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2010-07-22

Remembering the birth of Janusz Korczak

The monument of Janusz Korczak in Warsaw

Henryk Goldschmit, later known as Janusz Korczak, was born in Warsaw on the 22nd of July, 1878, to an assimilated Jewish family. His father, Joseph Goldschmit, was a lawyer. The young Henryk attended elementary school on Freta Street, and later high school in Warsaw's Praga district. In 1898 he took part in a theatrical competition which was launched by the newspaper ‘Kurier Warszawski’. Henryk signed his play using the pseudonym ‘Janasz Korczak’, which was taken from Ignacy Kraszewski's novel, ‘The story of Janasz Korczak and the beautiful daughter of an armorer’. The typesetter changed the name Janasz to Janusz and therefore Henryk Goldschmit became known as Janusz Korczak.

Since 1900, Korczak contributed to the weekly satirical ‘Kolce’ (Thorns); and from 1903 to 1905 he was a columnist for the weekly ‘Głos’ (Voice). During this time, he studied at the Faculty of Medicine, graduating in 1905. From 1903 to 1912 Janusz practiced as a pediatrician in the Children's Hospital of Bergsons and Baumans. During the First World War, he ran a hospital on the Ukrainian front. Subsequently he worked in shelters for children near Kiev in Ukraine.

Returning to Warsaw, Dr. Korczak continued his work with children. Together with Stefania Wilczynska, he established an orphanage in Warsaw in which they implemented modern educational methods. Korczak promoted the emancipation of children and respect for their rights. He believed that a child should have self determination. Korczak’s pupils imitated the adult world to become prepared for an adult life.

In 1940, Korczak was arrested and imprisoned by Germans, but after several months was released on bail. From May 1942, the doctor remained with his pupils in the Warsaw ghetto. His dramatic experiences were recorded in his diary, which was published in 1958. Igor Newerly, Korczak’s later biographer, tried to provide Janusz with false documents, but the doctor refused to leave the ghetto. Despite the fact that, due to his international fame, he had the opportunity to survive the war in a neutral western country, Korczak stayed with his children. On 7th of August 1942, during the liquidation of the Warsaw Ghetto, Korczak, together with 200 children and 10 other teachers were taken to the Umschlagplatz. The children went forth carrying the flag of King Matt I, the hero of Korczak’s novel. Each child embraced a favorite toy or book; one of the boys played the violin. All of them perished in Treblinka.

On the 1st of June 2006, near the Palace of Culture where the former Jewish orphanage existed, a monument in honour of Janusz Korczak was unveiled.

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Remembering the birth of Janusz Korczak

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