Liceum Krzemienieckie
Encyclopedia
Liceum Krzemienieckie was a renowned Polish
high school, which existed from 1805 to 1831, and then in the interbellum period, from 1922 to 1939.
(with help from Hugo Kollataj
), who in early 19th century was director of the school district of three guberniya
s of the Russian Empire
- Volhynia Guberniya, Podolia Guberniya
and Kiev Guberniya. Czacki was ordered to do so by the liberal tsar
Alexander I
. Russian ruler announced creation of the school on May 18, 1803, it was organized under the supervision of then-thriving Wilno University.
It was located in Krzemieniec (now Kremenets, Ukraine), in the buildings of the former Jesuit college and in the palace of the noble family of Wisniowiecki. The school served as an educational center of the southeastern part of former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
(see: Partitions of Poland
), offering education from elementary through bachelor's degree. Czacki chose Krzemieniec, because it was placed near then Russian-Austrian border, which attracted students from Austrian province of Galicia. Allegedly, he was considering Lutsk
, but presence of a Russian garrison was regarded as a handicap. Also, Krzemieniec had a huge advantage over neighboring towns, such as Dubno
or Zytomierz - its massive complex of former Jesuit college.
, Jozef Korzeniowski and Euzebiusz Slowacki (father of famous poet Juliusz Slowacki
). There was only one foreign professor, Willibald Besser from Austria, who taught botanics and zoology. Czacki, however, demanded that the Austrian teacher brush up on his Polish, as all lessons and lectures were held in Polish. However, not all students were Poles. There were numerous Jews and Ukrainians too.
The school was proud of its library, which was based on the library of king Stanisław August Poniatowski, and which consisted of 34,388 books, maps and manuscripts, some of them very rare. It offered a wide educational program, aimed not only at learning, but also intellectual progress of students. Interesting is the fact that many students learned English, as this language was favored by Adam Czartoryski
. Best students were given a chance to continue their education in Edinburgh
and universities in England. Amongst those who took advantage of a scholarship in the capital of Scotland
, was Michal Wiszniewski, who later became professor of logics.
Tadeusz Czacki dreamed that the school would eventually develop into a university. It quickly grew, establishing its position. Numerous donors helped with their money, and the school had modern astronomical observatory as well as excellent laboratories. Around the complex, there was a well-kept botanical garden, with 8,350 kinds of plents. Seeds were given away for free to land owners across Volhynia.
After it heyday, which was in the 1820s, the school declined and after the November Uprising
was liquidated by the Russian authorities, as a reprisal. Several professors as well as the library were transferred to the freshly created Kiev University
. The Russians even took the renowned botanical garden, which was carried to Kiev in horse-drawn carts.
Facilities were not only limited to Krzemieniec, but were scattered across Dubno and Kowel counties. In 1935 the schools had around 1000 students and Krzemieniec became a cultural and educational center of the Volhynian Voivodeship
.
The school was closed by the Soviet occupational authorities in September 1939, after the Nazi German and Soviet attack on Poland
.
In 1941, 30 Polish intellectuals connected to the school (mostly teachers) were executed by the Nazi's, based on a list given to them by Ukrainian nationalists.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
high school, which existed from 1805 to 1831, and then in the interbellum period, from 1922 to 1939.
Beginnings
The school was founded by Tadeusz CzackiTadeusz Czacki
Tadeusz Czacki , was a Polish historian, pedagogue and numismatist. Czacki played an important part in the Enlightenment in Poland.-Biography:...
(with help from Hugo Kollataj
Hugo Kollataj
Hugo Kołłątaj was a Polish Roman Catholic priest, social and political activist, political thinker, historian and philosopher.-Biography:...
), who in early 19th century was director of the school district of three guberniya
Guberniya
A guberniya was a major administrative subdivision of the Russian Empire usually translated as government, governorate, or province. Such administrative division was preserved for sometime upon the collapse of the empire in 1917. A guberniya was ruled by a governor , a word borrowed from Latin ,...
s of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
- Volhynia Guberniya, Podolia Guberniya
Podolia Governorate
The Podolia Governorate or Government of Podolia, set up after the Second Partition of Poland, comprised a governorate of the Russian Empire from 1793 to 1917, of the Ukrainian People's Republic from 1917 to 1921, and of the Ukrainian SSR from 1921 to 1925.-Location:The Podolian Governorate...
and Kiev Guberniya. Czacki was ordered to do so by the liberal tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
Alexander I
Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...
. Russian ruler announced creation of the school on May 18, 1803, it was organized under the supervision of then-thriving Wilno University.
It was located in Krzemieniec (now Kremenets, Ukraine), in the buildings of the former Jesuit college and in the palace of the noble family of Wisniowiecki. The school served as an educational center of the southeastern part of former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
(see: Partitions of Poland
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
), offering education from elementary through bachelor's degree. Czacki chose Krzemieniec, because it was placed near then Russian-Austrian border, which attracted students from Austrian province of Galicia. Allegedly, he was considering Lutsk
Lutsk
Lutsk is a city located by the Styr River in northwestern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Volyn Oblast and the administrative center of the surrounding Lutskyi Raion within the oblast...
, but presence of a Russian garrison was regarded as a handicap. Also, Krzemieniec had a huge advantage over neighboring towns, such as Dubno
Dubno
Dubno is a city located on the Ikva River in the Rivne Oblast of western Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of Dubno Raion , the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast...
or Zytomierz - its massive complex of former Jesuit college.
1805-1831
At first, the school was called Volhynian Gymnasium, in 1819 its name was changed to Krzemieniec High School. Among professors were such notable figures as Joachim LelewelJoachim Lelewel
Joachim Lelewel was a Polish historian and politician, from a Polonized branch of a Prussian family.His grandparents were Heinrich Löllhöffel von Löwensprung and Constance Jauch , who later polonized her name to Lelewel.-Life:Born in Warsaw, Lelewel was educated at the Imperial University of...
, Jozef Korzeniowski and Euzebiusz Slowacki (father of famous poet Juliusz Slowacki
Juliusz Slowacki
Juliusz Słowacki was a Polish Romantic poet. He is considered one of the "Three Bards" of Polish literature — a major figure in the Polish Romantic period, and the father of modern Polish drama. His works often feature elements of Slavic pagan traditions, Polish history, mysticism and orientalism....
). There was only one foreign professor, Willibald Besser from Austria, who taught botanics and zoology. Czacki, however, demanded that the Austrian teacher brush up on his Polish, as all lessons and lectures were held in Polish. However, not all students were Poles. There were numerous Jews and Ukrainians too.
The school was proud of its library, which was based on the library of king Stanisław August Poniatowski, and which consisted of 34,388 books, maps and manuscripts, some of them very rare. It offered a wide educational program, aimed not only at learning, but also intellectual progress of students. Interesting is the fact that many students learned English, as this language was favored by Adam Czartoryski
Adam Czartoryski
Adam Czartoryski can refer to:* Adam Kazimierz Czartoryski , Polish nobleman and man of letters* Adam Jerzy Czartoryski , Polish nobleman and minister of the Russian Empire* Adam Karol Czartoryski...
. Best students were given a chance to continue their education in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and universities in England. Amongst those who took advantage of a scholarship in the capital of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, was Michal Wiszniewski, who later became professor of logics.
Tadeusz Czacki dreamed that the school would eventually develop into a university. It quickly grew, establishing its position. Numerous donors helped with their money, and the school had modern astronomical observatory as well as excellent laboratories. Around the complex, there was a well-kept botanical garden, with 8,350 kinds of plents. Seeds were given away for free to land owners across Volhynia.
After it heyday, which was in the 1820s, the school declined and after the November Uprising
November Uprising
The November Uprising , Polish–Russian War 1830–31 also known as the Cadet Revolution, was an armed rebellion in the heartland of partitioned Poland against the Russian Empire. The uprising began on 29 November 1830 in Warsaw when the young Polish officers from the local Army of the Congress...
was liquidated by the Russian authorities, as a reprisal. Several professors as well as the library were transferred to the freshly created Kiev University
Kiev University
Taras Shevchenko University or officially the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv , colloquially known in Ukrainian as KNU is located in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. It is the third oldest university in Ukraine after the University of Lviv and Kharkiv University. Currently, its structure...
. The Russians even took the renowned botanical garden, which was carried to Kiev in horse-drawn carts.
1922-1939
Józef Piłsudski ordered the re-establishment of the school and it was reopened in 1922. It soon gained a reputation as one of the better educational institutions in the eastern part of Poland. It enjoyed a special status as a separate entity, possessing its own real estate. However, it was not exclusively a high school. There were three kindergartens, an elementary school, an agricultural high school, a teacher's college, two community colleges, and a library.Facilities were not only limited to Krzemieniec, but were scattered across Dubno and Kowel counties. In 1935 the schools had around 1000 students and Krzemieniec became a cultural and educational center of the Volhynian Voivodeship
Volhynian Voivodeship
Volhynian Voivodeship or Wołyń Voivodeship was a unit of administrative division and local government in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 1566 till 1569 and in the Kingdom of Poland since 1569 till the partitions of Poland in 1795...
.
The school was closed by the Soviet occupational authorities in September 1939, after the Nazi German and Soviet attack on Poland
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
.
In 1941, 30 Polish intellectuals connected to the school (mostly teachers) were executed by the Nazi's, based on a list given to them by Ukrainian nationalists.
Sources
- http://free.art.pl/podkowa.magazyn/nr34/krzemieniec.htm
- Photo of the school
- http://portalwiedzy.onet.pl/64502,,,,liceum_krzemienieckie,haslo.html
- http://www.wspolnota-polska.org.pl/index.php?id=kw5_3_16
- http://encyklopedia.interia.pl/haslo?hid=80901
External links
- http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1802829682/info
- http://www.polishmoviesonline.com/ateny-wolynskie-p-558.html