People

The Path of Pilgrims and John Paul II

Education and Training

Same Game, Same Name, Different Rules

People

Poland today is ethnically almost homogeneous (98% Polish), in contrast with the pre-World War II period, when there were significant ethnic minorities: 4.5 million Ukrainians, 3 million Jews, 1 million Belorussians, and 800,000 Germans. The majority of the Jews were murdered during the German occupation in World War II, and many others emigrated in the succeeding years. Most Germans left Poland at the end of the war, while many Ukrainians and Belorussians lived in territories incorporated into the then-U.S.S.R. Small Ukrainian, Belorussian, Slovakian, and Lithuanian minorities reside along the borders, and a German minority is concentrated near the southwest city of Opole.

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The Path of Pilgrims and John Paul II

In religious terms, Poland resembles a mosaic. In addition to Christians, particularly Roman Catholics, but also Eastern Orthodox and Protestants, there are adherents of Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and other religions of the Far East. Nevertheless, it is Catholicism which is overwhelmingly dominant.

Polish Catholicism is a product of a thousand years of history, where the fortunes of nation, state and Church were inextricably bound up with one another. An enormous part was played in this process by the patriotic and cultural role of the Catholic Church, in times of greatest need when Poland's heritage and national identity had to be safeguarded. This was especially true during the partition of Poland, which lasted from the close of the 18th century to the end of World War I, and again during the period of Communist government that followed World War II. Another factor of immense significance was the election of a Pole to the Throne of St. Peter in Rome: Karol Wojtyla, who as Pope took the name of John Paul II.

One of the specific features of Polish Catholicism is the importance attached to the cult of the Virgin Mary, who is the patron of the majority of Poland's 500 shrines. Icons of the Blessed Virgin - particularly those credited with miraculous powers - and shrines to Our Lady attract pilgrimages of many thousands each year, as do the chapels set up to mark the Stations of the Cross. Over the generations, some of these places have become associated with particular rites and are often the site of vivid mystery plays: genuine religious theatre, in which garish theatrics combine with authentic reactions and profound spiritual experiences.

The foreign tourist will come across "Catholic Poland" with almost every step taken: in large cities, small towns and tiny villages, by the side of major highways and narrow rural roads. This includes monumental, age-old cathedrals and monasteries, but also little wooden country churches, whitewashed chapels, solitary crosses and roughly carved holy figures.

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Education and Training

Education in Poland is free and compulsory for eight years, for children between the ages of seven and 14 years. Before the age of seven, children may attend schools known as zlobki and kindergartens (przedszkola). Basic schooling begins at seven years of age with the eight-year school (szkola podstawowa). Curricula are uniform through Poland. There are a small number of private schools, administered under state supervision. In 1989 the Roman Catholic Church was granted the right to operate its own schools.

Secondary education is provided free of charge to candidates who are successful in the entrance examination, and in 1990 about 75% attended vocational and technical schools (technika zawodowe), or basic vocational schools (zasadnicze szkoly). Vocational technical schools provide five-year courses of general education and vocational training together, and can lead to qualification for entering higher educational establishments.

Children who leave the eight-year schools to continue with their education enter general secondary schools (liceum ogolnoksztalcace), where four-year courses lead to college or university entrance. In 1990-91 there were 96 higher educational establishments in Poland, including 11 universities and 18 technical universities. The government budget for education in 1990 was 28,249,900m zlotys (14.6% of total budgetary-expenditure). Poland higher education is provided by 110 institutions for 495 thousand people, three quarters of those full-time students. Woman constitute half of the studying population. Most young people study at universities (160,000) and technical colleges (80,000). Less popular are teacher education training colleges, agricultural and medical schools.

Source: Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network

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Same Game, Same Name, Different Rules
Written by Brett Hamilton

Growing up, I remember spending countless hours playing board games like Monopoly, Risk, Concentration, Mouse Trap, and Candy Land. Yet, one of my favorite games was simply called “The Game of Life”. The game begins with each player having a little colored car and a single blue or pink peg in the car. With just a simple spin of the number wheel, you move your vehicle along a road that sometimes forks and the driver (player) must make choices which road to take. The game progresses by adding a spouse, children, career and culminates by declaring the winner as being whoever has the most money at the end of the road. This simple Milton Bradley “Game of Life” is the same game by the same name that we all must maneuver through the course of life. Can you imagine playing this board game with your friends when each one of you was playing by a different set of rules?

This would be one of the best ways I could explain what it is like for our family to live in Poland. Not only are the rules different, but until you have developed a sufficient level of language to communicate these differences, you are doomed to learn by trial and mostly error.

Same word, different meaning:

“School Ball”: One missionary family showed up for the annual pre-school “ball” with their son dressed in his best little suit and tie only to find out that all of the other children were dressed up as cowboys, Indians, princesses, animals, pirates, and wizards because everyone else knew that it was a “costume ball.” Yet, when asked by the Polish teacher who his costume represented, the little American boy paused for just a second and said, "I’m dressed up like a pastor of the church across the street."

Change in Currency:

While in Poland for my first time in 1984, I kept a 1,000,000.00 Polish banknote as a souvenir (worth then about $70). Upon returning in 1995, I was informed that the currency was going to be changed by the end of the year. Wanting to spend the souvenir banknote before it was worthless, I went to a local hardware store with my daughter to purchase some needed items for the house. Upon presenting this banknote to the clerk, she held it up to the light and proudly begin to call out to all the clerks and clients in the store that she found a “COUNTERFEIT” banknote. The clerk tried to ask me were I got this money but being only in the country a few months, I was unable to explain in Polish. Meanwhile, my daughter was tugging on my pants saying, “What’s wrong Daddy, What’s wrong?” I could see the headlines of the next morning’s paper “AMERICIAN MISSIONARY JAILED PASSING COUNTERFEIT BILLS!” Fortunately, the clerk accepted another bill in payment and returned my “souvenir”. A subsequent visit to the bank confirmed that the money was not counterfeit and was not one, but two generations ago of Polish currency. The bank officer however did inform me that if it was counterfeit money I would have been detained.

Rule of Hospitality:

One of the popular Polish sayings is, “Guest in the home – God in the home”. Polish people take great pleasure in entertaining guests in proper style. In 1984, when meat was rationed, families would use their whole month’s ration of meat when special guests visited them. Wedding receptions usually ended when the sun came up the next day. It would not be uncommon to have 2-3 appetizers, two kinds of soup, 2 main dishes and 3-4 choices of dessert. A quick stop to see friends usually lasts 3-4 hours. Often the value of the relationship is measured at least subconsciously by the amount of food and length of the stay. Yet, we have also learned the unwritten rule that if you want to continue the relationship it is expected that you reciprocate the invitation.

The Rule of the Multiplying Christmas cookies:

One Christmas holiday, we decided to make cookies and have our children pass them out to about 20 of our neighbors. It wasn’t anything big but just a little gesture of friendship over the holidays. We were overwhelmed to find that after passing our these little plates of cookies, we ended up with about 4 times more cakes, cookies and candy than when we started. We finally understood when one neighbor would not accept the cookies because she didn’t have anything to give back. From this experience we learned that the unwritten rule is, “It is expected to give when you receive.”

One in a Thousand:

One day while reading through the book of Romans, I was stopped short by the first three verses of chapter ten. “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.” These verses to me summarize the spiritual climate in Poland. Sunday mornings the churches are full and many churches have 4-5 masses. In August, people walk from all over Poland to see the “Black Madonna” (a picture of Mary and the Christ child). Religion is a required class in the schools in Poland. Most homes have Bibles, but they are almost never read. However, this flurry of religious activity has little to no practical influence on daily behavior. A popular saying among businessmen is that you must “steal your first million”. It is not considered wrong to not claim income and pay taxes. An "official" and an “un-official” receipt are almost always offered. Medical patients are expected to pay “under the table” to move up the priority list for an operation. Students use all kinds of “creative advantages” to pass examinations. Illegal computer games and music are sold openly without concern for copyright laws. The number of single parents is sharply on the rise. In our city of 800,000 people the membership in all protestant churches (6) would not be more than 800. This is one tenth of one percent. Unfortunately, even of these 800, not all are living lives of complete obedience. This means that there would be less than a one in a thousand chance to randomly meet a believer who is truly living to glorify God.

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