The importance of a children’s newspaper

Janusz Korczak’s insights concerning children are as fresh and valuable today as they were when he promoted them. He believed that by enabling children to run their own journal in a democratic atmosphere through participation it will have a positive effect on them, make them more responsible and increase their self-esteem and social status. From the writings and recordings of the counselors and orphans from Korczak’s orphanage in Warsaw and the facilities of the Korczak archives at the Ghetto Fighters’ Museum in Israel and Korczakianum in Poland we elicited information pertaining to the subject of the newspaper that was produced at the orphanage and the weekly newspaper Mały Przegląd [The Little Review], which was promoted and produced under the wings of Janusz Korczak, Stefania Wilczyńska and Igor Newerly. A critical analysis of the original copies of the content of Mały Przegląd has enabled us to make a direct comparison between the subject matters chosen then and now and the whole concept of children’s newspapers. Findings show that Korczak outlines the problems that schools may face when they want to produce a school newspaper. He also addresses the issue of relevant subjects that will be of interest to children mainly because the newspaper is produced by children for children, their participation reinforcing the feeling of belonging. In the past few years, youth newspapers at schools have taken a turn due to technological progress and new and modern media possibilities. Korczak’s promotion of progressive educational techniques included real opportunities for youth empowerment in a democratic set-up.