Wychowanie socjalistyczne w domach dziecka w pierwszych latach Polski Ludowej (1944-1953)

Abstract

Socialist upbringing in children’s homes in the first years of the People’s Republic of Poland (1944-1953)

The paper presents sources, principles and practical implementation of socialist upbringing ideals in children’s homes conditioned by the formation of the socialist system in post-war Poland. The subject was pursued by means of, i.a., journal articles and publications intended for children’s home directors and service workers, as well as ministerial guidelines and legal acts drafted mainly in 1944-53. The far-reaching systemic transformation in Poland after the end of the World War Two has covered nearly every part of social life, including the aspect of child rearing along with institutional education. The official propaganda claimed the necessity for creating in childcare facilities the ‘new man’ engaged in the construction of socialist society. Hence, the children’s homes held up as models were the ones in which upbringing was of secular nature and which executed the political model of communist upbringing stemming from the Soviet pedagogy.