Polskie Towarzystwo Badań nad Dziećmi w świetle dokumentów

Abstract

The first purl of the article deals with the origin and development of the Polish Association for Research on Children, the second port with the substance and sco|x: of Ils activities, The Initiator of the founding of the Association, Aniela Szycûwna, was an author of pedagogical and psychological works, and a well-known and appreciated scientist. She presented n project for the Association to a group of Warsaw social activists in 1005, but the statute was approved only in April 1007, The Polish Association for Research on Children conducted systematic studies in developmental and educational psychology, discussed the work of foreign scientists, popularized the achievements of pedagogics and psychology in wider social circles. The Association's main office was in Warsaw, but it had branch offices in other cities (for example Łódź, Czestochowa). In the first period of the Association’s existence the following commissions were appointed: I) commission for the study of children's drawings, 2) commission for the study of children's speech, 3) commission for the study of mathematical concepts, 4) commission for the study of mentally retarded children, 5) commission for the study of character. Eacli of these commissions held separate scientific sessions at which research problems and methods wore presented, obtained material whs analysed, the results wore discussed. The following members worked actively in particular commissions: Karol Appel, Marla Borowiecka, Jun Ciembronicwjcz, Anna Grudzińska, Marin Lipska-Llbrachowa, Zofia Majewska, Helena Mlldaszowskn, Władysław Ołtuszcwski, Romana Pachucka, Jadwiga Rzçtkowsku, Wladysluw Sterling. An nu Szycównu wus the Association's President throughout its existence (1907—1921), Eminent Polish scientists living In Poland and abroad collaborated .with the Association. Amongst them were: Franciszka Baumgarten, Samuel Dicks tein, Jan Władysław Dawid, Władysław Heinrich, Józefa Joteyko, Tadeusz Mogllnlckl, Władysław Weryho, Maria Wcryho- -Radzi llowiczowa. The work conducted by the members partly filled the large gap fell in Poland In the field of psychology. A group of scientists studied pedagogical psychology, rapidly developing In other European countries. The studies conducted by the Polish Association for Research on Children in u way parallelled the work carried on by foreign psychologists.