Ukrainian studies school teachers meet, elect officers of Educational Council (08/06/06)

Ukrainian studies school teachers meet, elect officers of Educational Council

by George Gajecky

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Every three years, teachers from the school system of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) hold a conference. On June 16-18, over 50 delegates from 20 schools met here on the campus of John Fisher College to elect the executive organs of the Educational Council for the 2006-2009 term.

On Friday, June 16, at a meeting of principals and PTA officers, Dr. Eugene Fedorenko reported that in the 2005-2006 school year there were 2,600 students and 350 teachers. Five new schools joined the system from Los Angeles, Bound Brook and Trenton, N.J., Syracuse, N.Y., and Minneapolis. However, schools in Utica, N.Y., and Kent, Wash., ceased to exist due to lack of students. The largest school, with 315 students, is in Philadelphia; its principal is Stepan Patryliak.

In the discussions it was revealed that some schools are quite successful in using the Internet and computer technology, while others are still adjusting. The subject of religion is now called Christian ethics, in line with how it is taught in Ukraine.

New textboooks were printed for literature, geography and culture, and the program for lower grades has been updated. New programs in history, language, literature, geography and culture are being prepared.

Prof. Eugene Fedorenko was re-elected Educational Council president with Oleksandr Luzhnytskyi, George Gajecky and Mr. Patryliak as vice-presidents; Maria Kiciuk and Roman Dubenko, secretaries; Maria Reshitnyk, treasurer; Roman Brukh, Viroslav Kosc and Volodymyr Kryvonos, members.

Auditing Committee members are: Theodore Tsaryk (chair), Bohdan Harhaj, Orest Polishchuk, Orest Kylynych and Myrosia Melnyk.

The Arbitration Board comprises Iurii Kosachevych (chair), Roman Hrytsiv, Nadia Chojnaki, Lesia Paslavska and Bohdanna Wolanska.

The conference confirmed the recommendations of the executive council to grant the title of honorary members to the following: Lina Andrienko-Danchuk, Stepan Wolanyk, Ihor Huryn, Stepania Kwasowska, Atanas Kobryn, Petro Leshchyshyn, Oleksander Pryshlak, Wolodymyra Tesliuk, Bohdan Todoriw, Roman Trach and Petro Kononenko (Ukraine).

Saturday evening was devoted to a presentation by Prof. Konenenko, director of the Research Institute of Ukrainian Studies of Ukraine's Ministry of Education and Science. He said that teachers should be both professional and patriotic. Ukrainian history, culture and literature should be presented in a world context, under lining the glory of Kyivan Rus', the military prowess of the Kozaks and the Hetmanate.

Other important topics to be covered in Ukrainian schools are Taras Shevchenko and Ivan Franko, the period of the war of liberation of 1917-1921, new writers and the achievements of Ukrainians in the 80 countries where they live. Then we will be able to transmit the essence of Ukrainian culture to our youth, Prof. Kononenko commented.

On Saturday, June 18, a roundtable discussion took place during which Volodymyr Bodnar, principal of the Parma school, showed how using the Internet simplifies tasks for Ukrainian schools. Prof. Kononenko discussed the methodology used by the Institute of Ukrainian Studies. Mr. Gajecky explained how teacher training seminars held annually at Soyuzivka since 1985 have produced 11 principals and over 350 teachers. Mr. Luzhnytskyi described the role of the Educational Council, its administrative functions and the need for cooperation with teachers.

It was also noted that the Ukrainian school system in the United States is known and studied in Ukraine. The "History of Ukrainian Pedagogy" includes much information about the programs and activities of the Educational Council and the "Readings in Ukrainian Pedagogy" section includes a chapter on Ukrainian studies in the U.S. and Ukraine. Artem Onkovych from Kyiv wrote his thesis on Ukrainian schools in the United States.

A recent conference in Lviv concentrated on the problems of the Ukrainian diaspora, including the "Ridna Shkola" (schools of Ukrainian studies) system. Papers were presented by Ivan Rusnak of Chernivtsi University and Lesia Maftyn of Ivano-Frankivsk University on educational programs and the Ridna Shkola journal.

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