In June 2006, Poland’s then Minister for Education Roman Giertych evoked furious protests with his plan to introduce a school subject called ‘Patriotic Education’. His intentions were to create more space for teachers to discuss issues such as the fall of communism.
I refer to this after being recently asked about the similarities between our two countries, and specifically the indoctrination that seems to be unbreakably bonded with our recent history. I still remember a short call-and-response poem we were taught as children: ‘Who are you?/Little Pole/What’s your sign?/The White Eagle.’ It’s quite like Pádraig Pearse’s ‘Mise Éire’, in that they are both about the same idea.
But it is easy to talk about such things in the time immediately following a national uprising. Just try to answer the question of how to be a patriot today without getting entangled in numerous political issues!
The aforementioned ‘Patriotic Education’ project ultimately never came to life. It was not criticised – it was damned. Within a few days it had turned into a plan to make Polish history a separate subject (a resolution that might prove quite desirable, in my opinion). But the whole thing was never going to get popular support – the party standing behind it being the main cause.
Twenty years ago, you see, Roman Giertych founded Młodzież Wszechpolska (All-Polish Youth), a would-be successor to the nationalist youth group started in 1922. Młodzież Wszechpolska became affiliated with the League of Polish Families upon its inception in 2001, but this link was broken in 2004 following involvement of some MW members in Neo-Nazi groups.
Giertych, who was most certainly a far-right politician, proved to be one of the most capable ministers in the Polish government. But never underestimate the power of the electorate. A petition saw Giertych removed from office, and once his party lost voters it was dissolved, his plans abandoned. And so we finish our history education in 1980.
– Anna Paluch
