INTRODUCTION TO THE ETHICS OF SOCIAL WORK. Socio-pedagogical study – references to the scientific achievements of Helena Radlińska

Abstract

This monograph has been published in English by means of the project “International Social Work: Introduction to the ethics of social work.” The project was co- financed from the state budget allocated by the Minister of Education and Science within the framework of the “Excellent Science II” programme. The monograph showcases the results of research conducted in the field of social pedagogy and ethics. It is part of a triptych on the ontological (Wprowadzenie do ontologii pracy społecznej. Odniesienia do społeczno- pedagogicznej refleksji Heleny Radlińskiej, Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Pedagogicznego, Cracow 2009), epistemological (Wprowadzenie do epistemologii pracy społecznej. Odniesienia do społeczno‑pedagogicznej perspektywy poznania pracy społecznej, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego, Łódź 2015) and the ethical aspects of social work. For English- speaking readers, it is necessary to clarify the differences rooted in the Polish language regarding the semantics of the title category: “social work” (Pol. praca społeczna). The term “social work” was introduced into the scientific language of Polish social pedagogy by Helena Radlińska, the founder of this discipline. It encompassed the theory and the practice of human activity oriented towards transforming (improving) everyday reality in the name of ideals. After the Second World War, Poland ended up within the Soviet sphere of influence. A new political system was introduced and those who did not agree with the Bolshevik model of running a country were discredited. At this time, Professor Helena Radlińska was perceived as a veteran of the fight for the independence of the Republic, and her military cooperation with Józef Piłsudski for a sovereign Poland in the years 1914–1918 led to the negative attitude of the communist authorities towards this scholar. After the death of Professor Radlińska (1954), her scientific output was marginalised, and a paradigmatic rupture occurred within Polish social pedagogy. One of the signs of these politically driven changes was the abandonment of social work theory and practice. In the mid-1960s, a new category was introduced into the language of Polish social pedagogy. Phonetically, it resembled traditional social work in Polish, but the capacity and scope of this category were limited to what English speakers now understand as the concept and practice of outreach work (Pol. praca socjalna). In the national academic discourse and social services, this modification did not cause significant difficulties in identifying such distinct categories. However, when translating into English, both categories were translated as “social work”. Given the important ontological dissimilarity and the separate capacities of these two categories, they are translated here as two different terms. Such an approach corresponds to both the sphere of practice and its scope as well as the language tradition of Polish social pedagogy. The category of social work is the point of reference for the ethical analysis carried out here (as well as earlier analyses covering the ontological and epistemological spheres). The category of outreach work, on the other hand, refers to a change in the language of Polish social pedagogy that was conditioned by political considerations in the mid-1960s. It is included in this monograph as a complement to the ontological analysis carried out between 2000 and 2009. Detailed explanations of the circumstances under which this category was introduced into the language of Polish social pedagogy are explained in the first part of Chapter One. It is worth emphasising here that Professor Helena Radlińska always used the term “social work” – in this respect, she created and developed the theoretical basis for the practice of social activity in this field. The break with the tradition and scholarly output of Polish social pedagogy of the period 1908–1954 was conditioned by a paradigmatic shift, originating in the post- war political order and Poland’s subordination to Soviet authority. It all led to the politicisation of, among other things, scientific activities, where the pursuit of political objectives became a requirement imposed on the academic community by the communist authorities of the time.