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20 Years in the History of the Polish School of Native Subjects in Edinburgh
Olga Zamecka-Zalas 1
 
 
 
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Institute of Pedagogy, Faculty of Pedagogy and Health Sciences Piotrkowska Academy in Piotrków Trybunalski, Piotrków Trybunalski, Poland
 
 
Submission date: 2025-09-25
 
 
Acceptance date: 2025-12-12
 
 
Online publication date: 2025-12-22
 
 
Corresponding author
Olga Zamecka-Zalas   

Instytut Pedagogiki, Wydział Pedagogiki i Nauk o Zdrowiu, Akademia Piotrkowska, Słowackiego 114/118, 97-300 Piotrków Trybunalski, Polska
 
 
 
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References (22)
 
KEYWORDS
native education
parents
children
emigration
native language school
 
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction. The article presents the role of the Polish School of Native Subjects in Edinburgh in the education of children and young people in exile. The school’s task was to maintain the Polish identity and instil a love of Polish culture among the younger generation of Poles by providing children and young people with a basic knowledge of their native language, teaching them about Polish history and geography, and providing religious education. The article presents the principles of the school’s activities, cooperation with parents in the education process through organising parent-teacher meetings, involving parents in the running of the school through participation in the Parents’ Association Board, supporting the organisation of academic ceremonies and school celebrations, etc. Aim. The aim of this article is to present the origins and activities of the Polish School of Native Subjects in Edinburgh, which was the first Polish school in Great Britain after World War II. Methods and materials. In order to address the research problem, a monographic method was used, along with a critical analysis of documents and existing literature in this field. The techniques used included internal and external formal analysis of documents. Results. Based on the research conducted, the 20 years history of activity of the Polish School of Native Subjects in Edinburgh, which was the first school of native subjects in Great Britain, was presented. Various forms of teaching, educational, and organisational work conducted by the school were presented, as well as its cooperation with parents and the local community, aimed at maintaining the Polish identity among the young generation of Poles in exile. Conclusion. The Polish School of Native Subjects in Edinburgh made a great contribution to the patriotic education of Polish children and young people in exile, preserving their Polish identity by teaching them their native language and national traditions, as well as instilling Polish culture in the younger generation. The school laid the foundations and provided the impetus for the establishment of further Polish schools of native subjects in the United Kingdom, and the school’s teaching staff trained their successors.
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