NEWSLETTER January 2020

WHO WE ARE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD The Janusz Korczak Association of the USA, founded by Mariola Strahlberg To commemorate the Convention, of Shining Mountain, is a member of governments all over the world, as well the International Korczak Association as the Palais des Nations in Paris and the (IKA), whose roots date back to the Polish Korczak Committee, founded in United Nations in New York City, pledged 1947. their alignment with the Convention and supported the 2019 Global Pledge: For Dr. Korczak, a pediatrician, children’s Every Child, Every Right. Here is an open author, educator, and humanitarian, was well-known in Poland and Europe letter to the world’s children from UNICEF for his innovative work at his Orphans’ Executive Director Henrietta H. Fore: Home and Our Home in Warsaw. Dr. Korczak, his assistant Stefania 8 Reasons Why I’m Worried, and

Wilczynska, nine staff members, and Hopeful, About the Next Generation [Public domain] States from United of State Department U.S. Photo: approximately 196 children were taken As we look back on 30 years of the Henrietta Fore continued the letter with to the Treblinka death camp on August Convention on the Rights of the Child, eight reasons she thought there is hope. 5-6, 1942. They disappeared into its we should also look ahead, to the next To hear her speech, click here. bowels, never to be seen again. 30 years. We must listen to you—today’s After WWII, Korczak’s legacy as an children and young people—about the At Korczak USA we believe there is hope educator and hero grew in Poland as issues of greatest concern to you now and and that is why we work on promoting the well as abroad. begin working with you on twenty-first rights and voices of children and strive to create a better world for them. It is clear Here in the USA, Dr. Korczak’s legacy century solutions to twenty-first century was promoted by Prof. Millicent problems. With that in mind, here are to us that we need to do everything in Magaliff and Dr. Kurt Bomze, through eight reasons why I’m worried for your our power, starting with small steps to their Janusz Korczak Society of future: make sure that the world we leave for our America, founded in 1991. In 2013, children is safe, meaningful and affords Mariola Strahlberg officially joined 1. You need clean water, clean air and a opportunities for all children. International Korczak Association and safe climate. formed Janusz Korczak Association 2. One in four of you is likely to live, and of the USA. Joyce Reilly, Professor learn, in conflict and disaster zones. Life is a Story You Write as You Go Efrat Efron, Max Gilman, and Mariola —A Voice of a Child Strahlberg are current board members. 3. We must make it OK to talk about You can reach us and learn about our mental health. Last summer, Mariola Strahlberg visited activities via our website (korczakusa. 4. Over 30 million of you have migrated Sicily. One day she spent a whole day on a com). from your place of birth. beautiful farm, milking cows, baking bread Thank you to all who have already sent 5. Thousands of you will officially never and learning how to make a ricotta cheese. your donations. To help us continue exist, unless we act. There she heard a story of a little 13-year- our work, you can contribute via the 6. You need twenty-first century skills old girl who couldn’t go to school because DONATE button on our website, or for a twenty-first century economy. there was no way for her to get to and send us a check with the form at the from school. This is the story of courage, end of this newsletter. 7. Your digital footprint must be protected. incredible drive and the possibility for a 8. You might be the last trusting child’s voice to be heard loud and clear. generation of citizens ever. (Continued(Continued onon pagepage 2)

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Life Is A Story You Write As You Go - cont’d from page 1 WORTH KNOWING My name is Caccamo Agostina Margherita. while almost all the children hated to go My grandparents have always lived in a to school! So the next day Mrs Rose and I The Spring 2019 farm in the countryside since they were went to the Mayor of my town. We asked Issue of PRISM, an children. They considered their children him if it was possible to have a minibus that Interdisciplinary as work arms in fact the sons worked in brought students from the countryside Journal for Holo- the fields and fed the animals while the to the town to attend the high schools. caust Educators daughters did the housework and looked I told him these words that I have never had two articles after the younger brothers. When they forgotten: “My name is Margherita. I am that mentioned were 14 or 15 years old, they could marry a 13 years old child who lives in a farm. Janusz Korczak— and have their own family. I want to continue my studies because Oral Torah from the Warsaw Ghetto: My grandparents were illiterate but my I love studying but nobody can bring me A Personal Interview with Professor parents went to school because, after the to school. The Italian Constitution and Gutman, and Turning Points: A Second World War, the Italian Government the Convention on the Rights of the Reflection on Jewish Warsaw and Lu- decided to build the primary school in the Child states that to study is a Right so, blin. To read the articles, visit https:// countryside. So my father and my mother when parents cannot help their children, www.yu.edu/azrieli/prism-journal studied until they were 10 years old and the Italian Government must help them. and scroll down to page 14 and page they finished the primary school. When I Mr Mayor, can you help me please?” He 71. Thank you to Karen Shawn, editor, was born, children were obliged to go to looked at me and he didn’t say any words. for sharing the journal with us. school until 13 years old and you could He was surprised by my self-initiative and marry after 18 years old. desire to study. After few minutes he told me: “Don’t worry Margherita. Tomorrow Since I was a child, I loved studying. I was a minibus will bring you here and you will very curious and I always asked a lot of go to high school.” My dream came true! questions to my teacher because I wanted I attended the high school and I became a to know everything. She answered me teacher. Since that day all the children that with the love and the passion that she lived in the countryside could go to high On November 14th, 2019, the Janusz had for her job. Instead my parents told school by minibus and they were free to Korczak Association of Canada invited me: “Margherita, stop asking questions!” choose the school they wanted to attend. Senator Murray Sinclair to deliver the My teacher was fantastic, so, one day, I Margherita sent this update when she University of British Columbia Dean’s asked her how I could become a teacher. heard that her story would be published in Distinguished Lecture: Janusz Korczak She answered me that I was very good the Korczak USA newsletter: the Father of Children’s Rights— at school, I helped my classmates, I loved Turning Rights into Action. You can studying so I could attend the high school “I am honored that my story is going to to become a teacher. I was enthusiastic! be known abroad. I had to work after listen to his speech by clicking here When I went back home, I told my parents high school, even if I wanted to go to the or read about it in the article in the I wanted to attend the high school and university. Jewish Independent entitled Canada’s become a teacher. My dad answered me “I was a teacher at the elementary school, Legacy of Trauma at http://www. that it was impossible because I had to wife and mother of two wonderful boys: jewishindependent.ca/canadas- work in the farm and that only those who Giada, 12 years, and Luca, 10. The day I legacy-of-trauma/. lived in the city could attend high school. turned 41, I decided to give myself a gift The high school was 20 kilometres from —I joined the university. And with great my house and nobody could drive me. So, joy I would like to let you know that I when I finished the secondary school, I graduated with the degree in psychology stayed at home. It was a terrible period for on September 18th, 2019. Today I am me. Day by day I felt depressed, I didn’t eat very happy, I In October 2019, Joyce Reilly met anything and I couldn’t get up from bed. will work as with Dr. Kurt Bomze to initiate a new My parents were worried and they didn’t a specialist project, “History of Janusz Korczak in know what to do. for disabled the USA.” They are planning to create One day Mrs. Rose, one of my mother’s children and I a chronological documentation of the friends, came to my house. When she saw hope one day work done by Dr. Bomze and Professor me, she understood I felt very bad and she to become a Millicent Magaliff under the auspices asked me the reason of my illness. She was school principal. I want to be always close to children, the most precious asset.” of Janusz Korczak Society of America. surprised when I told her that I wanted to go to school but my parents didn’t agree. In her opinion it was necessary to Margherita’s email: find a solution because I loved studying [email protected]

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WORTH KNOWING PASSING OF PROFESSOR JADWIGA

On October 23rd, 2019, Professor Svetlana Petrovskaya, a “mother” of Ukrainian Korczak Society was honored by Ukrainian children for her Korczak work over the past many decades. During a festive ceremony, she received the Order of the Smile. Marek Michalak, chair of the IKA did the honors.

Professor Jadwiga Bińczycka On November 18, 2019, the 1930-2019 Ombudsperson of Children’s Rights in the Republic of announced Professor Jadwiga Bińczycka died on August Those of us who attended the Korczak the publishing of Janusz Korczak’s 27th, 2019, in Warsaw. A true educator, 2017 gathering at the Polin Museum in book The Child’s Right to Respect in Professor Bińczycka was one of the key Warsaw were able to spend time with Lithuanian. The book received a lot people in Poland who started to promote Jadwiga and honor her for the last time. of positive feedback from lawyers, Janusz Korczak’s ideas right after the World Her passing is a great loss to those who psychologists, medics, social workers, teacher, parents, and of course War II and was active both in the Polish appreciate the legacy of Janusz Korczak children. and International Korczak Associations. and Stefa Wilczynska. She was an adamant defender of children’s rights and a recipient of the Order of the Take the time to read the text of one of Professor Bińczycka’s speeches in English, Smile, given to her by children. entitled Janusz Korczak—Champion of I met Jadwiga for the first time in . Children’s Rights. The talk was given in We met many more times over the Warsaw in September, 2010. http://www. years during the International Korczak januszkorczak.ca/Prof_Binczycka.pdf. Association’s gatherings. Every time we spoke, she had the same message for me: Korczak USA honors Professor Bińczycka’s Where are the young people in the US memory by working with children in who are interested in Korczak’s ideas? schools, teaching them about children’s Without young people, Korczak’s ideas, rights outdoors on hikes on the Children’s so very important for our times, will die. Rights Trail, and supporting organizations Her book, Meeting with Korczak, although such as Acupuncturists Without Borders, only in Polish, served as a required text that bring healing to children whose rights . for many teachers involved with Korczak’s are not being honored at the US borders pedagogy in Poland and helped me to understand Korczak’s teachings.

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THE SCHOOL OF LIFE IN THE 21ST CENTURY Conference Report By Professor Efrat Sara Efron WORTH KNOWING In Israel, at the campus of Tel Aviv children at Korczak’s orphanages. Among University, 140 people from different the themes that were highlighted were the The Korczak Educational Center in parts of the world gathered together for nurturing of sense trust between children the Spirit of Janusz Korczak and Stefa the 9th International Conference on the and educators, the concept of responsibility Wilczynska was officialy opened on Educational Legacy of Janusz Korczak. for self, others and community, viewing the November 11th, 2019, on the campus For three days, 26-28 of November child as the ‘expert,’ the value of education of the Hadassah Neurim Youth Village, 2019, the conference participants, for work, and the importance of patience 40 minutes from Tel Aviv. The Youth classroom teachers, school administrators, for and acceptance of children as they are. Village is home to youth-at-risk from social workers, social activists, artists, The lecturers considered the challenge low socio-economic backgrounds and was founded in 1948. The Educational Center will offer space for meetings, exhibits and concerts.

The next IKA Meeting will be held in academicians, university students, as of implementing these progressive and 2020 in Kazań, Russia. Korczak USA well as middle and high schools students humanistic ideas in the current educational member, Marcia Talmage Schneider discussed and debated the trends, era of standardization and accountability. will be representing Korczak USA challenges, and initiatives in education at this meeting. Her book, Janusz for a culture of rights in lights of Janusz Another theme that was highlighted in Korczak—A Sculptor of Children’s Souls, Korczak’s humanistic thoughts. several sessions was the acceptance of was recently translated into Russian diversity and the respect of the Other and she will be making presentations In the vast and energetic campus, in a multi-cultural and multi identity about her book. experiencing spring-like weather, the society. The concept of multiculturalism enthusiastic participants were involved was discussed from the perspective of in thought-provoking, and at times, the migrant crisis in Europe and the child heated debates about Korczak’s moral of migrant workers in Israel. Methods of and educational legacy as a springboard integrating new immigrant children into for creative and transformative forms school and community were shared, and a of education appropriate for the 21st session was dedicated to discussing gender On behalf of Korczak USA, Joyce Reilly century. Reporting on the many exciting transformative approaches for girls’ has been asked by the Holocaust/ and vibrant discussions that took place meaningful participation. Papers focused Genocide Study Center at Drew during the conference is a complex on the development of educational systems University in New Jersey to offer a challenge for me. I’ll try overcoming the that support and embrace children with three-part in-depth study seminar on problem by constructing the report around special needs, children at risk and children the life, work and legacy of Dr. Korczak. the three major themes that, in my eyes, living in poverty were presented, followed The seminar will be offered in the captured the ideas discussed throughout by productive conversations. Inspired by spring of 2021 and will be attended the conference’s sessions. the spirit of Korczak’s view of children’s by teachers, graduate school students, rights, the participants discussed the role and high school students from all over One of the major themes around which the of dialogue, respect and acceptance in the region. discussion evolved were the educational embracing the Other. concepts that served as the foundations of the school of life experienced by the Children’s rights were, in fact, a recurring

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The School of Life in the 21st Century, cont’d from p.4 YOUR DONATIONS MAKE A motif throughout the conference as the story of a successful children parliament in BIG DIFFERENCE 30th Anniversary of the Convention on one of the Israeli cities that was shared the Rights of the Child was celebrated. before an amazed audience. The youth In 2019, 27 generous donors The idea of children right resonated parliament was implemented as a model contributed from $6 to $1500 to powerfully from the keynote speech given of youth participation in formulating support our Korczak presence in the by Professor Philip Jaffer, a member of policies and in becoming involved in the United States. As you know,all our work, the UN Committee on Children Rights local community and the country. Such including presentations, conferences to the presentations given by many youth parliaments currently exist in many and exhibits, is done on a voluntary sessions’ lecturers on how to translate cities in Israel and are supported by the basis. However, the materials for the Korczak’s belief in children right into the school administration, local municipalities presentations, website and Facebook current culturally and political troubled as well as the educational ministry. presence, newsletters and news need environment. It was argued that education to be supported financially. We also for autonomy and agency is the child’s One of the unique features of the have big dreams: A Korczak Camp and primary right. conference was the attendance of Institute in the US. So please, support middle and high school students. These Korczak USA in 2020, keep us as one Such autonomy and active agency are youngsters listened attentively, raised of your favorite charities on Amazon fundamental for establishing a culture of questions and even served as presenters Smile, and let us know what you are right in school. Participants discussed ways in several sessions. They shared their doing to promote Korczak’s legacy in of giving youths a voice and teaching them experiences in children’s committees and the US. ways of democratically making collective answered patiently, politely, but with decisions. They related opportunities assertive confidence the adults’ questions for the realization of children’s rights of disbelief. In my mind, I could see that took place in different educational Korczak smile with pride and nodding his settings, such as pre-schools and schools, head with “nachos” (satisfaction). For me, after-school clubs, boarding schools, and such assertive youth participation was one children courts. In these settings, children of the highlights of the conference and took upon themselves the responsibility to served as proof that although it took many became partners in formulating their daily decades, Korczak’s visionary ideas will be educational and social lives. Another ray of implemented successfully and prove their hope glimmered when we heard about the practicality.

2019 GENERAL MEETING On November 29th, 2019, after the Conference, the International Korczak Association (IKA) held a General Meeting to review last year’s work and to approve new members. The meeting took place in the newly opened Korczak Educational Center in the Spirit of Janusz Korczak and Stefa Wilczyńska (see sidebar, page 4). During the meeting, financial reports for last year were presented and accepted, and the following new board and audit committee members were elected: Chairperson: Marek Michalak (Poland) Vice-Chairpersons: Jerzy Nussbaum (Canada) and Barbara Sochal (Poland), Secretary General: Michał Kozień (Poland, ) Vice-Secretary General: Eva Haller (), Treasurer: Rosa Valeeva (Russia). In addition, the association elected nine board members, including Mariola Strahlberg from the US. At the request of the Chairperson, Professor Jadwiga Pictured, far left: Professor Sara Efrat Efron (USA); center, front row: Dr. Marek Michalek, Bińczycka and Batia Gilad received honorary Chair of the IKA (Poland); far right: Dr. Misha Epstein (USA). memberships.

Page 5 January 2020 We invite you to support the work of

Janusz Korczak (1878/9-1942), a Polish-Jewish pediatrician, children’s writer, educator, father of progressive orphanages and children’s rights, is well known all over the world and yet most Americans have never heard of him. The purpose of the Janusz Korczak Association of the USA is to disseminate information about his life and work, his humanism and his sacrifice. Through our practical work with children, we strive to follow the Fundamental Rights of the Child, including: The Right to One’s Own Life – We help educators and parents to create a safe environment for children to discover things on their own while allowing sufficient space, literally and spiritually. The Right to Live in the Present – We want to prepare children for the future but children yearn to live in the here and now – therefore we support their need for play and relaxation. The Right to Be Himself or Herself – We ask to accept children the way they are, with their talents and shortcomings.

Yes! I want to support the important work of the Janusz Korczak Association! Please send me your semi-annual newsletter so that I can learn more about: • Putting Korczak’s philosophy into action • Suggestions and strategies for creating a harmonious childhood for children • The latest US and international Korczak activities and ways to join in these activities with various groups and organizations.

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I am: q a student q an educator q a parent q other: ______

I would like to further support the work of the Association with a donation in the amount of: q Friend ($15 - $49) q Patron ($100 - $999) q Other: $______q Associate ($50 - $99) q Founder’s Circle ($1000+)

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Please send me information on how I can help with the following activities: q Children’s project based on Korczak’s books and his legacy q Korczak exhibits and lectures for parents and children q Workshops on the Convention on the Rights of the Child for educators and children q Workshops and lectures for parents and educators on Korczak’s pedagogy q Five Star Program® training for educational institutions

Thank you for your commitment. You financial support is greatly appreciated. Many schools, teachers and parents are not able to afford our services. With your help, we are able to bring our work to them for free or at greatly reduced rates. There is power in numbers, and with your help, every day we are creating a more peaceful and happy childhood for all children. You can contact us by calling 845-425-7243. Learn more at www.korczakusa.com. and facebook.com/korczakusa.