Sieć szkół parafialnych w archidiakonacie sandomierskim od XVI do XVIII w.

Abstract

The problem of establishing a network of parochial schools belongs to the fundamental questions in the field of school system and parochial education. The present article which is a fragment of a paper devoted to the history of the school system in the Sandomierz archdeaconry in the period from the 16th to 18th century, offers the basic information about the number of parochial schools in the Sandomierz archideaconry in this period. On the basis of research it could be stated that in the first half of the 16th century 35 out of 42 parishes of this archdeaconry had schools. This constitutes 83,4% of all the mentioned parishes. The second half of the 16th and the first half of the 17th century witnesses a further increase of the number of parochial schools. The top development of the school system in the Sandomierz archdeaconry falls on the first half of the 17th century. In 1646 48 out of 54 parishes including the Sandomierz collegiate church had schools. This constitutes 88,8% of the whole number of the Sandomierz archdeaconry parishes. Contrary to the general belief a sudden crisis of the parochial school system in the Sandomierz archdeaconry did not take place after the Swedish invasion, but at the turn of the 18th century. The thirties of the 18th century are the period of the greatest decline of he parochial school system: in that time only one school existed in the whole Sandomierz archdeaconry. As soon as the economical situation was a little stabilized, a distinct, although slow improvement took place. In 1748 13 parochial schools worked. However, a complete reconstruction of the school network was not accomplished before the parish school system was taken over by the Commission for the National Education.