Residents of Northeast Ohio are preparing to inaugurate a comprehensive arts enriched pilot program this summer in Zalecze, Poland that will be taught in English to High school students in Poland. Under the direction of Mary Kay Pieski, President of the Ohio Chapter of The Kosciuszko Foundation, this innovative 3-week program has received a $4500 grant from the Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Foundation to purchase instruments and supplies. Additional sponsors are the Kosciuszko Foundation NYC, Kosciuszko Foundation Ohio Chapter, Polish Commission of UNESCO, and Zwiazek Harcerstwa Polskiego, the Polish Scouting Organization. During the fourth week, the American staff will embark upon a tour of the important historical and cultural sites in Poland.
The Arts Enriched English Camp is an outgrowth of the Teaching English in Poland program, which has been in existence for 19 years. This year 100 elementary students and 72 high school students will participate. An arts enriched education was inspired by the work of educational philosopher Maxine Greene, a pioneer in aesthetic education who continues to work at the Lincoln Center Institute of the Arts in New York City.
Director Pieski, will coordinate instructional activities with faculty and students from Kent State University. University of Akron, Syracuse University, and professional community members. From the Hugh A. Glauser School of Music are Dr. Patricia Grutzmacher, Professor of Music Education who will direct the instrumental program; Mr. George Bachmann will teach guitar. Community members include Nancy Warlop, drama, poetry; Reverend Joseph S. Rudjak, dance and performance arts instructor. Film instructor, Matylda Czarnecka from Colorado, Victoria Konarski, dance from Brooklyn, NY, and Alexandra Headley, a vocal performance major from Syracuse University will join the group in Poland. Assisting faculty will be Kent State University undergraduate students Samantha Childress, Aleksandra Peugh, Lauren Heuer and Elizabeth Stirbens and Michelle Ondrick from the University of Akron. All staff members can earn undergraduate or graduate credits in Kent State's Family Life Studies Department, directed by Dr. Rhonda Richardson. All teachers and students pay their own travel expenses and donate their instructional time.