Secret Teaching Organization (Polish: Tajna Organizacja Nauczycielska, TON also translated as the Secret Teaching Society or Clandestine Teaching Organization) was an underground Polish educational organization created in 1939 after the German invasion of Poland to provide underground education in occupied Poland during World War II.
Secret Teaching Organization
Tajna Organizacja Nauczycielska
Post-war badge
Abbreviation
TON
Formation
October 26, 1939; 84 years ago (1939-10-26)
Founders
Zygmunt Nowicki, Kazimierz Maj, Wacław Tułodziecki, Teofil Wojeński, Czesław Wycech
The Organization was created towards the end of October 1939 in Warsaw response to German closure of most Polish educational institutions and repressions against teachers.[1][2] To forestall the rise of a new generation of educated Poles, German officials decreed that Polish children's schooling should end after a few years of elementary education. Heinrich Himmler wrote in a May 1940 memorandum, "The sole purpose of this schooling is to teach them simple arithmetic, nothing above the number 500; writing one's name; and the doctrine that it is divine law to obey the Germans... I do not think that a knowledge of reading is desirable."[3] Most schools were closed, many teachers were arrested and even executed during the purges of Polish intelligentsia, in the remaining schools, curriculum was heavily censored, textbooks were confiscated, libraries closed.[1][2]
The Organization concentrated on the primary education.[1] Over time, it expanded into secondary education.[2] It provided assistance to teachers in need, for example to the ones deported from the Polish territories annexed by Nazi Germany, or to the ones in hiding with arrest warrants.[4] It provided assistance to the families of teachers who had been imprisoned or killed, or who were in hiding.[4] It was also involved in the underground printing and distribution of textbooks.[5]
Norman Davies notes that the Organization undertook the education of a million children.[6] By 1942, about 1,500,000 students took part in the Organization underground primary education; in 1944, its secondary school system covered 100,000 people and the university level courses, about 10,000.[7]
The Organization cooperated closely with the Polish government in exile (by which it was subsidized[2]) and the Polish Underground State.[4] Its network covered the whole of Poland, roughly corresponding to the pre-war educational structure of the Second Polish Republic,[1] and was most organized in the General Government.[4] Thousands of its members were arrested and killed by the Germans. It is estimated that about 15% of Polish teachers[8] or 8,000[9] died during the occupation period.
Founders and main activists of the Organization, many of whom were connected to the pre-war Association of Polish Teachers (Związek Nauczycielstwa Polskiego),[4] included: Zygmunt Nowicki,[4] Kazimierz Maj,[4] Wacław Tułodziecki,[4] Teofil Wojeński[4] and Czesław Wycech.[4]
In 1945 the Organization became the basis of the reestablished Association of Polish Teachers; however, it also became controlled by the Soviet-installed communist government.[4]
Notesedit
^ abcdLowe, Roy (1992). Education and the Second World War: Studies in Schooling and Social Change. Psychology Press. pp. 128–138. ISBN978-0-7507-0054-2.
^ abcdBukowska, Ewa. "Secret Teaching in Poland in the Years 1939 to 1945". London Branch of the Polish Home Army Ex-Servicemen Association. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
^(in Polish) Tajna Organizacja Nauczycielska 2012-03-31 at the Wayback Machine, Encyklopedia PWN
^Davies, Norman (2005-02-24). God's Playground A History of Poland: Volume II: 1795 to the Present. OUP Oxford. p. 342. ISBN978-0-19-925340-1.
^(in Polish) Ryszard Czekajowski, Tajna edukacja cywilna w latach wojenno-okupacyjnych Polski 1939-1945 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
^Wrobel, Piotr. "The Devil's Playground: Poland in World War II, part I & II". Project InPosterum. Price-Patterson. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
^Adam Redzik, Polish Universities During the Second World War, Encuentros de Historia Comparada Hispano-Polaca / Spotkania poświęcone historii porównawczej hiszpańsko-polskiej conference, 2004 March 3, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
External linksedit
(in Polish) Zbigniew Sulima, Uroczystość 60-lecia konspiracyjnego nauczania i Tajnej Organizacji Nauczycielskiej
January 01, 1970
secret, teaching, organization, polish, tajna, organizacja, nauczycielska, also, translated, secret, teaching, society, clandestine, teaching, organization, underground, polish, educational, organization, created, 1939, after, german, invasion, poland, provide. Secret Teaching Organization Polish Tajna Organizacja Nauczycielska TON also translated as the Secret Teaching Society or Clandestine Teaching Organization was an underground Polish educational organization created in 1939 after the German invasion of Poland to provide underground education in occupied Poland during World War II Secret Teaching OrganizationTajna Organizacja NauczycielskaPost war badgeAbbreviationTONFormationOctober 26 1939 84 years ago 1939 10 26 FoundersZygmunt Nowicki Kazimierz Maj Waclaw Tulodziecki Teofil Wojenski Czeslaw WycechFounded atWarsaw German occupied PolandPurposeeducationLocationPoland The Organization was created towards the end of October 1939 in Warsaw response to German closure of most Polish educational institutions and repressions against teachers 1 2 To forestall the rise of a new generation of educated Poles German officials decreed that Polish children s schooling should end after a few years of elementary education Heinrich Himmler wrote in a May 1940 memorandum The sole purpose of this schooling is to teach them simple arithmetic nothing above the number 500 writing one s name and the doctrine that it is divine law to obey the Germans I do not think that a knowledge of reading is desirable 3 Most schools were closed many teachers were arrested and even executed during the purges of Polish intelligentsia in the remaining schools curriculum was heavily censored textbooks were confiscated libraries closed 1 2 The Organization concentrated on the primary education 1 Over time it expanded into secondary education 2 It provided assistance to teachers in need for example to the ones deported from the Polish territories annexed by Nazi Germany or to the ones in hiding with arrest warrants 4 It provided assistance to the families of teachers who had been imprisoned or killed or who were in hiding 4 It was also involved in the underground printing and distribution of textbooks 5 Norman Davies notes that the Organization undertook the education of a million children 6 By 1942 about 1 500 000 students took part in the Organization underground primary education in 1944 its secondary school system covered 100 000 people and the university level courses about 10 000 7 The Organization cooperated closely with the Polish government in exile by which it was subsidized 2 and the Polish Underground State 4 Its network covered the whole of Poland roughly corresponding to the pre war educational structure of the Second Polish Republic 1 and was most organized in the General Government 4 Thousands of its members were arrested and killed by the Germans It is estimated that about 15 of Polish teachers 8 or 8 000 9 died during the occupation period Founders and main activists of the Organization many of whom were connected to the pre war Association of Polish Teachers Zwiazek Nauczycielstwa Polskiego 4 included Zygmunt Nowicki 4 Kazimierz Maj 4 Waclaw Tulodziecki 4 Teofil Wojenski 4 and Czeslaw Wycech 4 In 1945 the Organization became the basis of the reestablished Association of Polish Teachers however it also became controlled by the Soviet installed communist government 4 Notes edit a b c d Lowe Roy 1992 Education and the Second World War Studies in Schooling and Social Change Psychology Press pp 128 138 ISBN 978 0 7507 0054 2 a b c d Bukowska Ewa Secret Teaching in Poland in the Years 1939 to 1945 London Branch of the Polish Home Army Ex Servicemen Association Retrieved 2023 05 06 Poles Victims of the Nazi Era United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Archived from the original on 2013 03 03 Retrieved 2008 01 24 a b c d e f g h i j k in Polish Tajna Organizacja Nauczycielska Archived 2017 03 03 at the Wayback Machine WIEM Encyklopedia in Polish Tajna Organizacja Nauczycielska Archived 2012 03 31 at the Wayback Machine Encyklopedia PWN Davies Norman 2005 02 24 God s Playground A History of Poland Volume II 1795 to the Present OUP Oxford p 342 ISBN 978 0 19 925340 1 in Polish Ryszard Czekajowski Tajna edukacja cywilna w latach wojenno okupacyjnych Polski 1939 1945 Archived 2016 03 03 at the Wayback Machine Wrobel Piotr The Devil s Playground Poland in World War II part I amp II Project InPosterum Price Patterson Retrieved 2008 01 25 Adam Redzik Polish Universities During the Second World War Encuentros de Historia Comparada Hispano Polaca Spotkania poswiecone historii porownawczej hiszpansko polskiej conference 2004 Archived March 3 2009 at the Wayback MachineExternal links edit in Polish Zbigniew Sulima Uroczystosc 60 lecia konspiracyjnego nauczania i Tajnej Organizacji Nauczycielskiej Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Secret Teaching Organization amp oldid 1216071230, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
