"A child is a full human being, only more defenceless." Janusz Korczak
Children wronged by fate, children with special needs. The city offered them an elegant little palace on Świerczewskiego Street, set among the greenery of a nearby park. It houses as many as three schools: an eight-grade primary Special School, a vocational school offering several trades, and the so-called school of life for those with the most severe disabilities.
148 students from the city and surrounding area, and 27 teachers with their hearts on their sleeves, led by Stanisława Szlenzak, M.A., an educator by vocation and by choice.
...They arrive here without smiles, often with tears and fear in their eyes, with anxiety and dread. Rejected, unloved, unhappy children. Here they are needed; they find a common language in dialogue with their educators, rediscover their own identity and trust, and find an atmosphere in which to develop psychologically. After years, they fly away like birds from a protective nest into independent life. Will they manage without the warmth of their school, which over the years becomes a second family home? Here, the familiar slogan “all children are ours” is realised most fully and beautifully; it contains nothing of a mere catchphrase. The school’s register of friends could not be written even on an oxhide, but without them it would also be difficult to restore the smile of childhood, that normality for which we long across the length and breadth of Poland. I will mention only a few facts. The Mayor and City Council gave “Number Seven” 30 million zlotys to replace the skylights in the spacious building. Let us hope they will not spare further funds for a comprehensive solution to this issue. Bonitex Technical Fabrics Works donated 5 million zlotys. The Bolesławiec Factory of Vials and Ampoules “Polfa” donated the same amount. The educational institution has devoted patrons in the persons of directors Tadeusz Nakonieczny and Stanisław Kozłowski, who are exceptionally sensitive to the youngest children’s psychological and material needs. Fortunately, there are more people of goodwill in the town on the Bóbr: Tadeusz Reguła, President of the “Bolmet” Disabled Persons’ Cooperative, donated children’s roller skates and tracksuits; ZCh “Wizów” supplied cleaning and washing powders; and the Guild of Various Crafts secured practical vocational training for older students, while also providing financial support. The WP Artillery Brigade carries out minor repairs inside the building and, as is traditional, organises military pea soup for participants in the Voivodeship Sports Games of Special Schools in Bolesławiec and transports students to sporting competitions free of charge. No major ceremony takes place without the participation of the officer corps: Colonel Tadeusz Żuchowski, Lieutenant Colonel Kazimierz Mańkowski and Major Zenon Dudziński.
PKO director Julian Jamróż, M.A., a man of exceptional sensitivity, helps bring together good people, sponsors and patrons, while also donating 10 million zlotys for teaching aids for rehabilitation and for purchasing fuel. Recently, individual patrons have been joining in: Maria Dolik, the owner of a hairdressing salon, agreed to cut and style the students’ hair free of charge, while members of the School Council, Elżbieta Tor and Maciej Żytniak, effectively organise aid for the poorest children. “Ceramika Artystyczna” agreed to provide practical vocational training and also donated stoneware dishes and vases to the school. BOK director Dr Danuta Maślicka promotes the school on local cable television, effectively helping to find kind-hearted, selfless patrons and sponsors. This is heartening and satisfying, an optimistic note in a grey and difficult everyday reality.
The warm, child-friendly school has artistic achievements extending beyond the local scale. International success came from art competitions in Argentina, India, West Germany and Sweden, from which distinctions arrived for participants from Bolesławiec. Art is a universal language, and the children are devoted to it under the guidance of art teacher Grażyna Kryś. Recently, for example, the children won seven distinctions in a fire-safety competition. They are also very fond of music and rhythmic activities, expertly led by Janina Kunecka. For the eighth time, the town on the Bóbr will host the provincial sports games for special schools, which are organised exemplary by physical-education teachers Weronika Słotwińska and Wojciech Respondek.
Teresa Rudzińska’s method of work centres in early education won the appreciation of experts from the Education Office, while the rehabilitation work carried out by Mirosława Czajkowska is an excellent example of professionalism and effectiveness. Educators like these create not only progress in education and upbringing. With Benedictine patience, they reconstruct lost childhoods, build human lives and return normal citizens to society. It is a beautiful and noble mission, creative work and an exceptional effort for which the teachers of “Number Seven” deserve genuine respect and sincere recognition.
Let us unite across divisions and help. All children are ours, and these children need especially much heart and kindness.