Powojenne szkolnictwo żydowskie na przykładzie Żydowskiej Szkoły Powszechnej w Dzierżoniowie w latach 1945–1950
Postwar Jewish educational system on an example of Jewish elementary school in Dzierżoniów in the years 1945–1950

Summary/Abstract: The article presents the history of Jewish school established in Dzierżoniów after World War II as a consequence of the Jewish population’s mass influx into Lower Silesia. Several stages of the development of this institution were described: from its initial foundation, inclusion into the Central Committee of Polish Jews (with their curriculum based on the prewar model of secular Jewish school framed by CISZO “Centrale Jidisze Szul-Organizacje”, meaning “Central Yiddish School Organization”) to the nationalization of the school. The author captures the tensions accompanying the postwar education of Jewish children along with everyday struggles, including deficiency of space and teaching aids. Particular emphasis was put on the rising influence of the communist authorities, who were exerting a growing pressure not only on the Jewish circles but also on the whole educational system in Poland. In the case of this particular school, children who came from Soviet Union made up the majority of students. Most of them spoke neither Yiddish, Hebrew nor Polish. Large amount of teachers also survived the war in the Soviet Union, which did not dishearten them from committing themselves to Zionist-oriented activities. Political issues could not be avoided at the Jewish school in Dzierżoniów, but it remained primarily an educational institution until the end of its days.

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