Commision of National

Education
Education in Poland before 1773
11th and 12th centuries -> the appearance of cathedral schools at
bishops' sees and collegiate schools at the richest churches.

13th century -> parish schools appeared in newly founded villages and
towns

1364 -> The establishment of Jagiellonian University in Cracow

1519 -> Bishop Jan Lubranski founded an "academic gimnazjum" in

Poznan called the Lubranski Academy);

1570 ->The Jesuit Collegia in Wilno and Lviv

1579 -> King Stephen Batory’s Wilno Academy (Akademia Wilenska)

1595 -> Jan Zamoyski’s Zamoyski Academy (Akademia Zamojska).

1661 -> King Jan II Kazimierz founded the Lviv Academy (Akademia
Lwowska).

1741 -> the Piarist Father and Catholic Priest Stanislaus Konarski founded
the Collegium Nobilium, a school in Warsaw

1765 -> King Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski established the Knights'

School (Szkola Rycerska) for young men of noble families.
Jesuits in Poland

Pope Clement XIV banned the Jesuits

by a perpetual decree never to be
rescinded.

„And to this end a member of the regular clergy, recommendable

for his prudence and sound morals, shall be chosen to preside
over and govern the said houses; so that the name of the
Company shall be, and is, for ever extinguished and suppressed.”
(Bull of Suppression of Pope Clement XIV).
Reasons for establishing the commision:
1. There were only a few schools with the
basics of learning in whole Poland.
2. Poniatowski wanted Poland to be as well
educated as the rest of the strong countries
in Europe, France for example.
3. Poniatowski wanted his country to be
educated, just like him. As we know, he
loved poetry. He was also meeting with
famous writers, painters etc.
 The world's first state ministry of education

allowing a complete emphasizing mathematics,

reorganization of the natural sciences, and language
Polish educational system. study

Commission on National Education

integrating trade and

agricultural skills into improving textbooks at all levels
the elementary school
curriculum
Laws of the Commission
on National Education
A proclamation 
declaring the order
of  functioning the
courts of the
Commission on
National Education
 formally created on October 14, 1773.

 main organiser: Hugo Kołłątaj.

 initially the body was formed of 4 senators and 4

members of the Sejm

 the first head of the KEN - Prince Bishop Michał

Jerzy Poniatowski.

 supported by both the king and

„The Familia’s” party, which gave it almost complete
independence. Hugo Kołłątaj
KEN was granted all the former property of
the Jesuit order
 LEADERS OP THE EDUCATIONAL
COMMISSION OF POLAND AND LITHUANIA

Ignacy Massalski Adam Czartoryski, Joachim Chreptouricz Ignacy Potocki,

Bishop of Vilnius, General of the Vice-Chancellor, Secretary, Grand
Chairman of the Podolian Territory Grand Duchy of Duchy of Lithuania
Commission Lithuania
Three-level education plan:
1. Parochial schools - for peasants and
burghers

2. Powiat schools - mostly for children of

the nobility, but children of lower classes
were also admitted

3. Universities - Academy of
Warsaw, Academy of
Vilnius and Academy of Cracow
 THE END OF KEN

The Confederation of Targowica in 1794

The KEN lost control over most schools in

the Commonwealth and many of its
members were banished or had to escape
abroad. This included Hugo
Kołłątaj himself, who had to escape
to Dresden.
Summary

1. the Catholic Church lost its exclusive centuries-old right to direct the
education of the youth.
2. the government acquired the responsibility for the organization of education
and its control.
3. the massive wealth of the Jesuits came under government control with a
mandate that it would only be used to support education.
4. the scholastic teaching methodology prevalent in this period was challenged,
the Commission began to educate lay teachers.

During this same time frame, similar commissions were established in France,
Austria, and Prussia. However, these commissions were not able to effectively
direct national education since they received little monetary support from their
governments.
http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/1209/Poland-
HISTORY-BACKGROUND.html

http://countrystudies.us/poland/42.htm

http://www.agad.archiwa.gov.pl/prezentacje/ken.html

http://pl.wikipedia.org

http://www.lituanus.org/1973/73_4_04.htm