Folk schooling in Galicia on the verge of the activity of the Land Education Council (150 years after it was established)

Abstract

Established in 1867, and conducting its activity since the year 1868 until as late as the year 1921, the Land Education Council in Galicia is one of the most important institutions in the history of Polish education. It played a particular role being the largest and active for the longest time public institution caring about the development of Polish education in the period of the Partitions. Even though it was functioning for more than half of a century on the Polish lands most neglected in the aspect of education, the activity of this institution is not appreciated nowadays. 
This text is a contribution to research into the history of the in Galicia. It was based upon unknown archive materials stored at the Central State Historical Archives in Lviv, in the set of the records of the Office of the Superintendent of the Land Education Council. These materials are constituted by reports on the inspections at folk schools conducted at the turn of the years: 1873 and 1874. This paper presents the condition of folk schooling in Galicia at the verge of the activity of the Council, and the principal tasks of it.

Key words: Polish schooling in the period of the Partitions, Galicia, Lviv, Land Education Council in Lviv.