Pedagogika opiekuńcza i jej zadania we współczesnych czasach

The present paper discusses the birth of a new discipline in education (pedagogy) called social welfare education, or sometimes care. Its sources should be sought in social education and special (rehabilitation)education as well as in the evolution of welfare and social work. The author follows R. Wroczyński in defining the subject of the new discipline: the assistance provided for children and adolescents must fulfill the basic educational demands, i.e. it must be educational assistance or care. Because of many dangers to children’s and adolescents’ physical and psychical health which occur in the modern world (brought about by the family’s failure to fulfill its educational tasks, inadequate didactic programme at school, and overstraining influence of mass media) it is suggested that social welfare education should make it its aim to help the family and school in the organization of spare time for young people.