Janusz Korczak

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxi

   PDF

2. The Ethos: Living with and for Children

   • Joop W. A. Berding

   Pages 1-13

3. The Basis: Respect for the Child

   • Joop W. A. Berding

   Pages 15-22

4. The Means: Participative Education

   • Joop W. A. Berding

   Pages 23-37

5. The Core: Doing Justice

   • Joop W. A. Berding

   Pages 39-44

6. Today: Living Together in a ‘Republican’ Fashion

   • Joop W. A. Berding

   Pages 45-48

7. Afterword: Educating for Justice

   • Joop W. A. Berding

   Pages 49-50

8. Back Matter

   Pages 51-51

   PDF

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.

• Janusz Korczak
• Participatory Education
• Respect for the Child
• Striving for Justice in Education
• Democratic Education in Schools
• Important Educators from the Twentieth Century
• Progressive Education
• Child-Centered Education
• Reformpädagogik in Europe
• Education According to Janusz Korczak

“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)

“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 notknow 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)

• The Hague, The Netherlands

  Joop W. A. Berding

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.

Policies and ethics