Have you ever wondered what a school should be like? For sure,you were thinking. For themselves or for children, but one hundred percent at least once in their life, they dreamed of a child-friendly educational institution in which to acquire quality knowledge, skills will be acquired in comfortable conditions, and mentors will be friends and role models … The criteria by which you can characterize an educational institution, but its face depends on its head or on to what extent the education will be. Ihor Baranov – the new head of the 23-rd Zhytomyr Humanities Gymnasium, and with him the Zhytomyr.Travel team was fortunate to communicate about education, school and life in general
«I was born in Luhansk. And moved when the hostilities began. I did not immediately went to Zhytomyr. It was July 2014. When the shelling came to our apartments, we collected documents, a suitcase … We were told that there was an expat camp in Korostyshiv (Teteriv health resort). The first time we were there. But I could not afford to stay in that place because when we were leaving Luhansk, my wife was in her sixth month of pregnancy, and the camp was in bad conditions. It began to be restored in the summer of 2014, and by that time everything was abandoned, overgrown. I knew that being out there was not an option, so I started with my newborn baby to look for something else. The closest to Korostyshiv is Zhytomyr. We came here, here I learned that in Zhytomyr is a very steep perinatal center. I worked a little for the time, so I had the money to rent an apartment for at least a month. Childbirth was not very easy, so I couldn’t get a job that I needed to go to because I always had to stay home to help my wife. I found a remote job – was an analyst at a gaming company. From Fall 3 to Fall 2015, I worked remotely. In 2015, when I could already be separated from my family, I called the department. At that moment, the only vacancy for computer science was right here in 23-rd gymnasium»
«I have good Russian, I have good Ukrainian. You have worked here for generations, and we are Russian-speaking. To speak in Surzhik – we are also unfamiliar. We spoke in Luhansk in Russian, only the documentation was in Ukrainian. But when I was surprised to rest in the Carpathians, I spoke Ukrainian. And I was constantly asked, «Are you from Drohobych?» (Laughs) I spoke Ukrainian in the West because it is a matter of respect. Here, of course, the first time I spoke only Russian. It was difficult for me to move. In the evening, when I come home, I have Russian, at work – Ukrainian. I began to understand that I was learning some Surzhik: either at home it is difficult to speak clear Russian, or here – pure Ukrainian. So a few years ago I decided to only speak Ukrainian everywhere»
«I was nominated by students for the Global Teacher Prize project for all three years. I have more than ten years of teaching experience, and I teach four of them in Zhytomyr. I came to the 23rd Gymnasium on November 5, and I was appointed as a director on November 8 (from the editorial board – Ihor Baranov headed the Grammar School four years after starting his teaching career there)»
«In fact, the Global Teacher Prize project is not so much about the competition itself as it is about dating. Because almost everyone here does not come for gifts, but for meetings, discussions, because it is really cool: to attend the ceremony, to walk on the red carpet, to meet colleagues from different parts of Ukraine. The moments of sharing experiences, participating in a performance, an interesting buffet table are very interesting. This year’s announcement of the winner took place at the Gulliver Center. His name was lit right in the center, last year there was painted a portrait of the winner. It’s like a closed club for teachers. You come and see the same «old» faces, but at the same time new ones appear. At the beginning of the meeting we are interested in each other’s life, projects. This is a break from everyday life, it is a teacher’s «party», where you can relax and talk with friends who support you, who are watching your life»
«In October, I met with Ihor Khvorostyan (ed. – Head of the senior school of the Novopechersky school in Kyiv), he says: « Well, what’s wrong with you? All Ukraine is following you.» Now they are all aware, greetings, but unfortunately, greetings, even there is no time to answer. It is very cool to support not only my colleagues, but all the friends I now have throughout Ukraine. You see how worried they are … Some of the top ten project leaders have also become directors, they greet and say, «You have joined us now»
«I am always open … I am absolutely calm in telling the children what I think. I prepare them for life. I do not tell them that they will be all right, and there is nothing to do. We look at the things that await them after leaving school. I understand very well that they need to focus on business, and we do not reject the option that they will need to go to work. During my studies at school I looked at all-Ukrainian Olympiads in law. And then I remembered one phrase for myself: «Our rights are valid as long as the rights of others are not violated.» We have to start from this. Everything that children do should be socially responsible. Business should be not just for the sake of business, but above all for the money. First, in business, it’s people’s needs, and then money. We talk to children about topics that should be prioritized for them. They understand that they need it and apparently they like it. I give them examples. I have a lot of friends I know who (not like me, for the first time), are making a lot of money in the IT market now, for a year they are making money working for housing in Kiev. It’s all real, and I think it’s real to do even from school age. In my lessons, children learn the skills that will help them to earn in IT, but of course, they can be imposed in any direction, if there is a fantasy and understanding of what to do. I am more repelled by the realities of life than by written techniques. And I encourage the children that all this should happen in Ukraine»
«There will be no dramatic changes. The system is such a very powerful machine that needs to be broken; it should look like recovery from illness. Of course, we cannot call our education system a «disease» in the direct sense of the word. I’m not saying it’s downright bad. You just have to understand that it is still worth keeping up with the times, and maybe even in some moments ahead. So now the main task is that System, which is to make the most effective, that is, to optimize all expenses, to distribute the purpose, because it went into a regular cycle, it had its own life and did not have to run, holding its head, and thinking , what and how to do. And then on the waste system gradually to impose some innovations. I only have two years, but I hope everything works out»
«There are three areas we will work on. Of course, I have a lot of plans, but to say them out loud and then not to do it – I think this is wrong. I said that exactly what will be done, and everything else – we will already determine the course of the case. If it is appropriate and we can do it, then we will do it, if not – we will wait and do something urgent. The first direction is financing coming to us from the city. We will now develop a system for determining needs. It is necessary to understand in what order the particular needs should be met. Local expenditures are sufficient but small. Therefore, the second area is alternative financing: grant programs, crowdfunding, government programs. The third area is HR: team work, team building. These are the pieces that are used mainly in business, but I believe they can be used in other areas. I have not talked about any plans that I cannot fulfill in two years»
«The decision to participate in the competition for the post of director of the high school was made a year ago, but it was more spontaneous than planned. Even after the first Global, I thought that we should participate in some competitive projects. This year I got everything right: I went to graduate school and became the director of the gymnasium»
«Even when I was leaving school (there were times when I was short on money, I was involved in various projects, some of them were in charge), I always left part time to work in an educational institution. At one time I was invited to work at the school I graduated from, a principal who knew my abilities. In the second year I worked as a laboratory assistant, and then I was given a class time, which grew into a major. Maybe it wouldn’t have hurt me and I wouldn’t have stayed in this area if my first kids weren’t in elementary school. Anchor was a beginner. At that moment, understanding that I can somehow be involved in their success holds me back. I have no idea how I can now sit in an office for hours over some code, not see the world, or communicate with anyone. I am probably more of a public figure. I like to go to forums, I am drawn to refereeing. In the 4 years that I have been in Zhytomyr, I have done more than in Luhansk in my entire life. I lived there and knew that I have everything, I have a place to live, and here I realized that no one knows me, I have no relatives. I have a family and I have the zero scratch to start over. I have to take and do»
«I can not say that I miss Luhansk. There were some unpleasant moments that I would not return to. Ever since I left, I have never been there. Some of the acquaintances there still remained, somewhere with 95% of my friends I severed my ties through all these divisions into «my own – stranger». That’s all left a spot: hometown, people are strangers. Going to come and see your home, whether it is worth it or not, is pointless. And again: get there, and who to talk to and what for? Therefore, I will not say that I miss very much and want back. Even if it’s over, I’m not sure that my decision will ever change. Judging by what support I have, I can call my friends many, but now openly call all my friends and then be disappointed – I don’t want to. I believe that I have friends here, I believe that there are many of them»
«I have a daughter and a son. It remains to plant a tree and build a house (laughs). I don’t envy my family. They rarely see me. Sometimes on weekends, sometimes on holidays. Contests, trips, all that. But I understand that for myself I would not do what I do now. I understand that if I do not go anywhere and prepare for something now, where, why and how will the family live? Therefore, it is my impetus, my lever to make decisions. My wife also has a lot to give: it’s very difficult to stand all that. We understand each other. Lately, I’ve been trying to find more time to spend with my family. Kids rejoice when I am constantly at home because it is HOLIDAY, it is for them»
«Zhytomyr is a very cozy city. When I first came here, it seemed very big to me. Then I walked on foot and realized that the whole city is half an hour – there, half an hour – here. I like this city plan more than those who have two hours to get to work and then two hours back. And, yes, all my life … Affinity with Zhytomyr it is. The first years of my life here I was engaged in raising my status. Now I promote more not myself, but the city where I live: wherever I go, the first thing they know about me is that I am from Zhytomyr. I never remove these icons»(ed. – Zhytomyr logo icon on a jacket of Ihor Baranov)
«My advice to the teachers is not to forget why they are here. Because sometimes with a bureaucratic machine you forget what you are in education for. We did not come to schools to fill in reports, not to grade; first of all, we need to ignite children to build what is outside our window»
