School Life along generations in Poland

1. What age did you have to start school? And what was the compulsory school leaving age?

• In the 60’s students started school in age of 7 and finished at the aged of 15 after primary school. It was a compulsory leaving time.

• In the 80’s students started school at the age of 6 in class „zero” and the compulsory leaving age was at the age of 18.

• In present times students start school at the age of 6 in „zero” class and they can leave school not sooner than when they are 18.

2. In order to graduate school:

• 2. In order to graduate school:• - What exams did you have to take?• In the 60’s and 80’s to graduate primary chool you needed only a certificate. To graduate from

secondary school you needed a school leaving exam called „matura”.• In present times to garduate all school level you need to have a certificate with marks higher

than one (from two to six) and the school leaving exams• - What subjects did you have to take?• In all times sbjects are the same: maths, science, art. Polish. Foregin language (although in

60’s and 80’s it was Russian and German mostly, now English and German are the most popul• ar as well as other western European countries)• - What qualification did you get?• In all times we don’t get any particular qualification after graduating school at teenage years,

the exception was for the vocational schools which gave the right to do the job as a technican after passing some additional exams and it is common for all generations

• - What was the minimum mark for passing the exams?• In the 60’s and 80’ s minimum mark for passing was 3, today it is lower to two.

3. How was the marking system in your times?

• In the 60’s the marking system was from 2 to 5, when the 3 was the lower maerk to pass.

• In the 80’s the marking system was from 2 to 5, when the 3 was the lower maerk to pass.

• Today we have a larger scale from 1 (it is the lower mark) to 6 (it is the highest for some special achievements) The lowest mark to pass is 2.

4. What subjects did you have to study in high school? What subjects could

you choose to study?• In the 60’s, 80’s and today students could

choose some profile of the classes in the high school. They studied the same subjects but they were more hours for the leading subjects and in the 80’s and today they can choose languages to be taught.

5. Did you use to wear a uniform? If yes, describe it. (add a photo!!)

• In the 60’s and in the 80’s students used to wear uniforms which looked like a coat which you put on your casual clothes and it was a badge ( a sign of school)sticked on it.

• Today the ministry wanted to make students wear uniforms at school, but the plan for whole country failed and only ome good schools have uniforms nowadays. The uniforms are different in every school, mostly they are T-shirts with a school badge on them for special ocasions there are nice uniforms : smart vests for boys and vests and nice skirts for girls.

6. How did you feel about wearing a uniform?

• In the 60’s most people have nothing against uniforms.

• In the 80’s discipline wasn’t so strict and more people disliked uniforms.

• Today majority of students dislike uniforms as it is against their freedom, they say.

7. What methods did teachers use in classes?

• In the 60’s and in 80’sthe most popular method was the frontal teaching and sometimes a group work.

• Today teachers try to use all methods available, especially group work, pair work, practical activities and modern technologies if they are suitable for the particular subject. Of course frontal teaching is still presents as the introduction method.

8. How much were parents involved in your school life and how?

• In the 60’s and 80’s parents weren’t involved much in the school life. They came only on common meetings to find out how the students were doing in terms of marks and behaviour, or they came to watch celebration prepared at school for them.

• Today parents are more involved in school life. Some of them are chosen to be part of the board of the school or of the class, they help to organise some important events at school as school leaving party, they come on common meetings and ocassionaly on school celebrations. Many times they often go to the headmaster to tell their opinion of the particular teachers.

9. Were there any physical punishments?

• In the 60’s and 80’s there were some phisical punishments at shool, because of the bad behaviour of the students.

• Today phisical punishments are forbiden at schools and teachers who would do it can lose a job.

• If yes, what sort of punishments?• In the 60’s and 80’s the punishments were very similar it was biting

by using a liner for example or the teacher could remove student from the class, leave him at school after the classes or talk to his parents. Staying in the corner in the class, while the others were doing the tasks, was also very popular punishment

• Nowadays the teacher can only talk to parents or to the headmaster about misbehaving or to some institution devoted to control parents and families if they fulfill their functions correctly, but it is not so common to use, because of biourocracy.

10. What were the main reasons for being punished in any way?

• In the 60’s and 80’s the main reason for being punished was desturbing during the lessons and missing or being late for classes or sometimes it could be also something which happened not at school but teacher found out about it and disliked it.

• Today the main problem for punishements is lack of discipline during the lessons or betwen the lessons. The second reason is lack of progress in knowledge and missing classes.

The end