The Chicago metropolitan area has more than thirty Polish schools with several thousand students of Polish descent. These schools are located in almost every area of the agglomeration, offering interesting forms of education, combining modernity with Polish tradition. Several hundred Polish teachers supervise young Polonia – from kindergarten age to high school graduating classes, who, after a lavish prom, are preparing for matriculation and Polish language certificate exams. The schools work closely with numerous Polish organizations and the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago, which generously support their educational activities conducted among the Polish community. The fate of Poland’s numerous schools is thus in good hands.

What were the beginnings of Polish education like when a new wave of emigrants came to Chicago just after World War II? In 1948, the U.S. Congress enacted what is known as the “National Security Act. The Displaced Person Act, or Act No. 774, which allowed victims of Nazism and people who were unable to return to their country after the war for fear of persecution to come, with their families, to the United States, which guaranteed them the opportunity to settle, become residents and take up legal employment. The law covered countries such as Germany, Austria, Italy, the French zone of Berlin and Vienna, and the then Czechoslovakia. The act allowed Poles residing in what was then Germany to come to the US. Two years later, an amendment to Law No. 774 allowed Poles who found themselves in England as a result of World War II to take the same step.

Thus, on October 30, 1948, the first Poles from Germany arrived in the US aboard the ship “General Black.” Soon, among Poles settled in Chicago, the issue of teaching Polish language and Polish history to children became a burning issue. As a result of their efforts, in 1950 the Circle of Former Educators and Alumni of Polish Secondary Schools from Germany was established, which was soon renamed the Circle of Educators and Alumni of Polish Schools in Exile. As part of this organization, a Pedagogical Section was formed to teach native subjects.

Slightly later, on the foundations of this organization, the Polish School of St. Petersburg was established. Gen. Casimir Pulaski, the oldest Saturday school in Chicago, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. For the beginning of the school named after him. Pulaski is assumed to be 1950, when the decision was made to establish a Polish school. At the very beginning, it had 7 students, and teachers taught classes for free. The number of students grew steadily, which was due to the huge demand for educating Polish youth in the Polish language. On many occasions the school faced financial difficulties, and on many occasions Polish organizations, very much involved in the battle to maintain the Polish language and culture among the Polish community, came to its aid. With this assistance, the school was able to develop and improve.

In 1955, a parent committee was formed and a decision was made to tax the families of students with a fee of… $1 a month. The establishment of the parent committee meant that the material burden of the school was lifted from the shoulders of the teachers, whose main task was henceforth to teach and educate in Polish culture. Another landmark moment in the life of the school was on December 13, 1959, when a resolution was passed to name the school after its patron saint. From then on, the full name of the school was: Polish School by name. General Casimir Pulaski. In 1968, there was an eight-grade elementary school and a four-year middle school, the oldest in the Chicago area.

The school has changed its location several times. In 1976, she moved permanently to the city’s northwestern neighborhoods, following in the footsteps of emigrating Poles. For decades, the school was an institution where a lot was happening. In addition to teaching children from pre-school age through elementary school to high school students, the school is active in the arts. Since 1982, there has been a children’s art troupe “Słoneczko” at the school, which honors school events and celebrations with singing and dancing. Older children can perform in the “S.O.S” team, which has been active since 2005. Since 2001, there has been a theater club within the school, which prepares nativity plays and theatrical performances to mark the end of the school year. In 2008, the PS-9 Theater was formed and staged children’s fairy tales, a nativity play and a performance for the 2011 Baccalaureate Banquet. Words of appreciation and gratitude go to the indefatigable Zofia Biernadskaya, who has been teaching theater classes for many years.

The school has been organizing themed children’s games that attract crowds of little ones and their parents. Since the beginning of the school, students have participated in numerous competitions, knowledge tournaments, achieving numerous artistic and scientific successes. These include inter-school recitation and literary competitions, art contests, vocal contests, knowledge tournaments about famous Poles. Particularly popular are the school contests – the Christmas contest for the prettiest Christmas tree decoration and nativity scene, and the contest for the most beautiful Easter egg.

Polish School named after him. Gen. K. Pulaski cultivates Polish traditions, so an important event in the school year is a common Christmas Eve and the staging of a nativity play, as well as the arrival of Santa Claus. Santa Claus, whose appearance arouses great excitement among the youngest. An important event, in addition to the ceremonial start and end of the school year, is the student’s striping, which integrates first-graders into the big school family through a solemn oath. To commemorate this important event, children leave a fingerprint in the school chronicle. One of the most important events of the year, which the whole school lives by, is the prom and the Third of May parade. Associated with the prom is a matriculation exam (oral and written) and a certificate exam in Polish as a foreign language, conducted by professors and lecturers at Polish universities, under the supervision of the Ministry of National Education.

Every year the school named after him. Pulaski ends with another group of wonderful young people who, living in two cultures, are able to choose the best from each. A great merit is the commitment and enthusiasm of the teaching staff, which combines tradition with modernity. Teachers are well-prepared and educated staff who use the latest multimedia techniques, making classes interesting and creative. Numerous trainings and workshops conducted by specialists from Poland and Chicago improve teaching skills. Last year, a group of teachers from the St. Thomas School in the city of St. Paul. Pulaski completed postgraduate studies in teaching Polish as a foreign language, conducted by the Center for Polish Language and Culture for Polonia and Foreigners at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin.

Polish School named after him. Gen. Kazimierz Pulaski has a long and beautiful tradition. For 60 years it has educated, nurtured and shaped the attitudes of young representatives of the Polish American community. Today is the time to take stock and celebrate together. We cordially invite the school’s students and young graduates to the festive banquet, which will be a great time and an opportunity to reminisce together and explore the unknown paths of the school’s history. See you at the banquet!

Anna Rosa, a teacher at the Anna Rosa School. Gen. K. Pulaski

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