The school and the teacher in the period of change

In the current social situation it is both school roles and the means of
educational operation that are subject to change. School generates
internal changes and reacts to transformations in various fields
outside. It should foster the development of an individual, his/her
attitudes and skills that constitute conceptual, critical and creative
thinking as well as his/her ability to manage own development and the
choice of life path. It is to introduce values into the world, pass on
and popularize the achievements of science and disseminate cultural
wealth. (?)
School is becoming a strategic institution for the society that is
informational, knowledge-based and engaged in lifelong learning. The
core of its existence lies not only in knowledge transfer, but most
importantly in teaching the skill of living in a world of multiplicity
and informational contradictions as well as in a world of conflict of
values and interests. (?)
In the new educational context the teacher is assigned the role of a
creator and executor of changes in the educational process. (?)Creative
and engaged in the transformation processes, the teacher is becoming the
pillar of modern school and faces new tasks meant to make school more
attractive and equip students with tools necessary to understand the
learning society (?)
This publication is divided into two parts. The first part depicts the
transformations that determine the operation of contemporary school and
education. The problems presented magnify the issues of social and
educational changes that take place in the contemporary school. It
reveals the challenges that a school faces and describes the
transformations of its model which facilitate completion of new tasks.
The second part depicts matters that pertain to changes and challenges
associated with professional activity of a teacher. He/she should
organize the didactic-educational process according to the modern
principles of education policy and practice as well as effectively
fulfill the roles and tasks that lead to creative participation in
social life. The teacher should also show young individuals the way to
independence and responsibility in seeking and understanding their own
place in the world. The articles presented here have been previously
published in Polish journals and collective works. They have been
elaborated and modified to consider the changing educational realities.
The need to compile these papers so that the presented reflections may
be synthesized and may encourage continuous exploration and the
necessity to improve school operation and teacher activity are beyond
dispute.
The publication is addressed to all those who are interested in school
and teacher activity in a time marked by dynamic social changes.
Therefore, the readership is likely to include those who are

author: Jolanta Szempruch