Z Korczakiem przez życie - Michał Wasserman Wróblewski, 1911-1993 - "Główne źródło wiedzy!" - Niedługo nowe wydanie - 2025.

"With Korczak throughout life" - Michał Wasserman Wróblewski - Chapter 3 - A pedagogical calling.

Chapter 3

A pedagogical calling

At the time I started work, the Orphanage had already existed for about twenty years - it was almost my age. A bright two-storey building with cellar and attic was located at the far end of a large courtyard, overshadowed by a spreading chestnut tree and a large acacia. On one side, separated by a wall, it bordered a green park which belonged to a factory; on the other, a tall wooden fence beside the courtyard of a block of flats.

Neither on the iron gates opening onto the street, nor on the wall of the orphanage building itself, was there ever a plaque during my time there. I personally disliked the word “orphanage”. Perhaps it is strange or sentimental of me, because when I met my former wards many years later, none of them said that they had ever had similar reservations. I much prefer the name of the similar institution, “Our Home”, or that used after the War: “The Children’s Home”.

The orphanage, as an institution for children, was under the responsibility of the Ministry of Work and Social Care. Their rules declared that the age limits be between seven and fourteen. The institution was originally founded and maintained by a charity called “Help for Orphans”. The Government subsidy was very small. The number of paid staff was minimal in proportion to the number of children and all the demands of running such an institution. I quote from memory: two tutors, the manager of the sewing room, the intendant, the office worker, the washing woman, and the watchman. Before my time, the number of paid personnel was even smaller.

The extraordinary personality of Korczak, as well as the care and energy of his main assistant Stefania Wilczynska were not sufficient to run the orphanage efficiently. I suppose this is what led to the creation of tutors’ positions. The tutors were practically unpaid; however, they received food and accommodation for three or four hours’ work a day. Having tutors enabled the children to get to know many people from different backgrounds, with different interests and areas of knowledge, from different environments in different regions of the country. This provided the children with a chance to get to know life, in accordance with the Doctor's wishes. In addition, the tutorship provided young, poor people from the provinces with an opportunity to study in the capital. Finally, it was a valuable experience for future teachers and educators.

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"With Korczak throughout life" - Michał Wasserman Wróblewski - Chapter 2 - “There are no keys - we don’t need them”.

We entered a large hall. I noticed many rows of little drawers on one side. “Everybody has his own,” Felek said. “We put various things in them. The little ones even put things like buttons, boxes, colored glass, and stones - their treasures,” he added with an air of superiority, pointing to the bottom drawers. Afterwards, he added proudly: “There are no keys - we don’t need them.”

 

Misza Wasserman Wroblewski.

Chapter 2

“There are no keys - we don’t need them”.

I matriculated in 1931. A helpful friend suggested that I apply for a job in the orphanage run by Dr J. Korczak.

My happiness was limitless when I received the news that my application was successful. I had gained the only opportunity I would ever have of studying and moving to the capital city. By a miracle, I became independent and could afford to leave my hometown. I have to admit that I was also attracted to the work in the orphanage. I felt that I knew what it was to be an orphan. I felt sorry for them, the poor, sad children. I thought, “I’ll teach them to play and to laugh! I’ll relieve them of their misery. I’ll give them a lot of heart!”

I was overwhelmed with happiness and a sense of ambition. I was an independent adult helping others!

My qualifications as an educator, which I had gleaned in Pinsk, were less than modest. I realized this only much later.

On September 1, 1931, I arrived in Warsaw at 92 Krochmalna Street. I was received by the manager of the orphanage, Stefania Wilczynska. The conversation was polite but brief and to the point - she had a lot of other duties to perform. I was given two days free to look around and get to know the environment.

A twelve-year-old boy called Felek Grzyb was my guide, showing me the living arrangements, sometimes adding short explanations: “Here everyone takes their shoes off so as not to bring in dust and mud.” “Here is the kitchen - nothing interesting. Mrs. Doba rules here. Here are all the pots and pans, and here are the plates, cups, and saucers. And the place is as clean as a whistle - it’s simply frightening!”
I said: “I suppose the girls help out a bit?”
Felek changed his tone. “What do you think? They work in shifts, and the boys do too...” He obviously wanted to change the subject and said, “Just look at this little gadget - you put the hot dishes on it and turn the winch, and they arrive in the dining hall still hot. You can try it yourself.” He opened a door which led to a small study, and then to another room, which he described as a sort of sewing room.

We entered a large hall. I noticed many rows of little drawers on one side. “Everybody has his own,” Felek said. “We put various things in them. The little ones even put things like buttons, boxes, colored glass, and stones - their treasures,” he added with an air of superiority, pointing to the bottom drawers. Afterwards, he added proudly: “There are no keys - we don’t need them.”

Korczak czy Kaczka?

Przebadali piwnice siedziby Domu Sierot Janusza Korczaka.

Do Tomasza Urzykowskiego,
GW

Sz. P. Redaktorze,

Przesłano mnie stronę gazety ze zdjęciem piwnicy w budynku Chłodna 33, pt. Szukają śladów dzieci z getta warszawskiego. Przebadali piwnice siedziby Domu Sierot Janusza Korczaka.

Tytuł Szukanie śladów Domu Sierot Korczaka wzbudza tylko zaciekawienie ale daleko jest od prawdy, a znaleziony ew. garnek czy łyżka nie mają nic wspólnego z Korczakiem lecz z tzw. Kaczką dziennikarską. Dom Sierot (DS) Korczaka został z ulicy Chłodnej przeniesiony na Sienną 16 gdy ta czesc ulicy została wyłączona z Getta.

Roman Wasserman Wroblewski
syn Miszy, wychowawcy DS

Chłodna 33

Konhelerki w Getcie - ul. Sienna. Konhelerka stoi przed wejściem do Domu Sierot Korczaka - Sienna 16.

Szlojme, Xxxxxx, Szymek i Srulek w 1946 roku.

Pierwszy od lewej to Szlojme Nadel (Szlomo Nadel). Drugi od lewej Xxxxxxx to osoba jeszcze niezidentyfikowana. Trzeci od lewej to Szymek, Szymon Gruszka [później Shimon Agasi. Pierwszy po prawej to „Srulek” Israel Szwarcberg].

Jakob and Jocheved Tzuck, former counselors in an orphanage in Warsaw (Warszawa) directed by Janusz Korczak, visiting a former child in the orphanage, Shimon Agasi. Jakob Kutalczuk - Tzuck and his wife Yocheved - Janka nee Lubraniecki are standing on the right. Agasi lived in Kibbutz Shamir.

Pan Misza i Czterech chłopców na ławeczce Korczaka.

Pan Misza i Czterech chłopców na ławeczce Korczaka przed Domem Sierot.

Mam w moim archiwum trzy różne wersje tej fotografi i wyszczególnieniem kto jest na zdjęciu.

Lusia Rosenblatt from Piotrków Trybunalski in Sweden - 1945.