Organizers of the “Free School” campaign published a video the day before the school year began. It is titled “Lesson No. 1: Children First, Then a Career.” At the beginning of the recording, we see a family of four discussing the older daughter’s studies. Suddenly, her younger brother speaks.

– A career first, and perhaps a child later. This leads to tragic consequences. If the first child is born at the age of 30, how many children can one have? These are the consequences of telling a woman that she does not have to do what she was called by God to do – the younger brother says, using words spoken by Przemysław Czarnek, the current minister of education and science, in October 2019.

The aim of the campaign is to “warn parents about changes in schools planned by the government.”

On the day the video was released, an appeal “for the defense of Polish schools” was also signed in Gdańsk, at the European Solidarity Centre. It was signed by representatives of local governments, social organizations, teachers’ and educational unions, and associations. In the document, they firmly oppose the changes to education law announced by the government, “aimed at destroying the independence of Polish schools and drastically worsening teaching conditions.”

Text of the Appeal

A good, friendly school that encourages independent, creative thinking, raises open-minded people and is co-created by different communities – teachers, parents, students and non-governmental organizations, as well as local and central authorities – is the foundation of a democratic society. A school based on mutual respect, with a curriculum responding to the challenges of the modern world. These are the schools we want for our children, for 4.6 million young Polish women and men!

Therefore, we are appalled by the announced changes to education law. Putting the Ministry of Education and Science’s proposals into practice would mean:

  • taking away our children’s freedom of choice and critical thinking
  • turning them back to the previous century
  • teaching intolerance, opportunism and conformism
  • imposing party control over teachers and principals
  • drastically limiting original programs tailored to the needs of different students, and restricting additional classes and programs
  • depriving parents and local governments of any influence over schools
  • creating a party school of fear, control and denunciations

WE DO NOT AGREE TO THIS! A FREE SCHOOL! NOT A PARTY SCHOOL!

WE APPEAL for work on changes that are devastating Polish schools to be abandoned! At the same time, we appeal for broad consultations and dialogue to develop programs supporting Polish schools, which are in a very difficult situation after remote learning during the pandemic and are struggling with numerous challenges and problems affecting students and teachers.

WE DECLARE that we, the undersigned – representatives of local authorities, school communities (teachers, principals, parents and young people), teachers’ trade unions and social organizations – will cooperate to build a free school:

  • A school that responds to the challenges and problems of the 21st century and teaches creativity, independence and critical thinking
  • A self-governing, democratic school rooted in and connected to the local community, drawing on its resources, traditions and culture
  • A school that is open and curious about the world, teaching courage in addressing global problems and responsibility for the processes taking place
  • A school that treats difference not as a threat but as an asset, seeing diversity as an opportunity for the country’s development and enrichment
  • A school that nurtures and realizes the values of the great August ’80 movement: freedom of speech, conscience and association; social solidarity and international solidarity; dignity and respect for other people, their work and effort; and social justice.

More about the campaign: www.wolnaszkola.org