NEWS AND VIEWS: "Project Renaissance" strives to improve education in Ukrainian studies schools (04/20/97)

NEWS AND VIEWS

"Project Renaissance" strives to improve education in Ukrainian studies schools

by George Szwabiuk

Ukrainian education of children has a long history of success in the United States. Ukrainian Saturday schools were founded to provide children of Ukrainian immigrants with the basic knowledge needed to retain their Ukrainian identity and values, and ensure the continuity of the Ukrainian community. Schools of Ukrainian studies may now be found in cities across the country, from Boston to Sacramento. The Educational Council of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America is tasked with providing a cohesive national framework for these schools.

More than a decade has elapsed since the schools primarily served children of immigrants; most parents today were either born or educated in the United States. Methods and materials used in the past need to be adapted to the current environment. Children need books that they can more easily understand and that are more suitable under today's teaching standards.

To continue the mission of providing for Ukrainian continuity, our schools need to change. A new program called "Project Renaissance" outlines just such a purpose in its mission statement: "To develop new materials, methods and strategies for Saturday Ukrainian studies, with a high probability of success in educating present and future generations of American-born children of Ukrainian background."

The inception of Project Renaissance was at the Ukrainian Heritage School in the Philadelphia area, but its benefits will be available to Ukrainian Saturday schools nationwide. Its focus is on a significant improvement in teaching methods. Present teaching methods need improvement to integrate subject materials at their respective grade levels and to reflect contemporary teaching concepts. We need to promote activities that engage students in the learning process. Inevitably, this will also increase the efficient use of teachers' time.

The above goals will be achieved by publishing a new series of textbooks that will serve as new teaching tools for Ukrainian studies schools. Separate volumes of new course materials will be developed for different grades and subjects. Each of Grades 1 through 7 will have their own volume, integrating all subjects taught in that grade. For Grades 8 through 11, five volumes will be published for each grade. Each volume will cover one of the following subjects: language arts, history, literature, culture and geography.

Each volume will present subjects in a comprehensive manner, including a side-by-side translation of less familiar Ukrainian words into English. There will be activities, exercises and workbook materials with attractive, topical illustrations. A dictionary of all the new words used in the textbook will be compiled at the end of each volume. Separately, there will also be suggested test materials for use by teachers.

Each volume will be contemporary in tone, written so that children are receptive to its contents and so that American-born parents will be able to help children with their studies. Each volume will be reviewed by subject and language experts and by educators widely acknowledged in their fields. The Ukrainian Heritage School is working with and has the support of the UCCA Educational Council.

The textbooks will be published in stages over the course of five years. Five volumes for Grade 8 have already been produced and put to use as a pilot project, and the responses from both children and parents have been overwhelming. This class now expects to receive a new set of volumes when it gets to Grade 9. Under the current schedule, the five books for Grade 9 will be ready upon commencement of the school year this fall. The entire project should be completed by the year 2000.

Few of us have any illusions about the expected cost of this project. The costs will be considerable - and they will be well beyond the resources of the Ukrainian Heritage School in Philadelphia. The school's Parents Association is convinced that the project is vital to the school's survival and, to demonstrate their support, they have approved a resolution guaranteeing to cover the first $20,000 of Project Renaissance expenses. This pledge is a generous gesture, but it does not come close to covering expected costs. A great deal more financial support is needed for Project Renaissance to succeed.

Therefore, we are asking individuals and institutions to send their generous donations to: Project Renaissance, Ukrainian Heritage School, 700 Cedar Road, Jenkintown, PA 19046. Please make checks payable to: Project Renaissance - Ukrainian Heritage School.

Is this an important project?

It is as important as the continued existence of our Ukrainian community. Thus, Ukrainian organizations and enterprises, which will need graduates of Ukrainian studies schools as their future constituents, also should make a significant commitment to Project Renaissance.

| Home Page |