Janusz Korczak and the Importance of Listening to Children’s Voices in Education: Theory, Research, and Practical Strategies

Another successful and interesting lecture, 2^nd in the series, co-sponsored by The Janusz Korczak Association of Canada and the University of British Columbia Faculty of Education, took place at the Robert H. Lee Alumni Center on October 29^th 2015.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Kimberly A. Schonert-Reichl who is a professor in the Human Development, Learning and Culture program at UBC and the Interim Director of the Early Learning. She has authored more than 100 articles and several books.

Dr. Schonert Reichl’s focus is on the social and emotional development and the well -being of children as well as adolescents. She spoke at length on being mindful and caring towards children, very much in the spirit of Dr. Korczak’s own theories on how to love a child. Her best example was the classroom as the microcosmic world of children where teachers have a very special role in their attitude towards their students.

The speaker talked about her own education and how she was seduced by the idea of giving children a voice in the classroom. So she engaged them in decorating the classroom according to their own taste and letting them express their ideas. When the students saw that their opinion mattered, they became engaged. Schonert-Reichl then realized that she was learning from her students by listening to them, hearing, and heading their voices, thus taking immense pleasure in teaching them. She discussed further how teachers need to have compassion for the children and never shame them thus children would be celebrated and their voices heard.

Following the keynote lecture the moderator, Maria LeRose, Program Consultant for the Dalai Lama Center for peace and Education also an Adjunct Professor at UBC in the Faculty of Medicine, co-ordinated a panel consisting of three young people, Robin Kaebe, Salma Rafi and Alexander Corless, Grade 6 students at Lord Roberts Elementary, who freely expressed their thoughts when answering questions from the audience. They spoke of how teacher’s attitude matters; how children need to be heard and seen. Even a hello in the school corridor gives the child a sense of being and recognition. One said that the classroom becomes like a 2^nd family and very important relationships are formed.

Another appreciates a climate of comfort and safety. Still another expressed a definition of a teacher as “somebody who asks us what we want to do.” Also appreciated was the presence of suggestion boxes as a medium through which the children could express their thoughts and feelings.

Both Schonert-Reichel and LeRose addressed the fact that teachers also need care and understanding as often their very demanding jobs create a burnout.

The panel discussion closed on the importance of parent-teacher communication as that gives the child more confidence, acknowledgment and feeling of security.

Jerry Nussbaum, the President of the Janusz Korczak Association of Canada opened the evening with introductory remarks about Janusz Korczak and his many various activities in the field of children’s rights and welfare and he quoted Korczak, “Children are people, whose souls contain the seeds of all those thoughts and emotions that we possess. As these seeds develop, their growth must be gently directed.“

Mr. Nussbaum mentioned the famous Korczak democratic court held in his orphanage for the children by the children. He concluded his address by thanking all the donors, speakers and volunteers.

The next and 3^rd lecture of the series takes place in the Alumni Center as well on November 25^th 2015, with Anne Cools, Senator for Toronto Centre-York with Dr. Edward Kruk as moderator. To register, please visit jklectures.educ.ubc.ca .

 

Lillian Boraks-Nemetz

Click here for the video recording of the session.