Janusz Korczak . Януш Корчак

Janusz Korczak

A doctor. A writer. An educator

-Advocate, spokesman, protector of children's rights

-Researcher and discoverer of the world of children

-Creator of progressive orphanages

-Korczak wrote over 20 books and

published over 1400

Janusz Korczak- researcher and discoverer of the world of children

„ It is not that a child will become a human being, he is one already”

Korczak worked as the director of an orphanage for Jewish children in Warsaw.

He organized in 1912 the care center in which the children lived on equal rights and duties as grown-ups. They had their own court and parliament.

All his life Janusz Korczak wrote for children, for parents, for Educators

Pedagogical ideas.

Principle of love to the child.

The tasks must be really performed.

The right of the child to be himself.

The right of the children to be different one from another.

Communication with the child at the level of his understanding.

The child should be prepared for the real life, not ideal.

Right of the child for respect.

Biography

Janusz Korczak was born in 1878 in Warsaw in a Jewish

family, strongly assimilated in the polish society.

As a rich child, he wasn’t allowed to play with children on

the streets and felt himself lonely. When Korczak was 19

years old, his father died. The financial situation of his family

changed. He had to begin to work and studied.

As a young doctor Korczak worked very hard.

In 1896 he debuted on the literary scene with a satirical text on

education of children , Węzeł gordyjski.

„ Best friend of children”

In 1911–1912 he became a director of house of orphan’s in

Warsaw.

His innovative views on education of children,

made him popular and soon he became a famous pediatrician.

Korczak declared respect of children’s right to live

in peace and happiness.

Relationship to children must be based on partnership and

responsibility.

He had his own original educational program.

He was a member of many educational societies, an

academy lecturer, an expert in law cases about children.

He had his own radio program in which he called himself

the „Old Doctor”.

He coordinated the publishing of a weekly children’s

magazine for 13 years with 3200 correspondents .

How did the life in the orphanage look like?

In the Korczak‘s theory all elements were important.

The children took care of the house along with the adults.

The children respected the physical work.

They had own mailbox. They could read the teacher's ideas

in their diary.

They had the court. It was the self-government institutions

of children. This Court worked on the base of a set of over a

hundred rules.

Ninety-nine articles were "forgiving" and only ten ones were

accusative.

Self-government of children was a result of complex and long

work of teachers.

Last March

When World War II came in 1939 Janusz

Korczak was arrested because he refused

to put on the Jews label.

He got out only because of his friends‘ help.

During the occupation he treated and raised already

fateful jewish children.

On Thursday, the 6th of August, 1942 the Germans

deported Korczak, his assistants and the

two hundred children, from the orphanage.

Before deportation one nazi officer suggested Korczak

to escape. This officer read his books in the childhood.

Korczak refused.

Last March

The old Doctor didn't leave children in the most terrible hour of their life.

A witness described the scene as follows:

“ It was not a march, it was

organized, wordless protest against the murder.”

The children marched in rows of four,

with Korczak leading them, looking straight ahead,

and holding a child’s hand on each side.

Nobody saw them after that.

Janusz Korczak died with his children and staff

in the German nazi death camp „Treblinka”

in August 1942.

He remains a symbol of human dignity and

the victory of love, devotion and a well lived

life - even in the face of dehumanizing

terror and death.