Life and upbringing in polish families in XIX and at the beginning of XX century

Abstract

The thought about family is an important aspect of modern educational sciences. Increasing interest in problematics of family led to formation of individual subdiscipline- pedagogy of family. Family as „environment of life and upbringing” is also a subject of historical reflection, especially scientific discussion of history of upbringing, which is the borderland of historical and pedagogical sciences. The area of history of upbringing focused on „social history of upbringing” of „history of education” expand previous research area of this discipline. Family is the oldest form of social life, in consequence it is the historical phenomenon formed in the life of following generations, which was accompanied with discussion over its meaning, functions and inner structure. Family was especially important in history of Poland. For centuries it was a decisive aspect of continuation of traditions and formation of the appearance of whole nation, its mentality and openness. In this text the author tried to present a unique role of family in XIX and at the beginning of XX century. This unusual meaning of family as an “institution” was primarily a consequence of politic situation Poland was in during the time of annexation.