Loading AI tools
1905 Polish social organization in Minsk From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Polish Society "Oświata" (also known as the Society "Oświata" and "Oświata") was a Polish social organization founded in 1905, operating in Minsk and in the Minsk Governorate of the Russian Empire. Until 1907, its activities were carried out clandestinely, legally from 1907 to 1909, and then again clandestinely. The society aimed to educate the inhabitants of the Minsk region, especially children, in the spirit of Polishness, as well as to disseminate Polish culture, language, and strengthen national consciousness in these lands. The organization was persecuted, and during its legal activity, it was treated with hostility by the Russian authorities because strengthening Polish identity in the annexed lands contradicted the state administration's strategy of Russification and assimilation.
Polish Society "Oświata" Polskie Towarzystwo "Oświata" | |
---|---|
Leader |
|
Founded | 1905 |
Dissolved | December 5, 1909 (after that date continued underground activities until 1917) |
Headquarters | Minsk |
Ideology | spreading Polishness through education |
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the Polish-speaking population and/or those declaring Polish nationality constituted a significant minority in Minsk and the Minsk Governorate. According to the census organized in 1897 in the Russian Empire, in the city of Minsk, people considering Polish as their native language accounted for 11.4% of the population, being the third largest linguistic group after those speaking Yiddish (51.2%) and Russian (25.5%). In the entire Minsk Governorate, according to the same census, people considering Polish as their native language constituted 3% of the population, trailing behind Belarusian (76%), Yiddish (16%), and Russian (3.9%). In absolute numbers, according to the census, there were 10,369 Polish-speaking individuals in Minsk and 64,617 in the Minsk Governorate.[1] According to the census conducted in December 1919 in the territories administered by the Civil Administration of the Eastern Lands (the temporary Polish administration during the Polish–Soviet War), Poles constituted 18.3% of the population in Minsk, being the third ethnic group after Jews (44.9%) and Belarusians (22.9%). In the entire Minsk District, according to the same census, Poles constituted 14.6% of the population, second only to Belarusians (64.5%). In absolute numbers, there were 18,713 Poles in Minsk and 159,706 in the Minsk District.[2]
On 12 December 1904, with the advent of the so-called "liberal times" in the Russian Empire, a tsarist decree was issued partially lifting restrictions on the teaching of the Polish language. It allowed for its instruction in Russian elementary and secondary schools as an optional subject, conducted outside of mandatory class hours, for an additional high fee. This fee was higher the fewer parents expressed a desire to send their children to such classes.[3] Such conditions did not meet the educational needs of the Polish community residing in the Minsk Governorate. They expected not only the teaching of the native language to their children but also education in a Polish patriotic spirit. Therefore, efforts were made to establish educational institutions with a purely Polish character.[4]
In mid-1905, the illegal Polish Society "Oświata" was established in Minsk. Its founders were Father Kazimierz Michalkiewicz , Jan Offenberg , Michalina Łęska , and Mieczysław Porowski .[5] The society's activity mainly involved coordinating[4] and expanding[5] Polish clandestine education, which, according to reports from the tsarist police, was widespread in the Minsk Governorate.[4] On 4 March 1906, a decree facilitating the establishment of social organizations was issued. In connection with this, Polish educational activists in Minsk decided to engage in public activities, which in their opinion could bring much better results. The Polish Society "Oświata" was officially registered by the Russian authorities on 11 January 1907. On March 12, a founding meeting took place, during which, according to witnesses, there was a general excitement and eagerness to work. The organization's statute was adopted, and the first board was elected. It included: president – Father Kazimierz Mikołaj Michalkiewicz, vice president – doctor Jan Offenberg, secretary – doctor Czesław Grabowiecki, treasurer – lawyer Zygmunt Węcławowicz. After Father Michalkiewicz left Minsk in 1908, the position of president remained vacant, and his duties were performed by the then vice president Mieczysław Porowski.[6] The Society's Council also included priests: Kazimierz Bukraba , Adam Lisowski , and I. Krukowski.[7]
According to the statute, the organization's program aimed at the intellectual and moral upliftment of all layers of the Polish society in the Minsk Governorate. Its implementation was to take place through comprehensive cultural and educational activities, including the establishment of Polish schools, running a library, organizing lectures, and summer camps for children. However, in practice, the intention to open Polish schools could not be realized because it required the approval of the Russian authorities each time. Throughout the entire period of the society's legal operation, Russian officials never once granted permission to open a Polish school in the Minsk region and in other territories of the former Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth to the east of Minsk.[6]
The society had its main headquarters in Minsk and five provincial branches: in Mazyr, Pinsk, Uzda, Novogrudok, and Rakaw. It was divided into sections dealing with various areas of activity: elementary education, adult literacy education, teacher training seminars, summer camps, lectures, libraries, book lending, and financial:[5][6]
On 17 October 1907, the Polish Society "Oświata" presented a project for the publication of a Polish magazine titled Pogoń in Minsk. The intention was for it to be a weekly publication featuring texts on religion, history, social and political matters, literature, and specialized topics. The request for permission to publish it was made to the authorities by Włodzimierz Dworzaczek, the former editor-in-chief of the Kyiv weekly Kresy, with the support of the society. On 18 January 1908, the Russian authorities responded positively. The idea generated significant interest among the Polish community. Discussions were held, including in the pages of the Vilnius Polish press, regarding the nature of the future publication. There were debates about whether Pogoń should be a daily or a weekly for the people. Ultimately, although the magazine project was well thought out, it was not realized. It was not possible to gather the required number of 4,000 subscribers, which would guarantee the cost recovery of the publication.[12]
The Polish Society "Oświata" oversaw a network of illegal Polish schools. Graduates of the teacher training seminars run by the society were directed to work in these schools. The conditions of their work were harsh. They received symbolic remuneration, barely enough to survive, and it was often withheld during the summer break. This was particularly problematic in rural areas, where due to agricultural work, the school year lasted from October 1 to April 1, or sometimes even shorter. Often, the main factor determining the continuation of educational work was the gratitude and attachment of the children.[6]
The attitude of the indigenous population of the Minsk Governorate towards the educational activities of the Polish Society "Oświata" was generally positive. Parents willingly sent their children to learn in illegal Polish schools, despite the risk of punishment if the practice was discovered by the Russian police. Occasionally, there were cases of reporting rural teachers to the authorities. Sometimes, even Catholic priests and landowners, traditionally associated with Polish culture in these lands, were involved in such reports. They were likely motivated by fear of repression or enlightenment among the lower social classes, which landowners might have perceived as unfavorable to their interests. However, these were isolated cases. Sometimes, peasants justified sending their children to Polish schools because that's what the landlord wanted.[6]
Some Russian organizations, including members of the so-called Black Hundreds, protested against the development of Polish education. From 28 to 31 August 1908 in Minsk, a congress of the "Orthodox Brotherhood" took place, where a resolution was adopted demanding stricter punishment for clandestine teaching. Negative opinions were also expressed in the Russian press.[8]
From its founding in 1905 until its registration in 1907, the Polish Society "Oświata" operated clandestinely and illegally.[8][5] Its activities were monitored by the Russian authorities and opposed, although not very intensively. In January 1907, the society was legalized. However, this did not mean that efforts to strengthen Polish identity would be tolerated. The authorities believed that such efforts hindered the assimilation of the Polish element by the Russian and, in various ways, obstructed the activities of "Oświata" and similar organizations in the western part of the Russian Empire. Continuous and detailed inspections were conducted to find any violations of the statutes, which could serve as grounds for its closure. In the spring of 1909, the governor of Minsk assessed that closing "Oświata" would be difficult because it did not violate the law, and its members generally did not establish schools or officially finance them.[8]
In 1909, the chief of police of Mozyrsky Uyezd issued a report stating that the local branch of the Society "Oświata" was illegally operating five schools there. This served as the basis for the organization's disbandment. Consequently, and also because the Russian authorities had previously disbanded similar organizations in Kyiv and Vilnius, the general assembly of the Minsk "Oświata" on 5 December 1909 decided to self-dissolve the organization.[8] In reality, the society returned to clandestine activities.[8][5]
From 1909 onwards, there was a significant intensification of the fight against illegal Polish education. These actions proved effective and led to the restriction of the Polish educational network. To reduce the risk of discovering clandestine schools, in 1911, the leadership of "Oświata" instructed that secret classes should consist of no more than four children.[8] This significantly reduced the number of students but also led to the creation of more clandestine schools[8][5] and increased involvement in Polish education among the Minsk bourgeoisie.[8]
Under the increasing pressure from the Russian authorities, the activities of "Oświata" gradually dwindled. As late as October 1911, the police received reports that Mieczysław Porowski and Father Kazimierz Bukraba were organizing illegal Polish education in Minsk.[8] Illegal gatherings of Polish teachers were also organized every year.[5] The situation only changed in 1917. The liberalization of education following the February Revolution allowed for the resumption of legal activities in this field. On April 20 (May 3), 1917, the Polish Educational Society of the Minsk Region was established, with its board including creators and leading activists of the former "Oświata," such as Mieczysław Porowski, Michalina Łęska, and Zygmunt Węcławowicz.[13]
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.