[edit]
Remembrance[edit]
Korczak is commemorated in a number of monuments and plaques in Poland, mainly in Warsaw.[31] The best known of them is the cenotaph located at the Okopowa Street Jewish Cemetery, which serves as his symbolic grave. It is a monumental sculpture of Korczak leading his children to the trains. Created originally by Mieczysław Smorczewski in 1982,[32] the monument was recast in bronze in 2002. The original was re-erected at the boarding school for children with special needs in Borzęciczki, which is named after Janusz Korczak.[33]
However, the monument set up in the Świętokrzyski Park in 2006 is not only the largest but also, due to its very convenient location, the most frequently visited by school trips and tourists monument commemorating Korczak. Every year, around June 1, on Children's Day, trips from Warsaw schools go to the monument.[34]
Due to decommunization policies, the Nikolay Bauman street in Kyiv, Ukraine was renamed after Korczak in 2016.[35]
A minor planet, 2163 Korczak, is named after him.[36]
Cenotaph dedicated to Janusz Korczak at the Okopowa Street Jewish Cemetery, Warsaw
Commemorative stone at Treblinka
Janusz Korczak and the children, memorial at Yad Vashem
Cultural references[edit]
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Janusz Korczak" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
In addition to theater, opera, TV, and film adaptations of his works, such as King Matt the First and Kaytek the Wizard, there have been a number of works about Korczak, inspired by him, or featuring him as a character.
Israeli postal stamp, 1962
Biographies and legacy[edit]King of Children: The Life and Death of Janusz Korczak by Betty Jean Lifton (1989/2018), an acclaimed biography on the selfless life of Janusz Korczak from childhood and leading up to the Last March he would take with his orphans from the Warsaw Ghetto to the Treblinka-bound cattle cars.
The influential twentieth-century Hebrew-language educator and publisher Zevi Scharfstein profiled Korczak in his 1964 work Great Hebrew Educators (גדולי חינוך בעמנו, Rubin Mass Publishers, Jerusalem, 1964).[37]
Loving Every Child: Wisdom for Parents edited by Sandra Joseph.[38]
Fiction books[edit]
Stage plays[edit]
Film[edit]
Television[edit]
Music[edit]
See also[edit]List of Holocaust diarists
List of diarists
List of posthumous publications of Holocaust victims
References[edit]
Janusz Korczak: Educating for Justice (SpringerBriefs in Education) 1st ed. 2020 Edition, Kindle Edition
by Joop W. A. Berding (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 2 ratings
This book presents the educational view and practice of the Polish-Jewish doctor, writer and pedagogue Janusz Korczak (Warsaw 1878–Treblinka 1942). In the authors' reconstruction five core elements stand out: respect for every child; participation; justice; dialogue as expression and communication; self-awareness and reflection on the part of the educator.
These elements do not constitute a well-rounded theory or philosophy, but are part of many stories of living together with children, in Korczak’s case orphans. Korczak, actively involving the children themselves, organized this life in such a way that justice ruled. He is the pedagogue of narrativity and of democratic upbringing. Korczak explored many, and today still challenging ways of participative education.The book shows that besides the now domineering positivist outlook on education, with its technocratic language and stress on output, standards, testing, etc., another language is possible, one that is more practice-based and that teachers will relate to immediately: love for children, a pedagogical ethos, and seeking ways to live together in a just way.
1st ed. 2020
Product description
Review
“Berding has succeeded excellently in this with his clear introduction to the life and works of Korczak. One of the merits of the book is that it makes people curious about Korczak’s own work.” (Gerrit Breeuwsma, didactiefonline.nl, July, 2021) --This text refers to the paperback edition.
Review
“Few educators deserve praise and recognition more than Janusz Korczak. Dr. Berding’s Educating for Justice offers fresh insights into how Korczak sought justice in living with children. This included an ethos of respect for the child (as well as the rights of the child), by means of active participation―which Korczak conveyed through his Children’s Court. Educating for Justice makes clear that pedagogy is more than an act of teaching, but one of advocacy and love for children everywhere.” (Daniel L. Berek, M.A., M.A.T., Teacher of students with disabilities and contributor to Janusz Korczak. A bibliography 1939-2012)
“For Berding, Korczak’s justice education centers round creating a voice for the voiceless. Children, like many oppressed groups, are often silenced. When children are given voice, they are heard, respected, and their thoughts and ideas inform action. In this book, Berding explores the concrete structures, including the Children’s Court and Newspaper, that Korczak implemented to empower children, even under the most dire circumstances. This work is a richly detailed study into the life and thought of one of the most important educators of the 20th century, whose topicality cannot be underestimated.” (Kristin Poppo, Ph.D., Provost, Alfred State College)
“Dr. Joop Berding has been inspired by Dr. Janusz Korczak’s insights for over 35 years. His book is an invaluable resource for parents and educators who, deep inside, know that both parenting and educational systems need an overhaul. Dr. Berding’s book presents to them, in an easy to implement and well organized way, key values needed to do their job well while interacting with young people with respect, encouraging their participation and teaching them about justice.” (Mariola Strahlberg, MS, LAc is a founder and president of the Janusz Korczak Association of the USA)
“This new book by a famous researcher Joop Berding makes a valuable contribution to the study of Janusz Korczak, one of the greatest minds of the pedagogy of children’s rights in the 20th century, whose ideas have become critically important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Korczak’s practice demonstrates how in the most dire circumstances teachers should promote students’ full participation based on respect and justice. Learning about Korczak will make readers more knowledgeable about their inner strengths and more aware about ways to develop students’ resilience and creativity.” (Tatyana Tsyrlina-Spady, PhD, Adjunct Professor, School of Education, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA)
“Why should we study what Janusz Korczak wrote many years ago? Korczak asks questions about children and their role in the world. He doesn’t give ready answers, beside this one – that a child is a human, just a smaller one. And that’s why it deserves respect, just treatment and active participation in the world. Korczak stands up for the rights, the dignity and the citizenship of children. Korczak’s pedagogical thought is still fresh, innovative and revolutionary. And above all – inspiring. Educating for Justice is a guide to pedagogics of respect and empathy.” (Dr Marek Michalak, Chairperson of the International Korczak Association)
“Joop Berding presents Korczak’s humanistic educational approach to the child – to the person. He opens the way for the reader to understand every aspect of this approach. Joop Berding’s writing shows his sensitivity and ability to touch on each point. Sketching Korczak as a person who fights for the rights of children and their right to take an active part in the educational process, places emphasis on the importance of the book for educators, parents and any adult who has an impact on the life of youngsters.” (Batia Gilad, Former Chairperson of the International Korczak Association, Chairperson of the Korczak Educational Center in Israel)
“Janusz Korczak. Educating for Justice gives us a true insight to the work of Janusz Korczak, doing justice to the person, physician, philosopher, author and pedagogue. We become acquainted with his life, philosophy, literary creation, and educational accomplishment, which are relevant to the humanist mission of education everywhere. It is thanks to such studies of Korczak’s life that we are now aware of his educational accomplishments, the principles of his educational teaching and his literary writings. This book tells the story of a unique educator whose relevance to education today stands as firm as ever.” (Dr. Avi Tsur, The Korczak Education Center, Israel)
“Janusz Korczak. Educating for Justice is a passionately written book devoted to Korczak’s contribution to the world of pedagogy and education. The book will appeal to people who may not know much about Korczak as well as those who studied and know him well. It is because of the systemic analysis of Korczak’s contribution to pedagogy and education in the context of socio-political structures that Berding captures and fully reinforces Korczak’s uniqueness. I recommend this book to all educators, philosophers of education and students as well as those concerned with creating a better world for children and adults.” (Malgorzata Kmita, Former Secretary General of the International Korczak Association, Former President of Mental Health Europe)
--This text refers to the paperback edition.
About the Author
Joop W. A. Berding (*The Hague, the Netherlands, 1954) started his career as a teacher in primary schools. Meanwhile, he trained as an advanced educationalist and philosopher of education (B.A., M.A., Ph.D.). During the second part of his career, he worked as a civil servant for youth policy and welfare on both the municipal and state level, as an educational councillor, and, before retiring, eleven years as an assistant professor, manager and researcher on education and youth at the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (teacher training and social studies).
From appr. 1990 onwards, Berding has published extensively, mostly in Dutch but also in other languages (English, German) on education and qualitative research methodology. In his writings, he seeks to link insights from education, philosophy and ethics with everyday practice in families, schools, day care and youth work. Three major sources of inspiration are the work of Janusz Korczak, John Dewey and Hannah Arendt, on whom he has published a number of books and many (reviewed) articles and book chapters. His latest book (November 2019, in Dutch) is on patience and impatience in upbringing and education.
--This text refers to the paperback edition.
===
Janusz Korczak
From Wikipedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
Janusz Korczak
Janusz Korczak, photographed c. 1930
Born
Henryk Goldszmit
22 July 1878
Warsaw, Congress Poland, Russian Empire
Died c. 7 August 1942 (aged 64)
Treblinka extermination camp, German-occupied Poland
Nationality Polish
Occupation Children's author, humanitarian, pediatrician, child pedagogue and defender of children's rights
Website korczak.org.uk
Janusz Korczak, the pen name of Henryk Goldszmit[1] (22 July 1878 or 1879 – 7 August 1942),[2] was a Polish Jewish educator, children's author and pedagogue known as Pan Doktor ("Mr. Doctor") or Stary Doktor ("Old Doctor"). After spending many years working as a principal of an orphanage in Warsaw, he refused sanctuary repeatedly and stayed with his orphans when the entire population of the institution was sent from the Ghetto to the Treblinka extermination camp during the Grossaktion Warschau of 1942.[3]
Contents
1Biography
2Writings
3List of selected works
4Remembrance
5Cultural references
6See also
7References
8Further reading
9External links
2Writings
3List of selected works
4Remembrance
5Cultural references
6See also
7References
8Further reading
9External links
Biography[edit]
Korczak was born in Warsaw in 1878. He was unsure of his birth date, which he attributed to his father's failure to promptly acquire a birth certificate for him.[4] His parents were Józef Goldszmit,[1] a respected lawyer from a family of proponents of the haskalah,[5] and Cecylia née Gębicka, daughter of a prominent Kalisz family.[6] Born to a Jewish family, he was an agnostic in his later life who did not believe in forcing religion on children.[7][8][9] His father fell ill around 1890 and was admitted to a mental hospital, where he died six years later on 25 April 1896.[10][11] Spacious apartments were given up on Miodowa street, then Świętojerska.[12] As his family's financial situation worsened, Henryk, while still attending the gymnasium (the current 8th Lycée in Warsaw [pl]), began to work as a tutor for other pupils.[12] In 1896 he debuted on the literary scene with a satirical text on raising children, Węzeł gordyjski (The Gordian Knot).[6]
In 1898, he used Janusz Korczak as a pen name in the Ignacy Jan Paderewski Literary Contest. The name originated from the book O Janaszu Korczaku i pięknej Miecznikównie by Józef Ignacy Kraszewski.[13] In the 1890s he studied in the Flying University. During the years 1898–1904 Korczak studied medicine at the University of Warsaw[4] and also wrote for several Polish language newspapers. After graduation, he became a pediatrician. In 1905−1912 Korczak worked at Bersohns and Baumans Children's Hospital in Warsaw. During the Russo-Japanese War, in 1905–06 he served as a military doctor. Meanwhile, his book Child of the Drawing Room (Dziecko salonu) gained him some literary recognition.
Janusz Korczak with the children in 1920s
The orphanage at 92 Krochmalna Street where Korczak worked. He lived in a room in the attic which was destroyed during World War II and not rebuilt
Korczak's orphanage is still in operation at 6 Jaktorowska Street
In 1907–08, Korczak went to study in Berlin. While working for the Orphans' Society in 1909, he met Stefania Wilczyńska, his future closest associate. In 1911–1912, he became a director of Dom Sierot in Warsaw, an orphanage of his own design for Jewish children.[14] He hired Wilczyńska as his assistant. There he formed a kind-of-a-republic for children with its own small parliament, court, and a newspaper. He reduced his other duties as a doctor. Some of his descriptions of the summer camp for Jewish children in this period and subsequently were later published in his Fragmenty Utworów and have been translated into English.
During World War I, in 1914 Korczak became a military doctor with the rank of lieutenant. He served again as a military doctor in the Polish Army with the rank of major during the Polish-Soviet War, but after a brief stint in Łódź was assigned to Warsaw. After the wars, he continued his practice in Warsaw. Korczak was a lifelong bachelor and had no biological children of his own.[15][16]
Sovereign Poland[edit]
In 1926, Korczak arranged for the children of the Dom Sierot (Orphan House) to begin their own newspaper, the Mały Przegląd (Little Review), as a weekly attachment to the daily Polish-Jewish newspaper Nasz Przegląd (Our Review). In these years, his secretary was the noted Polish novelist Igor Newerly.[citation needed] His orphanage was supported by the CENTOS Polish-Jewish charity.[17]
During the 1930s, he had his own radio program where he promoted and popularized the rights of children. In 1933, he was awarded the Silver Cross of the Polonia Restituta. Between 1934–36, Korczak travelled every year to Mandate Palestine and visited its kibbutzim. Additionally, it spurred his estrangement with the non-Jewish orphanage for which he had also been working. A letter he wrote indicates that he had some intentions to move to Palestine, but in the end, he felt he couldn’t leave his children behind.[18][unreliable source?] He stayed in Poland, even when Wilczyńska went to live in Palestine in 1938 and continued his role as headmaster.[19][unreliable source?]
The Holocaust[edit]
Last issue of Mały Przegląd (Little Review) dated 1 September 1939
Korczak's filling card prepared during compulsory registration of physicians ordered by the German occupation authorities in Warsaw in 1940
Building of Państwowa Szkoła Handlowa Męska im. J. i M. Roeslerów, between November 1940 and October 1941 the seat of Dom Sierot in the Warsaw Ghetto
In 1939, when World War II erupted, Korczak volunteered for duty in the Polish Army but was refused due to his age. He witnessed the Wehrmacht takeover of Warsaw. When the Germans created the Warsaw Ghetto in 1940, his orphanage was forced to move from its building, Dom Sierot at Krochmalna 92, to the Ghetto (first to Chłodna 33 and later to Sienna 16 / Śliska 9).[20] Korczak moved in with them. In July, Janusz Korczak decided that the children in the orphanage should put on Rabindranath Tagore's play The Post Office.
On 5 or 6 August 1942, German soldiers came to collect the 192 orphans (there is some debate about the actual number: it may have been 196) and about one dozen staff members to transport them to the Treblinka extermination camp. Korczak had been offered sanctuary on the "Aryan side" by the Polish underground organization Żegota, but turned it down repeatedly, saying that he could not abandon his children. On 5 August, he again refused offers of sanctuary, insisting that he would go with the children, asserting his belief: "You do not leave a sick child in the night, and you do not leave children at a time like this".[21]
The children were dressed in their best clothes, and each carried a blue knapsack and a favorite book or toy. Joshua Perle, an eyewitness whose wartime writings were saved in the Ringelblum Archive,[22] described the procession of Korczak and the children through the Ghetto to the Umschlagplatz (deportation point to the death camps):
Janusz Korczak was marching, his head bent forward, holding the hand of a child, without a hat, a leather belt around his waist, and wearing high boots. A few nurses were followed by two hundred children, dressed in clean and meticulously cared for clothes, as they were being carried to the altar.
— Ghetto eyewitness, Joshua Perle[23]
According to eyewitnesses, when the group of orphans finally reached the Umschlagplatz, an SS officer recognized Korczak as the author of one of his favorite children's books and offered to help him escape. In another version, the officer was acting officially, as the Nazi authorities had in mind some kind of "special treatment" for Korczak (some prominent Jews with international reputations were sent to Theresienstadt). Whatever the offer, Korczak once again refused. He boarded the trains with the children and was never heard from again. Korczak's evacuation from the Ghetto is also mentioned in Władysław Szpilman's book The Pianist:
He told the orphans they were going out into the country, so they ought to be cheerful. At last they would be able to exchange the horrible suffocating city walls for meadows of flowers, streams where they could bathe, woods full of berries and mushrooms. He told them to wear their best clothes, and so they came out into the yard, two by two, nicely dressed and in a happy mood. The little column was led by an SS man...
— Władysław Szpilman, The Pianist[24]
Sometime after, there were rumours that the trains had been diverted and that Korczak and the children had survived. There was, however, no basis to these stories. Most likely, Korczak, along with Wilczyńska and most of the children, was murdered in a gas chamber after arriving at Treblinka. A separate account of Korczak's departure is given in Mary Berg's Warsaw Ghetto diary:
Dr. Janusz Korczak's children's home is empty now. A few days ago we all stood at the window and watched the Germans surround the houses. Rows of children, holding each other by their little hands, began to walk out of the doorway. There were tiny tots of two or three years among them, while the oldest ones were perhaps thirteen. Each child carried the little bundle in his hand.
— Mary Berg, The Diary[25]
Writings[edit]
Korczak's best known writing is his fiction and pedagogy, and his most popular works have been widely translated. His main pedagogical texts have been translated into English, but of his fiction, as of 2012, only two of his novels have been translated into English: King Matt the First and Kaytek the Wizard.
As the date of Korczak's death was not officially established, his date of death for legal purposes was established in 1954 by a Polish court as 9 May 1946, a standard ruling for people whose death date was not documented but in all likelihood occurred during World War II. The copyright to all works by Korczak was subsequently acquired by The Polish Book Institute (Instytut Książki), a cultural institution and publishing house affiliated with the Polish government. In 2012 the Institute's rights were challenged by the Modern Poland Foundation, whose goal was to establish by court trial that Korczak died in 1942 so that Korczak's works would be available in the public domain as of 1 January 2013. The Foundation won the case in 2015 and subsequently started to digitise Korczak's works and release them as public domain e-books.[26][27][28]
Korczak's overall literary oeuvre covers the period 1896 to 8 August 1942. It comprises works for both children and adults and includes literary pieces, social journalism, articles and pedagogical essays, together with some scraps of unpublished work, totalling over twenty books, over 1,400 texts published in around 100 publications, and around 300 texts in manuscript or typescript form. A complete edition of his works is planned for 2012.[29]
Children's books[edit]
Korczak often employed the form of a fairy tale in order to prepare his young readers for the dilemmas and difficulties of real adult life, and the need to make responsible decisions.
In the 1923 King Matt the First (Król Maciuś Pierwszy) and its sequel King Matt on the Desert Island (Król Maciuś na wyspie bezludnej) Korczak depicted a child prince who is catapulted to the throne by the sudden death of his father, and who must learn from various mistakes:
He tries to read and answer all his mail by himself and finds that the volume is too much and he needs to rely on secretaries; he is exasperated with his ministers and has them arrested, but soon realises that he does not know enough to govern by himself, and is forced to release the ministers and institute constitutional monarchy; when a war breaks out he does not accept being shut up in his palace, but slips away and joins up, pretending to be a peasant boy - and narrowly avoids becoming a POW; he takes the offer of a friendly journalist to publish for him a "royal paper" -and finds much later that he gets carefully edited news and that the journalist is covering up the gross corruption of the young king's best friend; he tries to organise the children of all the world to hold processions and demand their rights – and ends up antagonising other kings; he falls in love with a black African princess and outrages racist opinion (by modern standards, however, Korczak's depiction of blacks is itself not completely free of stereotypes which were current at the time of writing); finally, he is overthrown by the invasion of three foreign armies and exiled to a desert island, where he must come to terms with reality – and finally does.
In 2012, another book by Korczak was translated into English. Kajtuś the Wizard (Kajtuś czarodziej) (1933) anticipated Harry Potter in depicting a schoolboy who gains magic powers, and it was very popular during the 1930s, both in Polish and in translation to several other languages. Kajtuś has, however, a far more difficult path than Harry Potter: he has no Hogwarts-type School of Magic where he could be taught by expert mages, but must learn to use and control his powers all by himself - and most importantly, to learn his limitations.
Korczak's The Persistent Boy was a biography of the French scientist Louis Pasteur, adapted for children - as stated in the preface - from a 685-page French biography that Korczak read. The book clearly aims to portray Pasteur as a role model for the child reader. A considerable part of the book is devoted to Pasteur's childhood and boyhood, and his relations with parents, teachers and schoolmates. It is emphasised that Pasteur, destined for world-wide fame, started from inauspicious beginnings - born to poor working-class parents in an obscure French provincial town and attending a far from high-quality school. There, he was far from a star pupil, his marks often falling below average. As repeatedly emphasised by Korczak, Pasteur's achievements, both in childhood and in later academic and scientific career, were mainly due to persistence (as hinted in the title), a relentless and eventually successful effort to overcome his limitations and early failures.
Pedagogical books[edit]
In his pedagogical works, Korczak shares much of his experience of dealing with difficult children. Korczak's ideas were further developed by many other pedagogues such as Simon Soloveychik and Erich Dauzenroth.
Thoughts on corporal punishment[edit]
Korczak spoke against corporal punishment of children at a time when such treatment was considered a parental entitlement or even duty. In The Child's Right to Respect (1929), he wrote,
In what extraordinary circumstances would one dare to push, hit or tug an adult? And yet it is considered so routine and harmless to give a child a tap or stinging smack or to grab him by the arm. The feeling of powerlessness creates respect for power. Not only adults but anyone who is older and stronger can cruelly demonstrate their displeasure, back up their words with force, demand obedience and abuse the child without being punished. We set an example that fosters contempt for the weak. This is bad parenting and sets a bad precedent.[30]
List of selected works[edit]
Fiction[edit]
- Children of the Streets (Dzieci ulicy, Warsaw 1901)
- Fiddle-Faddle (Koszałki opałki, Warsaw 1905)
- Child of the Drawing Room (Dziecko salonu, Warsaw 1906, 2nd edition 1927) – partially autobiographical
- Mośki, Joski i Srule (Warsaw 1910)
- Józki, Jaśki i Franki (Warsaw 1911)
- Fame (Sława, Warsaw 1913, corrected 1935 and 1937)
- Bobo (Warsaw 1914)
- King Matt the First (Król Maciuś Pierwszy, Warsaw 1923) ISBN 1-56512-442-1
- King Matt on a Deserted Island (Król Maciuś na wyspie bezludnej, Warsaw 1923)
- Bankruptcy of Little Jack (Bankructwo małego Dżeka, Warsaw 1924)
- When I Am Little Again (Kiedy znów będę mały, Warsaw 1925)
- Senat szaleńców, humoreska ponura (Madmen's Senate, play premièred at the Ateneum Theatre in Warsaw, 1931)
- Kaytek the Wizard (Kajtuś czarodziej, Warsaw 1935)
Pedagogical books[edit]
- Momenty wychowawcze (Warsaw, 1919, 2nd edition 1924)
- How to Love a Child (Jak kochać dziecko, Warsaw 1919, 2nd edition 1920 as Jak kochać dzieci)
- The Child's Right to Respect (Prawo dziecka do szacunku, Warsaw, 1929)
- Playful Pedagogy (Pedagogika żartobliwa, Warsaw, 1939)
Other books[edit]
- Diary (Pamiętnik, Warsaw, 1958)
- Fragmenty Utworów
- The Stubborn Boy: The Life of Pasteur (Warsaw, 1935)
Remembrance[edit]
Korczak is commemorated in a number of monuments and plaques in Poland, mainly in Warsaw.[31] The best known of them is the cenotaph located at the Okopowa Street Jewish Cemetery, which serves as his symbolic grave. It is a monumental sculpture of Korczak leading his children to the trains. Created originally by Mieczysław Smorczewski in 1982,[32] the monument was recast in bronze in 2002. The original was re-erected at the boarding school for children with special needs in Borzęciczki, which is named after Janusz Korczak.[33]
However, the monument set up in the Świętokrzyski Park in 2006 is not only the largest but also, due to its very convenient location, the most frequently visited by school trips and tourists monument commemorating Korczak. Every year, around June 1, on Children's Day, trips from Warsaw schools go to the monument.[34]
Due to decommunization policies, the Nikolay Bauman street in Kyiv, Ukraine was renamed after Korczak in 2016.[35]
A minor planet, 2163 Korczak, is named after him.[36]
Cenotaph dedicated to Janusz Korczak at the Okopowa Street Jewish Cemetery, Warsaw
Commemorative stone at Treblinka
Janusz Korczak and the children, memorial at Yad Vashem
Cultural references[edit]
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Janusz Korczak" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
In addition to theater, opera, TV, and film adaptations of his works, such as King Matt the First and Kaytek the Wizard, there have been a number of works about Korczak, inspired by him, or featuring him as a character.
Israeli postal stamp, 1962
Biographies and legacy[edit]King of Children: The Life and Death of Janusz Korczak by Betty Jean Lifton (1989/2018), an acclaimed biography on the selfless life of Janusz Korczak from childhood and leading up to the Last March he would take with his orphans from the Warsaw Ghetto to the Treblinka-bound cattle cars.
The influential twentieth-century Hebrew-language educator and publisher Zevi Scharfstein profiled Korczak in his 1964 work Great Hebrew Educators (גדולי חינוך בעמנו, Rubin Mass Publishers, Jerusalem, 1964).[37]
Loving Every Child: Wisdom for Parents edited by Sandra Joseph.[38]
Fiction books[edit]
- Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli (2003) – Doctor Korczak runs an orphanage in Warsaw where the main character often visits him
- Moshe en Reizele (Mosje and Reizele) by Karlijn Stoffels (2004) – Mosje is sent to live in Korczak's orphanage, where he falls in love with Reizele. Set in the period 1939-1942. Original Dutch, German translation available. No English version as of 2009.
- Once by Morris Gleitzman (2005), partly inspired by Korczak, featuring a character modelled after him
- Kindling by Alberto Valis (Felici Editori, 2011), Italian thriller novel. The life of Korczak through the voice of a Warsaw ghetto's orphan. As of 2019, no English translation.
- The Time Tunnel: Kingdom of the Children by Galila Ron-Feder Amit (2007) is an Israeli children's book in the Time Tunnel series that takes place in Korczak's orphanage.
- The Book of Aron by Jim Shepard (2015) is a fictional work that features Dr Korczak and his orphanage in the Warsaw Ghetto as main characters in the book.
- The Good Doctor of Warsaw by Elisabeth Gifford (2018), a novel based on a true story of a young couple who survived the Warsaw ghetto and of Dr Korczak and his orphanage.
Stage plays[edit]
- Dr Korczak and the Children by Erwin Sylvanus (1957)
- Korczak's Children by Jeffrey Hatcher (2003)
- Dr Korczak's Example by David Greig (2001)[39]
- The Children's Republic A play based on the life and work of Yanusz Korczak (2008) by Elena Khalitov, Harmony Theatre Company and School
- The Children's Republic by Hannah Moscovitch (2009)
- Chlodnagaden nr. 33 By Rober Parr with music by Michael Ramløse, Teatret Fair play (Eng: The Fair Play Theater)[40]
- Monsieur Fugue (1967) by Liliane Atlan is based in part on the story of Korczak[41]
Film[edit]
Sie sind frei, Dr. Korczak [de] (The Martyr), written by Ben Barzman and Alexander Ramati, directed by Aleksander Ford (1975)
Korczak, written by Agnieszka Holland, directed by Andrzej Wajda (1990) portrayed by Wojciech Pszoniak
Uprising (2001) directed by Jon Avnet, written by Avnet and Paul Brickman. Palle Granditsky portrayed Korczak.
The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler (2009) directed by John Kent Harrison. Krzysztof Pieczynski played Dr. Janusz Korczak.
The Zookeeper's Wife (2017), directed by Niki Caro. Arnošt Goldflam played Korczak.
Korczak, written by Agnieszka Holland, directed by Andrzej Wajda (1990) portrayed by Wojciech Pszoniak
Uprising (2001) directed by Jon Avnet, written by Avnet and Paul Brickman. Palle Granditsky portrayed Korczak.
The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler (2009) directed by John Kent Harrison. Krzysztof Pieczynski played Dr. Janusz Korczak.
The Zookeeper's Wife (2017), directed by Niki Caro. Arnošt Goldflam played Korczak.
Television[edit]
Studio 4: Dr Korczak and the Children - BBC adaptation of Sylvanus's play, written and directed by Rudolph Cartier (13 March 1962)
Music[edit]
Kaddish – long poem/song by Alexander Galich (1970)
Facing the wall - Janusz Korczak – musical by Klaus-Peter Rex and Daniel Hoffmann (1997) presented by Music-theatre fuenf brote und zwei fische, Wülfrath
Korczak's Orphans – opera, music by Adam Silverman, libretto by Susan Gubernat (2003)
Korczak[42] – musical by Nick Stimson and Chris Williams. Performed by the St Ives Youth Theatre at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2005 and by Youth Music Theatre UK at the Rose Theatre, Kingston in August 2011
King Mattias I - opera, music by Viggo Edén, from writings by Korczak, given World Premiere at Höör's Summer Opera (Sweden) on 9 August 2012.
The Little Review from album Where the Darkness Goes, Awna Teixeira, 2012
Janusz - piece for piano, music by Nicola Gelo (2013)
Facing the wall - Janusz Korczak – musical by Klaus-Peter Rex and Daniel Hoffmann (1997) presented by Music-theatre fuenf brote und zwei fische, Wülfrath
Korczak's Orphans – opera, music by Adam Silverman, libretto by Susan Gubernat (2003)
Korczak[42] – musical by Nick Stimson and Chris Williams. Performed by the St Ives Youth Theatre at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2005 and by Youth Music Theatre UK at the Rose Theatre, Kingston in August 2011
King Mattias I - opera, music by Viggo Edén, from writings by Korczak, given World Premiere at Höör's Summer Opera (Sweden) on 9 August 2012.
The Little Review from album Where the Darkness Goes, Awna Teixeira, 2012
Janusz - piece for piano, music by Nicola Gelo (2013)
See also[edit]List of Holocaust diarists
List of diarists
List of posthumous publications of Holocaust victims
References[edit]
- ^ Jump up to:a b Yad Vashem (2010). "Ceremony Marking 68 Years Since its Murder of Korczak and the Children of the Orphanage". Yad Vashem The Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- ^ "Jewish Doctor Janusz Korczak Died With 190 Children at Treblinka Court: Changes Date of Death for Orphanage Director". JTA. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ^ Sandra Joseph, Institute of Education in London (July–August 2002). "POLE APART - the life and work of Janusz Korczak". Young Minds Magazine 59. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- ^ Jump up to:a b "Polskie Stowarzyszenie im. Janusza Korczaka". www.pskorczak.org.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2016-03-12.
- ^ Tadeusz Lewowicki (2000). "Janusz Korczak (1878–1942)" (PDF, 43 KB). Prospects:the quarterly review of comparative education, vol. XXIV, no. 1/2, 1994, p. 37–48. UNESCO: International Bureau of Education. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- ^ Jump up to:a b Prof. Barbara Smolińska–Theiss (2012). "Janusz Korczak – zarys portretu (the portrait)" (in Polish). Rok Janusza Korczaka (The official year of Janusz Korczak). Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- ^ The Month, Volume 39. Simpki, Marshall, and Company. 1968. p. 350. When Dr. Janusz Korczak, a Jewish philanthropist and agnostic, voluntarily chooses to follow the Jewish orphans under his care to the Nazi extermination camp in Treblinka...
- ^ Chris Mullen (March 7, 1983). "Korczak's Children: Flawed Faces in a Warsaw Ghetto". The Heights. p. 24. Retrieved 25 August 2013. An assimilated Jew, he changed his name from Henryk Goldschmidt and was an agnostic who did not believe in forcing religion on children.
- ^ Janusz Korczak (1978). Ghetto diary. Holocaust Library. p. 42. You know I am an agnostic, but I understood: Pedagogy, tolerance, and all that.
- ^ Janusz Korczak; Aleksander Lewin (1996). Sława: Opowiadania (1898-1914) (in Polish). Oficyna Wydawnicza Latona. p. 387. ISBN 978-83-85449-35-5.
- ^ Maria Falkowska (1978). Kalendarium życia, działalności i twórczości Janusza Korczaka (in Polish). Wydaw-a Szkolne i Pedagogiczne. p. 8.
- ^ Jump up to:a b Joanna Cieśla (15 January 2012). "Henryk zwany Januszem. Janusz Korczak - pedagog rewolucjonista" (in Polish). S.P. Polityka. Historia. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- ^ Józef Ignacy Kraszewski (2012). "Moja Biblioteczka". Historia o Janaszu Korczaku i o pięknej Miecznikównie. LubimyCzytać.pl. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
- ^ Hanna Mortkowicz-Olczakowa (1960). "Goldszmit Henryk", in Polski Słownik Biograficzny, T. VIII. P. 214
- ^ "JANUSZ KORCZAK (1878 - 1942) Educator, he followed the Jewish children into the Warsaw Ghetto and in deportation". Gariwo. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
- ^ Chojczak, Szymon (15 August 2018). "The Old Doctor who went with his pupils to the gas chamber". Great Poles. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
- ^ "CENTOS". Jewish Historical Institute. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
- ^ Dorit Gani (April 10, 2018). "Who Stood with the Orphans When the Nazis Came?". The National Library of Israel. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ Agnieszka Litwiniuk (March 29, 2012). "Stefania Wilczyńska". Sylwetki warszawskich Żydówek (Profiles of Warsaw Jewish women) (in Polish). Warszefroj, Centrum Kultury Jidysz (Yidish Centre). Retrieved 14 December 2013.
- ^ "Dom Sierot. Krochmalna 92". Swedish Holocaust Memorial Association. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- ^ Brown, Kellie D. (2020). The sound of hope: Music as solace, resistance and salvation during the holocaust and world war II. McFarland. p. 144. ISBN 978-1-4766-7056-0.
- ^ "Perle, Joshua". Encyclopaedia Judaica. Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
- ^ Nick Shepley (7 December 2015). Hitler, Stalin and the Destruction of Poland: Explaining History. Andrews UK Limited. p. 55. ISBN 978-1-78333-143-7.
- ^ Jerzy Waldorff, Władysław Szpilman, The Pianist. Page 96.
- ^ Mary Berg, The Diary of Mary Berg: Growing Up in the Warsaw Ghetto, Oxford: Oneworld Publications, 1996, pages 169-170.
- ^ "Wyrok w sprawie Korczaka – omówienie". Fundacja Nowoczesna Polska. Retrieved 2016-03-12.
- ^ "Wygrany spór o datę śmierci Korczaka. Prawda pokonała "własność intelektualną"". Dziennik Internautów. Retrieved 2016-03-12.
- ^ "Author: Janusz Korczak". Wolne Lektury. Retrieved 2016-03-12.
- ^ "Janusz Korczak", Book Institute
- ^ Modig, Cecilia (2009). Never Violence – Thirty Years on from Sweden's Abolition of Corporal Punishment (PDF). Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, Sweden; Save the Children Sweden. Reference No. S2009.030. p. 8.
- ^ Agata Anna Lisiak (2010). Urban Cultures in (post)colonial Central Europe. Purdue University Press. pp. 147–. ISBN 978-1-55753-573-3.
- ^ "The Jewish Cemetery on Okopowa Street in Warsaw (Cmentarz żydowski przy ul. Okopowej w Warszawie)". Cmentarium. 2007. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
- ^ Mirosław Gorzelanny (November 27, 2012). "School history". Specjalny Ośrodek Szkolno – Wychowawczy im Janusza Korczaka w Borzęciczkach. Archived from the original on June 26, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
- ^ "Monument to Janusz Korczak (Warsaw)". monuments-remembrance.eu. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
- ^ (in Ukrainian) Bandera Avenue in Kyiv to be - the decision of the Court of Appeal, Ukrayinska Pravda (22 April 2021)
- ^ "(2163) Korczak". IAU Minor Planet Center.
- ^ Rin, Svi (April 1966). "גדולי חינוך בעמנו Book Review". Jewish Social Studies. 28: 127–128.
- ^ https://korczak.org.uk
- ^ Hickling, Alfred (June 12, 2008). "Dr Korczak's Example". The Guardian. London.
- ^ "Chlodnagaden nr. 33 - Dit Holbæk". Dit Holbæk (in Danish). 2017-03-14. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
- ^ Knapp, Bettina (1995). French Theater Since 1968. New York: Twayne Publishers. ISBN 0805782974.
- ^ "Korczak (2011) | British Youth Music Theatre".
- Bystrzycka, Anna (July 2007). "Dzieci z sierocińca". Zwrot: 30–31.
- Cohen, Adir (1994). The Gate of Light: Janusz Korczak, the Educator and Writer who Overcame the Holocaust. Madison, NJ: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press. ISBN 978-0-838-63523-0.
- Joseph, Sandra (1999). A Voice for the Child: The inspirational words of Janusz Korczak. Collins Publishers.
- Lifton, Betty Jean (1988). The King of Children: The Life and Death of Janusz Korczak Collins Publishers.
- Mortkowicz-Olczakowa, Hanna (1961). Bunt wspomnień. Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy.
- Parenting Advice from a Polish Holocaust Hero from National Public Radio
- Lawrence Kohlberg (1981). The Philosophy of Moral Development: Education for Justice pp. 401–408. Harper & Row, Publishers, San Francisco.
- Mark Celinscak (2009). "A Procession of Shadows: Examining Warsaw Ghetto Testimony." New School Psychology Bulletin. Volume 6, Number 2: 38-50.
