Problems of the Polish education in the USA in the light of Rev. Józef Rokoszny's report

Abstract

The article is concerned with the appraisal of Polish schools in the USA given by Rev. Józef Rokoszny (1870-1931), an outstanding social and education activist. It is presented in the context of attempts made by the Polish authorities between the two World Wars to strengthen the ties between the emigration circles and Poland. The attempts also aimed at including the Polish colony in the USA in the system of supporting the Polish reasons of State. Rev. Józef Rokoszny stayed in the USA from April to November 1930 as education instructor at the General Consulate of Poland in New York. The main subject of Rev. Rokoszny's interest were parish schools. He visited schools in Chicago, New York, Milwaukee, Denver, Detroit, Buffalo and Orchard Lake (30 elementary schools, 17 secondary ones and 6 colleges). He talked to several prominent representatives of the Polish colony. Contrary to the opinions dominating in Poland he thought that the standard of schools run by Polish Catholic parishes is not lower than that of public schools. His opinion of nun teachers was very high. In a letter to the Ministry of Education he said that the work of education instructors that was being done was futile (“contacts with Poland are necessary but everything must be done by people living here”). The education authorities did not share Rokoszny’s views so his mission was terminated after six months. After his return to Poland he filed a report in which he suggested, among others, accepting nuns for training in Poland and compiling school handbooks to be used by the Polish emigrants in the USA. He also stressed that it was inadmissible for the Polish authorities to treat the Polish emigrants in the USA instrumentally.