Educational Council meets, elects officers (07/30/00)

Educational Council meets, elects officers

by Lydia Babiuk

EAST HANOVER, N.J. - The Educational Council, which functions under the aegis of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, held its elections meeting on June 24-25 at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center. Teachers attending the meeting represented 35 Ukrainian studies schools and courses in which 2,600 students are enrolled.

The president of the Education Council, Dr. Eugene Fedorenko gave his summary on educational activity in the schools of Ukrainian studies during the past four years. On the whole the schools are being revived due to the influx of highly qualified teachers from the fourth wave of immigrants, many of whom have a new approach to the teaching of different subjects. The newly arrived teachers make up 50 percent of the total number of teachers working in the schools of Ukrainian studies.

The total number of the students has also risen due to the new students from Ukraine. In fact, a school of Ukrainian studies has been opened in Sacramento, Calif., consisting mostly of pupils from Ukraine. This particular school is the second largest in the country, with almost 300 students.

The general increase in the number of students in Ukrainian schools also has been generated by children of the third and fourth generation, whose parents speak poor Ukrainian, or don't speak Ukrainian at all, Dr. Fedorenko noted. There are also children from Ukraine, who have been adopted by Americans, attending schools of Ukrainian studies.

It is important to maintain close ties with Ukraine and to exchange information with our children throughout various levels of their education, Dr. Fedorenko said, so that they will know not only the Ukrainian language, but the history of their ancestors.

Trips to America for children from Ukraine would be very beneficial, he continued. The young independent nation of Ukraine needs people who are multi-dimensional and have a good understanding of a foreign language.

The president of Ukrainian World Congress, Askold Lozynskyj, informed the Educational Council that the educational process is being redefined in Ukraine. In Kyiv there are 90 Ukrainian-language schools, and only three Russian-language schools, therefore, the Ukrainian nation is on the right path.

Mr. Lozynskyj stated that we must raise our children in America in the Ukrainian spirit. A Ukrainian community that has a school of Ukrainian studies is clearly more active and stronger, he added.

The second day of the conference, was devoted to practical matters. Educational programs were discussed, and a report of new handbooks and educational materials was presented. Teachers exchanged ideas on new teaching methods.

A new executive board of the Educational Council was elected. Dr. Fedorenko, president; Olexander Lushnycky, Olha Kekish, Olexander Pryshlak, Nadia Ludmila Chojnacka, vice-presidents; Maria Reshitnyk, treasurer; Maria Lysetska, press chair; Roman Brukh, secretary; George Gajecky, Lina Andrijenko-Danchuk, Vira Bej, Kateryna Nemyra, members of the board; Ivan Kobasa, Bohdan Harhaj, Ihor Huryn, Larissa Sonna and Bohdan Yasinsky, auditing committee; Stephan Wolanyk, Kornel Wasylyk, Yuriy Kosachevich, Stefania Kwasowska and Maria Kiciuk, arbitration board.

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