NEWS AND VIEWS: Teachers of Ukrainian studies schools meet at conference in Cleveland (12/01/02)

NEWS AND VIEWS

Teachers of Ukrainian studies schools meet at conference in Cleveland

by George Gajecky

Over 70 principals and teachers of schools of Ukrainian studies affiliated with the Educational Council gathered at the end of the 2001-2002 academic year for a Teachers' Conference at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio, near Cleveland.

The conference was preceded by a meeting of principals and PTA. The president of Educational Council, Dr. Eugene Fedorenko, informed them about the status of schools for the 2001-2002 school year. There were 30 active schools in the "Ridna Shkola" system, with 2,610 students and 358 teachers

This is a positive trend because 65 percent of the teachers are between the ages of 25 and 50. Also, many of the teachers have arrived within the last 10 years from Ukraine. It seems that the new teachers are outnumbering the local ones. However, some work needs to be done to attract more newly arrived students to our schools.

In the last year three new textbooks were published; another three are scheduled to come out soon. George Gajecky's "Contemporary History of Ukraine, 1945-2001" was released while textbooks in geography and culture are in the process of being printed.

Next year, 2003, marks the 50th anniversary of the Educational Council. A jubilee book will appear with a description of all present and former schools in the system. All schools are urged to send in current information about their schools.

The main conference of teachers was opened on Saturday, June 22. Prof. David G. Anderson, chairman of the department of classical modern languages at John Carroll University, and Prof. Helen Turkewicz-Sanko of the French department greeted the assembled teachers. Then came welcomes delivered by Prof. Fedorenko and Renata Harmatii of the organizing committee. Afterwards the teachers divided into two large groups: the lower grades, kindergarten through grade 7; and the upper grades, 8-12.

The first group was headed by Vera Bej of Philadelphia and Olena Olijowski of Cleveland. They discussed how to better present teaching materials to younger children. It was decided that, beginning with Grade 1, each grade should assimilate about 250 words per year into the students' vocabulary. That way, by Grade 8, a child's vocabulary should encompass 1,750 words. Presentations were made by Raisa Cherniv (Cleveland), Natalia Doerrler (Palatine, Ill.) Daria Kramarchuk (Cleveland), Oksana Kulynych (Yonkers, N.Y.), Luba Hryciv (Detroit) and Olena Herhot (Washington).

The session for the upper grades was devoted to programs and methodology and was headed by Nadia Chojnacka (Chicago) and Mr. Gajecky (New York). Mr. Gajecky analyzed the program for teaching history in the upper grades, stressing that the program focuses on the "heroic periods" when Ukraine was an independent state: Kyivan Rus', the Hetmanate, the struggle for independence and contemporary Ukraine.

Dr. Fedorenko underlined the need to synchronize instruction of literature, culture and history. The "classical periods" have to be aligned so as to allow for the modern Ukrainian literature of the 1980s and 1990s. Natalia Bodnar (Cleveland) showed how to use modern technology in teaching geography.

During the afternoon session, in the upper grades' session, Mr. Gajecky explained how to teach contemporary Ukrainian history using his new textbook as a guide. Dr. Fedorenko showed how concentrating on a single book, like Volodymyr Vynnychenko's "Shchos' Bilshe za Nas" (Something Greater than Us) brings satisfactory results. Volodymyr Fedoruk (New York) talked about teaching history in the seventh grade and Ihor Mirchuk (Philadelphia) explained his textbook on Ukrainian culture, which may be used for four years.

During a plenary session everyone was dazzled by computer displays and Internet entries for various topics. Viroslav Kosc, principal of the school in Cleveland, showed how he uses the Internet in school. Ms. Harmatii (Cleveland) explained how getting credits for Ukrainian subjects in high school and college might stimulate interest in students of Ukrainian school. This was also stressed by Maria Kitsiuk (Yonkers), who gave an example of how the New York State Regents Exam gives Ukrainian students a chance to get college credits.

Tania Farmiga (Cleveland) provided an interesting analysis of over 300 questionnaires filled out by students of various schools. For instance, history was the favorite subject. Roman Hrytsiv (Detroit), showed persuasively how the use of Internet and computer technology helps the teachers get their programs across to students, many of whom are "computer freaks." Ms. Chojnacka gave a presentation how to deal with discipline and problem students.

During supper various awards were given out to deserving teachers from the Cleveland area. Films were shown by Dr. Fedorenko which could be used in the teaching programs of Saturday schools. A substantial exhibition of educational materials from Ukraine, Canada and the United States was on view for the teachers' benefit; it was organized by the Cleveland school under the leadership of Mr. Kosc.

On Sunday, after gathering in the University Chapel for services, the teachers met for a plenary session chaired by Oleksander Luzhnytskyi (Philadelphia). Reports from the separate sessions were presented to the general public by Myrosia Melnyk for the lower classes and Ms. Chojnacka and Mr. Gajecky for the upper classes. The latter also read the proposed resolutions of the Teachers' Conference, which were accepted. Dr. Fedorenko thanked the organizers from the Cleveland School, Mr. Kosc and his daughters, Ms. Harmatii and Ms. Farmiga.

The conference was a stimulating event in the field of Ukrainian education in the United States. Several delegates from Canada contributed to its international aspect. Such conferences provide a useful forum for the exchange of ideas and methods, and allow teachers of Ukrainian schools to get to know one another, which leads to improved cooperation.

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