"... nurture vivid dreams,
something will always come true."
(J. Korczak)
In her article entitled "I Dream..." ("Kurenda" no. 2/94), Elżbieta Plucińska writes, among other things, that "The Polish school is bad. (...) Children do not like school. (...) The vast majority of parents have a hostile attitude toward the school, which some do not even conceal. Since dreams rarely come true, I see the prospects for the Polish school darkly."
I have no intention of denying these words, which I have taken the liberty of quoting. Unfortunately, this opinion of the school has existed for a long time, and in recent years it has become so deeply rooted in the minds of children and parents that even examples of the positive work of educational institutions are unable to change their view on the subject. Poles like to complain. They like and want to look for the cause of their failures in others. If something is bad, it is easier to criticize than to try to change the existing state of affairs.
I would like to set against this common opinion the work of the parents at Primary School No. 5 in Bolesławiec. It was they who first reached out to us, opened their hearts and set vigorously to work. Quite by chance, I was for a moment an unwilling listener at a meeting of the parents of class IVb, whose form teacher is Ms Jadwiga Rajfur. At one point, one of the participants said: "We want to establish the Friends of School No. 5 Club," while someone else asked skeptically: "And will there be people like that?" I think this question expressed rather concerns about the attitude of the other parents and teachers toward the idea. As far as the parents of class IVb are concerned, the situation was clear. They had already proved themselves to be good organizers in previous years. They want to do, and do, a great deal for their ten-year-olds. This time they decided to do something more.
The idea of organizing a carnival party quickly took real shape. The desire to act spread to most of the parents in the class. They printed invitations for the teachers and all the parents themselves. They rented a hall in nearby Kruszyn and ordered the Military Band of the Unit from Lubań. They bought, with their own money, the products needed to prepare the dishes served at the buffet. They devised and conducted various competitions and games with prizes. On that day they transformed themselves into cooks, waiters, cloakroom attendants and masters of ceremonies.
On 12 February 1994, 70 couples took to the dance floor. Parents, teachers and friends of friends had fun. The last day of carnival was full of attractions. There was everything: a cotillion waltz, a chocolate waltz and games with surprises. A participant in one of the competitions, buying a doughnut for 20,000 zlotys, found a gold ring inside it. The auction of a cotillion, however, aroused the most excitement; it sold for as much as 760,000 zlotys.
What was the purpose of the ball? Naturally, it was an enjoyable event intended to bring the teachers' and parents' communities together, but above all it was about raising money. The parents can be proud of themselves. Despite the many difficulties involved in organizing the event, they did not give up or surrender. They raised 9 million zlotys, which they handed over to the principal for school purposes. It is still not enough to buy a computer, but...
I admire these wonderful people, their inventiveness, commitment, efficiency and noble work. They could, after all, have used the money to organize a wonderful trip for their fourth-graders or allocated it to another purpose within the class's needs. But no. Things turned out differently! A handful took action, and many will benefit.
We ended this year's carnival with a wonderful party, full of unforgettable experiences; we were full of admiration for the organizers, who, physically tired, were already planning the next event.
And it turned out to be an exceptionally successful Family Picnic, organized on 30 April of that year in Ląka. A huge poster displayed on the school's notice board invited all pupils, school employees and their families, acquaintances and friends to this family gathering.
Once again, the parents did an excellent job. Favorable weather supported the organizers and participants. The May sun shone all day this time and allowed everyone to spend a pleasant time in nature. The football match between the teachers and pupils on one side and the parents on the other aroused much excitement and attracted great interest from spectators. On blankets spread around the pitch, ladies with their children applauded their husbands' exploits on the field, while the handkerchiefs held in clenched hands were wet with the sweat wiped from the brows of the valiant men. Under the teachers' supervision, the children displayed their interpretive talents with well-known musical works on the Mini Hit List. They also took part in sporting competitions, and the prizes funded by the parents brought the little ones much joy. Sausages were roasted over a bonfire. Everyone could quench their thirst at a well-stocked buffet offering drinks and ice cream. Happy chatter, laughter and, at times, crying from a children's pram could be heard all around. For on that day, entire generations came together. Some went out as whole families for the first time: parents with children, grandparents with grandchildren. Even late in the evening, muted conversations and singing accompanied by guitar and accordion could be heard beside the warmth of the glowing fire.
At the beginning of each school year, a Class Parents' Council is established in every class. There is even a place in the class register to enter the names. Unfortunately, very often its activity is limited solely to that first meeting and the selection of "volunteers." There are also Councils that work energetically, organizing a series of events for their children. Most often these are a Christmas party, Children's Day and tourist and sightseeing trips.
Most parents, however, resist being classified as part of this formal structure. After all, it involves finding free time for additional meetings and taking responsibility for organizing and conducting various events. But there are also those who are happy to act and help. They are usually enthusiasts who are not widely known. That is what they should be called. It was these parents who showed that if one wants to, one can do something more—not only for one's own children and their teacher—and that school can be associated with more than specific meetings of parents and teachers. They therefore decided to establish the Friends of Primary School No. 5 in Bolesławiec Club.
The Club was officially established on 25 April of that year. More than 60 people—teachers and parents from various classes—joined it. I think they did not become friends of "No. 5" on that day. We had already encountered signs of friendly feelings toward the school. Now someone had found a person to put forward the idea, and those willing responded to it just as the founders had hoped. Every teacher at our school can name parents with whose help they have organized a number of events and parties, people who selflessly became involved in the school's extracurricular life. The best example is the photocopier purchased from voluntary contributions by the parents, or the fact that over the past two years, with the parents' help, almost all the classrooms and workshops at the school were painted.
The first meeting of the friends was unlike any of the meetings to which most parents and teachers had become accustomed. Parents, principals and teachers gathered around one table. No lectern separated them. They spoke freely about what had been accomplished so far and about plans for the future. Principal Halina Modzelewska recalled the times when, at the beginning of her teaching career, parents had been the initiators of much work for the school. The soul of the Club, Ms Urszula Róg, who apparently cannot remain indifferent to the school's problems, openly dreamed about what could be achieved through joint efforts. In her mind's eye, she already saw her grandchildren, whom she would bring to a transformed school: more beautiful, cleaner and immersed in greenery. Naturally, they also spoke about problems that were not unfamiliar to other schools.
It was decided to take matters into their own hands. It was the parents who came forward with an initiative supported by a desire to act and concrete proposals, which they believe can be implemented. We can do a great deal to make things at least a little better and change the image of the school.
The friends' plans may perhaps seem unrealistic. May they have enough strength, may they not lack the willingness to work, and may adversity keep its distance and not discourage them. We wish them this with all our hearts.
Ms Plucińska, whom I have already quoted, ends her article with a Chinese proverb: "if someone thinks of the future of one generation, they build a house; if they think of the future of several generations, they plant a forest." Paraphrasing this proverb, I think—and am even certain—that the parents of our pupils have planted a forest (this is only an abstraction).
It is not yet large and dense, but we hope that the young saplings will grow into fine, healthy trees.
Małgorzata Rudyk
Primary School No. 5
in Bolesławiec