george
Cosmopolitan
Posts: 568
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Post by george on Jun 9, 2007 12:59:24 GMT -7
I have a curious question. What in the hell is Roman Giertych an Educational Minister for? Its sort of like having the late Jerry Falwell as head of education in this country. It just seems so ridiculous. Recently he wanted to have Joseph Conrad banned from school reading. Of course he wanted a steady diet of John Paul books on the ciriculum.
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Post by pieter on Jun 9, 2007 13:47:50 GMT -7
Because he is a good patriot ;D ;D ;D
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zooba
Full Pole
Posts: 369
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Post by zooba on Jun 9, 2007 13:59:38 GMT -7
Just because he thinks that having children means you'll make a good minister of education. He's ideas are getting crazier and crazier every week.
Actually, without his party PiS (Law and Justice) would not have gained the majority in the parliament and therefore would not have kept the power, so he had to become a minister. Perhaps we should thank God, he's not the minister of economy, foreign affairs justice.
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Post by leslie on Jun 9, 2007 15:45:30 GMT -7
George
I agree it is ridiculous to ban Conrad's books - Why?? I guess it is because your assumption that he is Minister of Education/Religion. I many times say 'Thank you, God' for allowing me to live in a country where the Roman Catholic Church does not think it is the government (well, most of the time). I shouldn't really talk against the church of, what is it 90% of Poles (?!) but I'm afraid that I have suffered in Poland from what one of my friends here calls 'divine intervention'!
I really just wanted to agree with you about the ridiculous Conrad banning, but my typing fingers ran away with me!
Leslie
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Post by Jaga on Jun 9, 2007 15:57:16 GMT -7
I do not want to defend Giertych but why there were no any Sienkiewicz books as the obligatory reading for kids?
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Pawian
European
Have you seen my frog?
Posts: 3,266
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Post by Pawian on Jun 10, 2007 10:56:07 GMT -7
As a teacher I can say that most of my colleagues at work disapprove of Giertych and his loony ideas. We don`t believe him at all - everything he does is considered suspicious.
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Pawian
European
Have you seen my frog?
Posts: 3,266
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Post by Pawian on Jun 10, 2007 11:00:03 GMT -7
I do not want to defend Giertych but why there were no any Sienkiewicz books as the obligatory reading for kids? "Potop" (The Deluge) by Sienkiewicz has always been on the school reading lists. As well as "Krzyżacy" (The Teutonic Knights). And a few others, I suppose. The problem is that Sienkiewicz has been exploited too much. He is so too Polish. Children should also read other authors. |
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Post by varsovian on Jun 12, 2007 1:40:39 GMT -7
Giertych is a fascist from a long line of London-Polish fascists. I have a friend who knew the family in their years of exile. Fascism is in the blood.
That aside, I agree with his line on school uniform, school discipline and banning mobile phones (cellphones) from schools. I personally think Conrad sucks too, and I think Sienkiewicz is over-relied on in schools.
Much needs to be done in Polish schools to make them more orderly - teachers need to be given more ammunition to be able to stand up to vociferous, idiotic parents and to kick out those kids who cause extreme disruption. At the moment, the loudmouths rule the roost.
Teachers also need to improve their performance in key ways - homework should be set for the children to do, not the parents. Student performance should be assessed primarily on tests, not on their parents' relationship with the teacher.
The scandal of "dyslexia", so well known in the US too, is plaguing us here. Who in their right mind would turn down extra time in tests for the sake of paying an educational psychologist a few bucks? Me, unfortunately.
"... and the meek shall inherit the earth" - if that's OK with everyone else!
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Post by troubledgoodangel on Jun 13, 2007 11:47:53 GMT -7
I do not want to defend Giertych but why there were no any Sienkiewicz books as the obligatory reading for kids? |
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Post by troubledgoodangel on Jun 13, 2007 12:18:29 GMT -7
I am not acquainted with the qualifications and publications of Roman Giertych, but I share many of his stances on issues of morality. Many people forget that Pope Benedict XVI's appointed theologian, Wojciech Giertych, O. P. is also apparently from that family, and is an excellent person (I have known him personally since he was my former Angelicum professor). As far as I can see, and this is no more than an educated guess, Mr. Giertych's "problem" is the problem of many Poles, especially those in government. It is the inability to grasp the cultural nuances of the modern world! This creates the tragic and unnecessary antagonizing where antagonizing needs not to be! I speak from personal experience, for there was a time when I was like that. When I knew that something was right, I would be the first to defend it against anybody, without caring for the consequences. But, after fifty years abroad, I have learned that in the modern world, a confrontational style like this is a no-no! The truth needs not to be compromised. But, unless a person, by the Grace of God, is able to develop a more sophisticated style that does not immediately antagonize, the person, a politician especially, is doomed in the West! What is worse, such person is never able to accomplish the very thing that he or she so badly wanted to accomplish! The confrontational style, at its worst, was indeed a Nazi hallmark, but many confrontational people are not Nazis at all. Rather, theirs is a problem of dismal immaturity, false pride, and inexperience! Many Polish politicians, paradoxically, fall in this category (I won't mention names). This is very sad, but inevitable consequence of Communist isolation from the world, and is very damaging to Poland. I hope that this letter is read by all who are in government and who plan to be in government!
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Post by leslie on Jun 13, 2007 13:32:45 GMT -7
Troubled
From my reading of what you are saying is that many of the Polish Roman Catholic clergy at all levels are not 'dismally immature', and that they do not suffer from false pride and inexperience, of which the last-named will be much more than politicians in a secular life, depending on the definition in which inexperience is contained.
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Post by bescheid on Jun 13, 2007 15:19:00 GMT -7
Mr. Troubledgoodangel
This is a post you have written from your heart, and it speaks much of the man behind the computer. It is not as much to the words that are spoken, but, there is a sensitivity that is not spoken, but, that is felt.
Yours is a fine presentation, the most I have to offer, is only that of addition of perhaps an added experience.
You have brought forth, the curse of confrontational approach in the manner of cause and effect. For usually, the effect is far from satisfaction. For what ever programme the confrontational presenter has to offer, will most likely not be accepted and face rejection in future presentations. It is not simply the wise manner of interaction with others. There is a place and purpose for this type of interaction, but, in most cases in the world of business, it will not work.
As you have mentioned of people in government. Yes, I will identify in that with experience. Most of my working life has been in a bit over 35 years in career civil service (eating out of the public trough}. I do not ever remember it as a job, but, as a duty of responsibility to the common good.
One of the essentials of dealing with others in a inter-relation-ship is of empathic understanding of the other person{s} you must deal with, the odds of stakes at hand, and how you are prepared to deal with it. For it is risk perception and propensity of risk. How much are you willing to risk in decision making, and if the probability of loss may arise, what is the magnitude of possible loss are you willing to accept?
These statements I have placed here, is fine, for we are most all in a protected environment within our homes and offices. But, change this to an environment: of a strange country, strange customs, you are on your own, you have a duty set out for you to accomplish and how are you to accomplish this? It certainly is not with the use of confrontational tactics.
Charles
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Post by ludikundera on Jun 13, 2007 17:01:39 GMT -7
wiadomosci.wp.pl/wiadomosc.html?kat=1342&wid=8929224&rfbawp=1181778941.968&ticaid=13eb9I don't think the latest Giertych-book compromise is all-that surprising. Let's look at some of the authors still not included: Lem: Jewish, atheist Witkacy: suicide Gombrowicz: gay However, at least we know that Giertych is of the opinion that art, literature can shape and change people's opinions -- which is a minor victory in itself! I'm sure there are plenty of Education Ministers around the world who think otherwise, and probably don't even read. 
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