Skip to content
Call Us Today! 212-533-4646 | MON-FRI 12PM - 4PM (EST)
DONATE
SUBSCRIBE
Search for:
About Us
UNWLA 100
Publications
FAQ
Annual Report 2023
Annual Report 2022
Annual Report 2021
Initiatives
Advocate
Educate
Cultivate
Care
News
Newsletters
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Join UNWLA
Become a Member
Volunteer With Us
Donate to UNWLA
Members Portal
Calendar
Shop to Support Ukraine
Search for:
Print
Print Page
Download
Download Page
Download Right Page
Open
1
2-3
4-5
6-7
8-9
10-11
12-13
14-15
16-17
18-19
20-21
22-23
24-25
26-27
28-29
30-31
32-33
34-35
36
UKRAINIAN WOMAN OUR ENGLISH COLUMN THE UKRAINIAN FAMILY IN AMERICA The American people are now seriously concerned over the ac ute family problems. Tilie mount ing wave of juvenile delinquency is coming to be a grave menace, and the ways of solution of this problem are being discussed by various specialists. AU of them reach the conclusion that the root of the evil lies primarily within the family. Hence the family life, in all its aspects, is becoming a. very important subject for study. The International Institute in Philadelphia, mindful of these considerations, has initiated a se ries of discussions of this ques tion. Various nationality groups are gathering at the Institute, and to each one there has been assign ed a special evening when it has an opportunity to present and clarify its principles of family life. In lively deliberations, the sourc es and the possibilities of adjust ing them to current reality were enlightened. The Ukrainian nationality group brought home very interesting conclusions. The life of the Uk rainian family is founded on very old traditions. There is respect for parents and a measure of family geniality — these being dominant factors that bind its members to gether. The parents liv^e until their senile age jointly with their children, and their wisdom of ex perience is blending with their children’s turbulence. The chief objective for life is set forth by principles of Christian religion which are .piously adhered to by Ukrainian families. The Ukrainian family has in the last 40 years experienced many an upheaval. Under the -bol shevik occupation the regime has been trying its best to reform it so as to gain the influence on the youth. The educational authority of the parents has been under mined by ridiculing ancient Uk rainian rites and customs, and the religious ■element has been re moved as an educational factor. In West Ukraine the occupant has been destroying the families of active Ukrainian patriots by per secution and material harm. Old parents have been arrested or even liquidated for acts of their •children, and their Last remaining property has been confiscated. It may be said that this pro longed assault on the Ukrainian family has not done much harm. On the contrary, the persecution added to still closer unity of the family. The oppressed families that escaped from the bolshevik terrorism, were trying hard to gather together whenever it was possible. And the old parents were not reluctant when it was neces sary to sacrifice their health and means to be of assistance to their children who dared wage struggle against the mighty enemy. The same attitude is being noted in Ukrainian families who were forced to abandon their native country and emigrate to foreign lands all over the free world. Still the Ukrainian family in America is encountering its dif ficulties. This was revealed dur ing the discussions. They flow from the ground 011 which we live as well as from the realityof resettlement which always reacts upon newcomers. While restoring her home in the strange country, the mother was bound to take also a gainful employment. In day time she is working in a shop and thus is unable to graipple with her educa tional tasks, as she would wish to perform them. Hence her influ ence on her children is diminish ing and this arduous duty is being taken over by the school and en vironment. The upbringing of children is being carried 011 in a new language which the parents cannot learn within a short period of time. This tends to estrange ment between parents and their children. The children quickly en ter the new life which, however, is still too strange for the parents to follow. On the other side, the child meets with disregard, even with scorn, until he becomes fully acquainted with the language and the way of living in the new country. He is trying to adapt to new’ conditions as< well as to get rid of his peculiarities. This may create an inferiority complex which may also react in family relations and in the activities within the community. The Ukrainian family has al ready embarked on the action to overcome these difficulties. The first ste;p is to create an appreci ation of the child’s native country and the people he comes from. The Ukrainian evening schools are the main institutions to work toward this goal. There are like wise numerous Ukrainian youth organizations which influence the children in the course of their ed ucation. The Ukrainian Institute of Music, with many branches in larger cities, has also a great mis sion in inculcating the apprecia tion of Ukrainian art and culture in Ukrainian children. An Ukrain ian school of plastics has also been recently established. All these efforts strive to main tain the Ukrainian youth under the influence of Ukrainian envi ronment and to guard them, as much as it is feasible, from af fection by bad movies or televi sion pire^.enotations, as well as comics. However, the Ukrainian mother is aware that all this is still not enough. The main base in up-
Page load link
Go to Top
1 
2-3 
4-5 
6-7 
8-9 
10-11 
12-13 
14-15 
16-17 
18-19 
20-21 
22-23 
24-25 
26-27 
28-29 
30-31 
32-33 
34-35 
36 
