Joanna Sacharczuk Alina Szwarc
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Acta Universitatis Nicolai Copernici • Pedagogika XXXV/1/2018 Nauki Humanistyczno-Społeczne • Zeszyt 445 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12775/AUNC_PED.2018.003 Joanna Sacharczuk University of Białystok ORCID: 0000-0001-6031-1167 Alina Szwarc University of Białystok ORCID: 0000-0002-3075-5872 POLITICS OF MEMORY AND THE STATE OF EDUCATION BEFORE AND AFTER POLAND REGAINS INDEPENDENCE USING THE EXAmpLE OF THE CITY OF BIAłYSTOK – CONTEXTS OF REGIONAL EDUCATION Abstract In this paper, we attempt to present how dominant countries weave memory policy in their educational activity in order to gain control over the members of subordinate groups. This is an important topic in the context of the 100th anniversary of Poland’s independence being celebrated this year. We refer to the educational policy of the invaders to Poles and the Polish state towards minorities in the interwar period. We will illustrate this through the example of Białystok, the city of north-eastern Poland. K e y w o r d s : social memory, historical memory, memory policy, history of education in Bialystok, region, regional education. 36 J OANNA S ACHARCZUK , A LINA S ZWARC POLITYKA PAMIęCI A SYTUACJA SZKOLNICTWA PRZED I PO ODZYSKANIU PRZEZ POLSKę NIEPODLEGłośCI NA PRZYKłADZIE MIASTA BIAłYSTOK – KONTEKSTY EDUKACJI REGIONALNEJ Streszczenie W tekście podejmujemy próbę pokazania sposobów używania przez domi- nującą władzę polityki pamięci w działaniach edukacyjnych w celu podpo- rządkowania sobie członków podległych grup. Jest to temat ważny w kontek- ście obchodzonej w tym roku setnej rocznicy odzyskania niepodległości przez państwo polskie. Na przykładzie Białegostoku poruszamy zagadnienie polity- ki oświatowej zaborców wobec Polaków oraz państwa polskiego wobec mniej- szości w okresie międzywojennym. S ł o w a k l u c z o w e : pamięć społeczna, pamięć historyczna, polityka pamięci, historia szkolnictwa w Białymstoku, region, edukacja regionalna. Introduction he subject of this article is an attempt to present the issue of the Tmemory of the past as a crucial element of memory policy and to outline the contexts of its use in educational activities. Taking up this topic seems to be important for several reasons. This year, we celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the Polish state regaining independence. Such an important event is an excellent opportunity for reflection and memories, for talks about our history, but also for thinking about the challenges facing contemporary education, including regional education. Education is, in fact, one of the best tools for implementing the pol- icy of memory of the ruling party, so shaping the memory of the state, nation and region. In this text, we refer to the educational policy of the invaders to Poles and the Polish state towards minorities in the in- terwar period within the context of the example of Białystok, the city of north-eastern Poland. In connection with the celebrated anniversa- ry of regaining independence, many different celebrations and events take place in Białystok, on the occasion of this commemoration. In ad- P OLITICS OF M E M ORY AND THE S TATE OF E DUCATION 37 dition, the City Council has established that 2018 will be the year of Independence People. Regional education – theoretical and methodological approach The context of regional education adopted in this article is primar- ily based on the objectives of implementing such education. Certain human behaviour can only be understood in the context of culture, thanks to which appropriate attitudes, behaviours, patterns and values are formed in individuals. Without reference to the culture of ances- tors one cannot consider collective memory, which Jerzy Nikitorowicz defines as a “group of ideas about the past of the group”1. Therefore, it is not necessary to state without dispute that the school plays a key role in preparing the young generation for participation in culture. One such possibility is created by regional education, which can be de- scribed as a whole of didactic and educational activities aimed at im- plementing content related to the region in terms of knowledge, shap- ing skills, competences and attitudes. The aim of regional education is therefore to prepare for the conscious and responsible use of the rich- ness of regional cultural goods. As a scholarly discipline, regional education is quite new and for the moment certainly lacks well-established theoretical reflection2. However, it has extensive roots and is present in our lives practically since forever. The idea of regional education (formal and informal) has been known for a long time, although it has existed under various names and definitions. However, it was not until the 1990s in the last century that these issues became popular in the canon of content stud- ied in Polish schools3. 1 J. Nikitorowicz, Etnopedagogika w kontekście wielokulturowości i ustawicz- nie kształtującej się tożsamości, Kraków 2017, p. 109. 2 P. Petrykowski, Edukacja regionalna. Problemy podstawowe i otwarte, To- ruń 2003. 3 To a large extent this was associated with the processes of Poland’s admis- sion to the European Union. 38 J OANNA S ACHARCZUK , A LINA S ZWARC One of the first documents regulating the realisation of regional ed- ucation is the 1995 publication “Cultural Heritage in the Region. Pro- gram Curriculum Assumptions”, in which were described were the main tasks and goals. Some of them worth mentioning include bet- ter understanding of own culture and cultural heritage, distinguishing the value of own region in the national, state and human values con- text, shaping the citizens to be conscious of their rights and their ‘small homeland’, as well as shaping open attitudes, enabling learning about other cultures and European integration4. Of course, these assump- tions, or rather the ways of achieving them, will vary amongst regions5. However, regardless of their directions, but also the needs and ini- tiatives undertaken in the whole local environment and by various en- tities – from educational institutions to local government – everyone is responsible for the regional education. Hence, it is particularly ex- posed to various ambiguities that can “(...) lead to the creation of an illegible and facade description of reality, often losing the sense and meaning of so many valuable activities”6. In the last twenty years, these objectives have been carried out in schools in various forms and with various methods. This was facilitat- ed with favourable conditions such as obligatory educational projects in junior high schools. But above all – regional content was present in previous program frameworks (as a cross-curricular path: regional education – cultural heritage in the region). As the available research indicates, many schools in the Podlaskie Voivodship have carried out these paths very well7. 4 Dziedzictwo kulturowe w regionie. Założenia programowe, Ministerstwo Edu- kacji Narodowej, Warszawa 1995. 5 J. Nikitorowicz, Edukacja regionalna i międzykulturowa, Warszawa 2009. 6 P. Petrykowski, Edukacja regionalna…, op.cit., p. 5. 7 Compare: A. Szwarc, Intercultural education in urban and rural secondary schools, In: The city: a learning experience, ed. K. Kamińska, A. Szerląg, Wydaw- nictwo Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego, Wrocław 2011, pp. 168–186. Idem, Eduka- cja międzykulturowa w pozalekcyjnych formach kształcenia – komunikat z badań. „Pogranicze. Studia społeczne”, vol. XVII (2011), pp. 188–199. Idem, Rola i miej- sce treści kulturowych w procesie kształcenia na przykładzie podlaskich gimnazjów. „Ars inter Culturas” 2014, no. 3, pp. 171–178. P OLITICS OF M E M ORY AND THE S TATE OF E DUCATION 39 Unfortunately, in the current core curriculum, regional content is not as prominent. It is true that it is included in the curricula of par- ticular subjects, such as geography or history. However, this is not enough to be able to say that there are good grounds for running re- gional education in the current school system. Only the introduction of a new school subject could change that. Memory Policy – Historical Memory v. Social Memory Historical and social types of memory are important elements of mem- ory policy that evolve along with any changes in the political situation of the state. Memory policy is used both by the secular and religious authorities for their own benefit, as well as for the benefit of an in- dividual, community or the whole nation. In general,,emory policy is used by the cultural majority as well as by minorities. Memory policy is created by state leaders as the official part of the memory of an ethnic group, nation, or state. Memory policy is mostly based on historic memory that, by definition, is considered to be the only binding type of memory and is therefore used by politicians cur- rently in power as a tool to indoctrinate society. If a social context and differences in historical backgrounds of minorities living in a country are not taken into consideration, then memory policy may be a dan- gerous assimilation tool. It may be dangerous for the culture of assimi- lated groups and for the country itself. When using memory policy, every society evolves various myths. The purpose of these myths is to build a community, unite people around a common goal and make a group of people want to work for a country. A founding myth of a nation or state hence serves to culti- vate the memory of nation’s or sate’s past. It should make members of the nation feel special. If any state wants to last, then it will implement a memory policy based on the myth that contributes to the develop- ment of one common identity and unifies people as one nation. In case of emergency, a nation with a coherent identity will eagerly protect its unique community and with conviction. 40 J OANNA S ACHARCZUK , A LINA S ZWARC Myths and legends are part of history of every nation, region and town. Myths should ensure the continuance of tradition. They also evoke values important for the identity of a community.