On This Day during on October 14, 1773, Poland observed its National Education Day for the first time. Previously, the holiday was celebrated as Teacher’s Day. However, the holiday was rename as a National Education Day.
It still remained the professional holiday of all Polish teachers and other school employees. It is one of the Poland national holidays which are not non-working days.
This day is the anniversary of the creation of the Commission of National Education, created in 1773 through the initiative of King Stanisław August Poniatowski.
The Commission of National Education (Komisja Edukacji Narodowej, KEN) was the central educational authority in the Kingdom of Poland and the Great Duchy of Lithuania. The KEN is widely regard as the first Ministry of Education in the history of Europe.
During the two decades of its existence, the KEM completely changed the educational system in Poland. It made education accessible to a wider group of people by opening new schools and training thousands of teachers. The KEM also introduced new school programs and textbooks influenced by the ideas of Enlightenment.
On this day, Poland organized special events at schools and children congratulate their teachers on the holiday. Also, students give flowers and sweets to their teachers.
King Stanisław II
Stanisław II Augustus was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1764 to 1795. He was the last monarch of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. He was born Stanisław Antoni Poniatowski, on January 17, 1732, and died on February 12, 1798, at the age of 66 at Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire.
