Transformations in Polish Education in Chicago IL at the Turn of the 21st Century. Selected Issues

Abstract

The historical roots of the contemporary Polish school system in Chicago IL date back to the 1950s. Since then, both the institutions and the teaching system have undergone numerous transformations, which have enabled the creation of a network of fully professional schools. At the turn of the 21st century, these schools operated in the Chicago metropolitan area and its suburbs. Their educational offer encompassed not only primary but also secondary education. Students had the opportunity to receive specialized support and participate in numerous extracurricular activities. The staff employed in these schools, through self-improvement and participation in various methodological courses, are increasingly well-prepared to work with children for whom Polish is not their first language. Teachers receive support from professional organizations, often established by themselves, as well as from the Polish community. The period of over half a century of Saturday school operation has been characterized by development and the search for a compromise between parents' expectations, students' needs, and the fulfilment of the primary goal, which is the teaching of Polish language and culture.