Soroban – jest w nim ukryty skarb.

The advent of the new era in which societies now live is forcing a reconstruction of global educational systems. It turns out that the methods and forms of work used thus far in education are often serving societies which no longer exist. In the face of these inevitable changes, questions arise, whose clear and certain answers are difficult to find. What educational tools should be used today to take into account a holistic approach to teaching and education? Are there any universal methods and forms of work that would meet the educational expectations of the 21st century? The guidelines of the report “Learning – the treasure within” by the International Commission on Education for the 21st Century, chaired by Jacques Delors, include the modest Japanese soroban – an abacus known in the Far East since the 16th century. Japan’s technological development has not excluded this old medium from general school education. It turns out that it is used not only to perform quick mathematical calculations, but also has strictly pedagogical and even therapeutic values. Using this old abacus in a new learning culture helps in holistic early childhood education. The skills acquired in mastering the use of the soroban are important when learning all school subjects. The growing number of schools in Poland offering soroban courses, as well as the educational and developmental successes of children and youth who have acquired the ability to use this abacus proficiently, call for a scientific study of this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]