The IV International Scientific Conference "Child Pedagogy. Quality of Education in the Context of Growing Multiculturalism and Unification" took place in Kalsk on November 27-28, 2023. The conference was organized by the Department of Preschool and Early School Pedagogy at the University of Zielona Góra for the fourth time. The significance of the conference was elevated by the attendance of prominent professors in the field of pedagogy, undisputed authorities in Poland, representatives of the Elementary Education Team at the Polish Academy of Sciences, and guests from abroad.
The conference was led by the head of the Department of Preschool and Early School Pedagogy at the University of Zielona Góra, Dr. Marzenna Magda-Adamowicz, Prof. UZ. The meeting was opened by the rector of the University of Zielona Góra, Prof. Wojciech Strzyżewski. Words of welcome were shared with the attendees by the dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Dr. Jarosław Bąbka, Prof. UZ, and the chair of the Pedagogy discipline and director of the Institute of Pedagogy, Dr. Mirosław Kowalski, Prof. UZ. Virtual greetings and wishes for a successful scientific meeting were conveyed by the chair of the Polish Academy of Sciences Pedagogy Committee, Prof. Agnieszka Cybal-Michalska.
The meeting focused on current educational issues concerning children. On one hand, growing multiculturalism and simultaneous unification tendencies, as well as changes resulting from critical events in recent years. The two most serious crises - Covid-19 and the Russian Federation's invasion of Ukraine, and the resulting consequences, presented new challenges for education. Another issue is the multidimensional reflection on the needs of schools and students subjected to prolonged distance learning. It is also important to prepare educational institutions for a significantly higher presence of children from different cultures in preschools and students in schools. The increasing rate of multiculturalism is also a reflection of trends that have been present in Europe for many years. The growing demographic pressure from immigrants who maintain their cultural distinctiveness while residing in the country is a significant pedagogical challenge. Polish pedagogy is now faced with the necessity of responding to strategic challenges of a civilizational nature. These identified problems set the direction for research projects for researchers and teachers.
As emphasized by Prof. Bogusław Śliwerski: - It is important to avoid pedagogical monoculture, which would require teachers to have a uniform perception and influence on children. In pedagogy, we have such diverse models of educating and bringing up children in today's world, which is online and combines the real world with the digital world, we must help children to be more independent, to be able to direct their own development and learning process.
This scientific event provided an opportunity for discussion, sharing of conclusions, and thoughts on the matter. Over 90 participants attended the conference. Among them were many distinguished speakers, including:
Prof. Bogusław Śliwerski, University of Łódź, Child Pedagogy in contemporary scientific thought in comparison with the educational policy of the Third Polish Republic.
Prof. Józefa Bałachowicz, Maria Grzegorzewska Academy of Special Education in Warsaw, Crisis situation during the COVID-19 pandemic in the discourse of early school education students.
Prof. Ewa Ogrodzka-Mazur, University of Silesia in Katowice, Teacher's work in multicultural environments - dynamic change dynamics from 1992-2022 in the example of Cieszyn Silesia.
Prof. Daiva Jakavonyte-Staskuviene, Linas Jasinauskas, Jolita Kudinoviene, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania, Lithuanian language learning in multicultural contexts for preschool children and primary school students arriving in Lithuania.
Assoc. Prof. Noemi Serrano Diaz, University of Cádiz, Spain, Looking at the future of early education: lessons learned after a lockdown.
The meeting was enriched by an artistic performance by children from the Primary School in Kalsk, who presented a project related to patriotic-national issues.
Photographs: K. Adamczewski
