In the last few years the interest of social sciences in an individual human life has been growing. More and more qualitative researches of a biographical character have been published presenting the subjective perception and understanding of the world of values and experiences. The aim of this article is to present the outcome of research 'Global and personal events' conducted as a part of the international project led by Professor Lani Bayle form University of Nantes. The aim is to show different areas of social life, especially these which deeply penetrate the life of each individual. In February 2006 the project, surveying 97 people who study pedagogy at the University of Lódz, was initiated. The students were asked to perform the test of unfinished statements. The death of Pope John Paul II (JPII) and students reactions to his death inspired the authoress to run a second stage of research described in the article. Thirty three students answered the questions: Does the JPII generation really exist? Or is it a product of mass media? Do you identify yourself as belonging to JPII generation? The students answering the survey can be classified into one of the three groups:1. students thinking that JPII generation is merely a product of mass media (18 students); 2. students assuming that JPII generation is the tangible reality of their life (13 students); 3. students noticing the significance of mass media, at the same time emphasizing the fact that media helped to amplify something what would exist without the media's contribution (2 students)
Using Jozef Kozielecki's theory, the authoress explains her understanding of the term self-knowledge and shows how writing a diary can become a useful instrument on the way to building an adequate knowledge about oneself. The paper presents the results of pilot studies on using diary-writing as the technique useful in self-educational work. The analysis was based on twenty essays (each 3-4 pages long) written by first year pedagogy students from the University of Lodz. The aim of the research was to name the pros and cons of writing a diary. The authoress believes that the pros include: systematic nature of note-writing, sincerity, reflective character of the notes and a chance to observe changes that the author is undergoing. The 'traps', on the other hand, are: a possibility of idealizing oneself and a danger of replacing the real world with the one created in the diary. The theses presented in the article are illustrated with quotations coming from the students.
The paper analyses the research material collected during seven interviews with women of 50+ years of age conducted by students of the University of Lódz specializing in adult education. The aim of the research was to define the factors which influence the concept of national identity. The information was collected on the basis of the following questions: What does it mean to be a Pole and a woman to you?; What does the concept of patriotism mean to you?; When did you feel that you are a Polish woman?; What do you understand by 'Polish identity' and how was this 'Polish identity' shaped? On the one hand the analysis is based on the theoretical model of national identity developed by P. Boski and on the other hand by a paper written by Jolanta Mikulska in which the authoress presents the criteria which identify the national identity as one of the elements of the social identity of individual people. The feedback presented proves, that the respondents treat the struggle for the independence of one's country as the primary and the most important task of patriots. This attitude defined by heroism and martyrdom, which constitute the pattern of a citizen seems to be typical of less educated persons. While responding to the questionnaire - the image of a Polish woman occurs to be equated with Catholicism, patriotism, good cooking, admiration for Polish nature, and devotion to bringing up children. None of the respondents mentioned professional career, and only one mentioned social activity as an element of citizenship. It seems therefore, that the Polish identity is still understood as martyrdom and there is little space in it for everyday work for the benefit of the country.
On the 12 of April 2010, the day of Professor Olga Czerniawska's birthday, special seminar concerning her academic activity was held at the Scientific Society of Lódz. Professor Olga Czerniawska is outstanding humanist, representative of academic environment of Lódz. She perfectly joins in Her life roles of academic, expert, pedagogue, educational and social activist, teacher. It is approved by long academic work, achievements in research, the character of Her social activity and effects of educational work. After graduation from history at University of Lódz in 1952 She started to work as history instructor at the Youth Cultural Center and as a teacher at high school for adults. At the same time She was working part-time for University of Lódz and the Polish Academy of Science, starting Her academic activity. From 1962 to 1979 She was participant of seminar on social education leaded by Professor Aleksander Kaminski. Under Professor Kaminski's direction She wrote Ph.D. thesis 'Adult education and family', that She defended in 1968. Formally She started to work at the University of Lódz in 1972 and 6 years later She earned habilitation on the basis of publication 'Counseling as support for educational environment'. From 1981 She was chief of the Adult Education Division and later chief of the Theory of Education Chair and Adult Education Division at the Department of Education (the University of Lódz). In 1996 President of the Republic of Poland bestowed Her Professor's title. In research She is aimed at problems of adult education and its place in theory of andragogy. She is a pioneer of biographical research in Polish andragogy. She has also developed comparative andragogy through many years of co-operation with Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France, resulting in international conferences, translations of foreign publications (e.g. E. Gelpi, P. Dominice) and common publications. Very important part of Her interests is gerontology, that is enriched by Her international contacts, activity in different bodies and personal experience. After getting retired Professor Olga Czerniawska is still active as academic at the Humanistic and Economic Academy of Lódz. She is still full of creativity, passion and engagement, starting new projects. She wrote over 200 publications, among those 9 author's books. Many times She was rewarded for Her academic and educational activity. Professor Olga Czerniawska is mistress, for young academic staff - unprecedented example of academic in gaining new areas of research and passion. In this volume of the Andragogy Yearbook we publish report from Professor Czerniawska's Jubilee, Her curriculum vitae, lists of publications and speeches of Her pupils, colleagues and co-workers: Elzbieta Woznicka, Boguslaw Sliwerski, Jozef Kargul, Barbara Juras-Krawczyk, Kazimierz Zawadzki, Joanna Stelmaszczyk, Katarzyna Wypiorczyk-Przygoda.
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