W i s Zjednoczenia Avenue, Bielany ł a R i v e Freta r Street Brukowa Street 7 Nowolipki Street ( Bielańska 12 Niecała Street Street V Saxon Garden i Chłodna 33 Street University s of Warsaw 92 Krochmalna t 9 Śliska/ Street 51 Śliska/ 60 Sienna 16 Sienna u Street Street l a Ujazdowski R Hospital i v e r ) 12 Cedrowa Street, Pruszków W i Janusz Korczak s ł a in Warsaw Bielańska Street – childhood home R Freta Street – primary school i Brukowa Street – high school v Saxon Garden – nearby play space 12 Niecała Street – editorial office e of ‘Kolce’ (‘Spikes’) r University of Warsaw – medical studies 51 Śliska (60 Sienna) Street – Bersohn and Bauman Children’s ( Hospital V Ujazdowski Hospital – military i hospital s 92 Krochmalna Street – Orphan’s Home (Dom Sierot) t 12 Cedrowa Street, Pruszków – Czaplowizna first location ofNasz Dom (Our Home); u 1919-1928 l 34 Zjednoczenia Avenue, Bielany – Nasz Dom (Our Home) from 1928 a 7 Nowolipki Street – editorial office of ‘Mały Przegląd’ (‘Little Review’) R i v Czaplowizna – Różyczka (Little Rose) e Kindergarten and Camp r 33 Chłodna Street – relocation ) of Orphan’s Home within the Warsaw Ghetto; November, 1940-October 1941 9 Śliska (16 Sienna) Street – Final orphanage location of Janusz Korczak, staff and the children before transportation to the death camp at Treblinka, August 1942 Basia Vucic Zuzanna Sękowska Warsaw 2020 This publication is an Educational Resource for the UNESCO/ Janusz Korczak Chair International Summer School organised under the Patronage of the Polish Commission for UNESCO and the UNESCO/Janusz Korczak Chair* Sponsored and distributed by Kopernika Ltd. London, United Kingdom Scientific reviewer: Prof. Dr Anna Odrowąż-Coates Text authors: Basia Vucic pp. 7-90, 94-104, 110-125; Zuzanna Sękowska pp. 91-93, 105-109 All translations from original Polish by 1st author B. Vucic. Editors Basia Vucic, Zuzanna Sękowska (graphic editor) Publisher: Wydawnictwo Akademii Pedagogiki Specjalnej Copyright reserved CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 PL E-ISBN 978-83-66010-78-9 *The opinions expressed in this book are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the Organisation. Basia Vucic FOREWORD We pose the question – what do you really know about Janusz Korczak and his home? Walking in Korczak’s footsteps, you will meet some of his men- tors, friends and even enemies. Listen to the old legends and absent voices. Bring your light closer and cast out the shadows. We will sow the seeds under the snow, which in the spring blossom into new ways of thinking and doing. When you come across a fragment of truth, close the page and spin your thoughts. Know thyself. Maybe together we can create a new myth which fore- tells of a better world. Considerable research went into this book, although we did not write it as an academic text. We give you no ready-made answers and only fill in some gaps in Korczak’s life and literature so that you may take your own road. Inspired by his writing style, we meander through the side streets of his philosophy. Part tour guide, part archaeological dig, prepare to go on a unique journey. We will give you the map of this lost terri- tory and leave clues – but you must dig for the treasure yourself. You cannot step into the same book twice! Our Home: Janusz Korczak’s Experiments in Democracy Experiments Korczak’s Janusz Our Home: 7 Basia Vucic JANUSZ KORCZAK (1878-1942) Janusz Korczak1 was born Henryk Goldszmit in 1878 or 1879, as a Polish-Jew in Warsaw. The city was under the rule of the Russian Empire. Poland, as a country, did not exist. By the time he enrolled at medical school, Korczak was al- ready earning a living as a political Figure: Portrait of Janusz Korczak. writer and tutor. Highly intellectual Postcard, 1933. [Polish National and socially engaged in his youth, Digital Library] Korczak quickly became dissatisfied with the standard the Russian education offered. Prompted by his friends, he simultaneously commenced at an illegal Polish university. He studied sociology, pedagogy, psychology and philosophy with excel- in Democracy Experiments Korczak’s Janusz Our Home: lent Polish professors. During his university years, Korczak found suc- cess as a writer and supported himself with additional work as a tutor. After graduation from medical school, Korczak continued his paedi- atric specialisation in Berlin and Paris, before being conscripted and stationed in China as a doctor in the Russo-Japanese war. During his absence, Korczak books sold well, gaining him minor celebrity status and more publishing offers. After completing his medical studies and several years of hospi- tal work, from 1912, together with Stefania Wilczyńska, he direct- ed the orphanage, Dom Sierot (Orphan’s Home), for the Jewish ‘Aid for Orphans’ Society. This new facility established the project of a self-governing community, alongside a research program on the development and social life of children (aged 7 to 14 years). At various times there was also a youth dormitory; serving as vocational 8 training for apprentice educators. In 1919, together with partners, he created a similar institution Nasz Dom (Our Home) for Polish children. He served as a member of various educational and social associations including those linked to the turn of the century independence move- ment. He worked as a lecturer for institutions educating teachers, nurses and social-care workers and participated in numerous social campaigns. The orphanages (known as children’s homes) and his many publications, secured Korczak’s fame beyond Poland. He gained the admiration of high ranking figures in international education such as Jean Piaget and Nadezhda Krupskaya. His pedagogical ideas were debated internationally during his lifetime with his books translated into Russian in the 1920s and English and French in the 1930s2. He was the creator of the highly original children’s newspaper ‘Mały Przegląd’ (‘Little Review’) – founded in 1926 and written by children. In the 1930s, Korczak regularly presented on Polish Radio and often appeared as an expert witness in court. Having served as a soldier in three wars and bore witness to revolutions; he was quick to volun- teer with civil resistance in 1939. In the summer of 1942, German sol- diers began the liquidation of the Warsaw ghetto, forcing the closure of the orphanage and famous march of the inmates to Umschlagplatz. Janusz Korczak died together with his Jewish associates and children in the German-run extermination camp in Treblinka. Our Home: Janusz Korczak’s Experiments in Democracy Experiments Korczak’s Janusz Our Home: 9 Our desire is to organise the children’s society on the principles of justice, brotherhood (fraternity), in Democracy Experiments Korczak’s Janusz Our Home: equal rights and obligations. Janusz Korczak, in ‘Nasz Dom’ Society Report 1921-19233 Figure: Janusz Korczak with children fromNasz Dom (Our Home) in the 1930s. [Nasz Dom Archive]4 10 Basia Vucic WARSAW Figure: Postcard with view of the Old Town and Wisła River pre-1912. [Public domain] According to popular philosophy of the time, what remains in a nation- al consciousness is geographic sensitivity and a recollection of past he- roes. Legends assume the force of nature. Anchored by their historical and geographic location – Korczak and Warsaw existed together, and he describes his identity as characterised by this relationship: I love my Warsaw-ian Wisła (the Vistula River) and torn from Warsaw I sense a burning longing. Warsaw is mine, and I am hers. I will say even more: I am her. Together with her, I was happy and sad; her weather has been my weather, her rain and mud, mine too. I grew up together with her. Warsaw was the territory or workshop of my work, here a place to stand, over there graves. Our Home: Janusz Korczak’s Experiments in Democracy Experiments Korczak’s Janusz Our Home: Pamiętnik i inne pisma z getta (Memoirs and other writings from the ghetto)5 11 Basia Vucic THE LEGEND OF THE MERMAID Figure: Photography of the Warsaw Mermaid monument. [Polish National Digital Archive] Our Home: Janusz Korczak’s Experiments in Democracy Experiments Korczak’s Janusz Our Home: Long, long ago there was a fishing village surrounded by primaeval forest on the banks of the Wisła River. The villagers talked about the appearance of a mythical creature blessed with a beautiful voice – a syrenka (mermaid). Now and again, when the moon sat low over the river, the villagers could hear her sing. One night, some fishermen planned to capture thesyren - ka and sell her to the prince for gold. The next full moon, they brought along their young apprentice to help string a net between the boul- ders in the river. To avoid hearing her captivating singing, they plugged their ears full of wax. Soon enough, thesyrenka swam directly into their trap, and they hauled her out of the water. While the others went to fetch a wagon, the young lad was left to stand guard over the prisoner. Seeing the mermaid trying to speak, the boy became curious to hear what she was saying so unclogged his ears. ‘Please, help me’, she pleaded, give me my freedom, and you can come with me’, humming her mel- ody. Enchanted by her words, he cut the syrenka free and carried her 12 to the water’s edge. The other fishermen returned to see their nets emp- ty and chased after them, but it was too late. With thesyrenka already swimming in the fast-flowing river, the boy also jumped in as the angry mob ran towards him. Thesyrenka stopped and called out to the furious villagers left behind on the shore – I came to bring you a magical gift, but all you saw was a fish to catch and sell at the market! I forgive you, and I promise one day I will be back.