Didactical path “Freedom of conscience and religion”

                                                 NATIONAL  LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE  -  POLISH

 

Topics	Contents
1. Let’s talk about tolerance – ‘The stronger, the best’ (‘Kto mocniejszy, ten lepszy’) by W. Potocki	1. The discussion concerning the topic: Is the present Polish society tolerant? In what situations is the lack of tolerance noticeable? What are the reasons (psychological, social, historical …) for our being intolerant? 2. The introduction of the historical context (lecture, multimedia presentation): Poland in the 18th century – the time of wars, the Counter-Reformation, religious struggles. 3. Reading W. Potocki’s biography – finding out his religious beliefs and defining their influence on writer’s life. 4. The analysis of the text: introducing the participants of the dialogue and their views. The symptoms of intolerance – the Counter-Reformation actions.
2. Assessing the value of a human being ‘Mendel Gdański’ by M. Konopnicka	1. The drama method – ‘The trip to Albatross Island’: the drama scene and the discussion concerning stereotypical views (other cultures, religions, people etc.) We judge from our own experience. 2. The introduction of the historical context (lecture, multimedia presentation): anti-Semitism at the end of 19th century, the assimilation of Jews. 3. The chronological description of the Warsaw bookbinder’s life. The characterisics of the hero in respect of his character and intellect features. 4. The drama method – ‘Let’s talk about it’ (the idea of a popular Polish tv show: Rozmowy w toku) all the novel characters (from Mendel Gdański) take part in the programm (What kind of man is it? Has he got the right to live in Warsaw? How should a man be assessed?
3. The defender of the freedom of religion and conscience – ‘The prison notes’ (‘Zapiski więzienne’) (fragments) by cardinal Stefan Wyszyński	1. Brainstorming: How do you understand the following terms: lawlessness, freedom, freedom of conscience, mental freedom? How does freedom differ from lawlessness? 2. The introduction of historical context (lecture, multimedia presentation): the intensification of campaigning against the church from 1948: arresting people, accusatory and slanderous articles in press -   accusing the episcopate of the anti-Church activity, smear campaign against Caritas, suspending the activity of church publishing houses; the Primate’s opposition to those activities. 3. The division of the class into four groups - working with a prison calendar and fragments of the text. Recording the results on large pieces of paper – working on the following isssues: a)      religiousness and personal life: -          relationship with a family -          relationship with fellow prisoners -          relationship with officers -          attitude towards the God and the Virgin Mary -          attitude towards the other man -          attitude to imprisonment and suffering b)      social and political issues: -          the functioning of law (the way of arresting and imprisoning; letter censorship; the attitude of government towards health condition and the right to undergo treatment; living conditions; tap; informing …) -          description and assessment of the government activities -          observation and assessment of people devoted to the system 4. The summary and general conclusions concerning the system of governing and the Primate’s attitude.

 

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