[Title translated. Publication only available in German]
Publisher: Oberstebrink Verlag (2025)
We haven’t heard much of anything about Dr. Janusz Korczak’s «respectful education» in recent decades, even though the physician and educator drew attention to the uniqueness of each child and advocated for individual educational support as early as the beginning of the 20th century. He transformed education by centering the child, which also had a strong influence on curative education. In a new book, Shaping Education Through Interaction [Erziehung aus der Begegnung heraus gestalten], Korczak expert and education specialist Dr. Ferdinand Klein encourages readers to reflect on fundamental questions of inclusive education with Janusz Korczak.
First, Klein introduces us to Korczak’s thinking and insights, centered around a new understanding of child-rearing and education and resources for the development of each individual human being’s personality. Klein relates these to education today and discusses their current relevance regarding children’s rights, humanity, and democratic education. In addition to meaningful and respectful guidance for children, other important topics discussed include play as a foundational tool for learning and the importance of joy and humor in education. As in many of his publications, Ferdinand Klein again successfully presents complex thoughts in an easily accessible way. It is especially valuable for education in practice, as he offers many everyday examples. Klein’s new book is worthwhile reading for educators who are interested in reflecting on their work and working towards a better understanding of themselves. It is a good tool for further development and can help in optimizing professional skills.
