Ukrainian American Educational Council prepares to mark its 50th jubilee (08/31/03)

Ukrainian American Educational Council prepares to mark its 50th jubilee

by George Gajecky

NEW YORK - Many Ukrainian Americans went to Saturday school themselves or knew of others who attended. They missed the Saturday cartoons but usually took part in dance festivals, attended Plast and SUM camps, and had interesting summer vacations. They could also communicate with their grandparents and went to Ukraine to visit their relatives.

All these schools belonged to an organization called the Educational Council of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America It has coordinated programs, supplied textbooks, set curriculum guidelines and trained teachers for the last 50 years - since 1953.

In its heyday, the Educational Council comprised over 60 schools with over 6,000 students. Now its member-schools number 35 with 2,600 students and teachers. The Educational Council performs the necessary task of centralizing and guiding Ukrainian private education, establishing standards and goals for the schools, and providing standardized final exams. Some schools have a full 12-year program, while others finish with 11th grade. Others only have eight grades and their students have to complete their education elsewhere.

The whole system has undergone generational changes along with conceptual ones. The old "veterans" of schools in Europe have mostly passed on or retired, and members of the younger generation who came here in the 1950s are now in control.

In the meantime, a "new wave" of immigrants from Ukraine arrived with their own problems and expectations.

These issues and changes are discussed annually at regional and national teachers conferences like those in Rochester in June 2001 and Cleveland in June 2002. Many problems have been resolved. For instance, many teachers are recent immigrants even though the schools are not overflowing with the children of new arrivals.

New techniques of teaching are being tried out - using the computer, and various new media, and introducing term papers and projects. Younger teachers are introduced as teacher's aides and can complete their education at teacher seminars offered during the summer at Soyuzivka since 1985.

New textbooks are being printed incorporating the history of modern Ukraine, Ukrainian literature of the 1990s and current events. Students are asked to participate in pen-pal correspondence with peers in Ukraine and commemoration services of the Famine-Genocide in addition to preparing concerts in honor of Taras Shevchenko or in celebration of the "Yalynka."

The Educational Council was founded in 1953 when 22 schools decided to form a central body. Prof. Edward Zarskyi served as its first president in 1953-1954. He was followed by Volodymyr Kalyna (1954-1961). Prof. Zarsky then served again in 1961-1977. Then came Prof. Roman Drazhniowsky (1977-1983) and Dr. Eugene Fedorenko (1983 to the present).

The network of Ukrainian Saturday schools stretches from Boston to Kent, Wash. After attending classes from kindergarten through grade 12 and passing a comprehensive exam, students are honored at a festive banquet. Over 30,000 young Ukrainians have studied at these schools, and over 7,000 have graduated. Many graduates work in responsible positions here in the United States and also in Ukraine for various government organizations or American businesses. Some graduates get credits for their Ukrainian studies at local universities upon passing qualifying exams.

The Ridna Shkola journal appears three times a year. The articles deal with subjects helpful to teachers, current events in Ukraine and events of historical significance. The journal is very popular in Ukraine, where hundreds of schools use it in their instruction. It is also a bridge to educators in Ukraine that informs them of events in the United States. Many dozens of letters arrive from schools and educational institutions, reporting on their activities and asking for help with textbooks and literary reading materials.

This year, 2003, marks the 50th anniversary of the Educational Council. On October 25, a gala celebration will be held at the Ramada Inn in East Hanover, N.J., to honor the teachers who worked for many years in this institution.

Also, a jubilee book will be published to highlight the histories of the many schools that belong to the Educational Council. Institutions, businesses and individuals may purchase advertising space in the book or send greetings to the Educational Council's teachers.

For further information, readers may contact: Ukrainian Educational Council, P.O. Box 391, Cooper Station, NY 10276; telephone, (212) 477-1200; fax, (212) 777-7201.

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