Raising patriots

Minister of Education Roman Giertych wants school children to attend mandatory patriotism classes. The Minister didn't disclose when the subject could be introduced, but presented his proposals for the curriculum. According to the Minister, students would learn the history of Poland, but the stress would be on events of which Poland could be proud.

"Students would not only learn Polish history, but would be raised in the spirit of patriotism and national pride," said Giertych. He also proposed that World War II veterans, those who fought against communism, as well as soldiers who took part in peacekeeping missions would be invited to visit the classes. To set an example, the Minister issued a recommendation to headmasters that all school ceremonies should start with the national anthem. "We have no reason to be ashamed of our anthem," he said.

Later, in an interview with right-wing daily Nasz Dziennik, which is associated with Radio Maryja's Father Tadeusz Rydzyk, Giertych gave another reason for the proposal to introduce the new subject.

"People will be proud of being Polish, so they will want to live and work in Poland, not abroad - so they will be willing to make sacrifices for their country," he explained.

Giertych's idea was criticised by the educational establishment and the opposition. The chairman of the Polish Teachers' Union (ZNP), Sławomir Broniarz, claims that introducing even one class per week of the new subject in every school would mean huge costs for the Ministry. Many Law and Justice (PiS) members say that schools should indeed teach patriotism and raise children in a patriotic way, but they don't think this should be taught in a separate class.