Excerpts from Polish chronicles in the magazine Wieści z Polski. This issue mentions Polish education in Southern Belgium - as many as 34,000 Poles, mainly employed as miners. Also mentioned is the issue of the K. Pulaski's monument, which was discussed in the American Congress (Source: "Wieści z Polski", Warsaw 1932, R: 6, no. 1, p. 17-21, after: Jagiellonian Digital Library).

A modernised reading of the text

Polish schooling in southern Belgium.

In southern Belgium, mostly in the provinces of Liège, Mons and Charleroi, there is a Polish exile of 34,000 Poles employed mainly in the local coal mines. This Polish population is scattered throughout this area in sixty small colonies of between 100 and 700 people. Five years ago, on the initiative of Mr Adamek Jozef, Consul in Brussels, the first Polish school was established for Polish children in Hautrage, followed by a second one in Peronnes, both near Mons. Mr Adamek's initiative was developed very intensively by his deputy, Mr Feliks Chiczewski, who directed all his efforts towards expanding and improving Polish education in the consulate's district.

In view of the dispersion of the population, and therefore of Polish children throughout the district in numerous settlements, it was impossible to establish schools in each individual settlement, as the number of children was insufficient for the establishment of a normal parochial school. Moreover, considerations of economy had to be taken into account. In addition to schools, Consul Chiczewski saw himself compelled to set up all-day Polish courses for children attending Belgian schools. The Belgian school authorities responded favourably to this initiative, going along with the Consulate.

Parents welcomed the efforts of the Consulate in Brussels with great gratitude, supporting the Polish schools and courses by taking cordial care of them. In each locality where a course was established, a School Care has been set up, grouping together individuals who have the welfare of a Polish school at heart. Everywhere in the Polish population, one can see a great understanding of the need for a Polish teacher, of developing among children a love for the Polish homeland. Thanks to these efforts and the support of Polish parents, 3 Polish schools were established in southern Belgium, in Hautrage, Quaregnon and Peronnes near Mons, as well as 23 all-day Polish courses: in Chatelineau, Jumet, Montigny le Tilleul near Charleroi, in Boussu, Glain, Hensies near Mons, in Liège, Retinne, Charate, Flemalle Haute near Liège.

The schools and courses bring together 617 children in the current school year, who are taught the Polish language, Polish history and geography, as well as all kinds of information about Poland. Above all, these hundreds of children are brought up by patriotic teachers in the love of their homeland to become good citizens of the Polish State. The teaching staff, 7 in number, work with all their dedication for the Polish children and for the good of the Polish State, not limiting themselves to teaching only, but caring for the development of organisational life among the young people entrusted to their care, creating everywhere scout organisations and Red Cross Youth Circles.

The result of this work could be seen and admired at the "Polish School Day" organised in July, at the end of the school year, by Father Pająk in Hautrage, where 400 schoolchildren, together with teachers and parents, came from the whole Brussels consulate district. The good command of the Polish language, evident in the numerous performances, the enthusiasm of the children, the love with which the teachers were surrounded - these are the striking results of this work. In addition to the existing courses, there is a desire to set up further courses in other towns such as Levant de Mons, Dour and others where there are sufficient children.

It is hoped that not a single child will be deprived of a Polish education and will lose contact with the great Polish State, to which all of the local educated emigrants relate with all gratitude, being proud of their Polish affiliation. The wonderful development of Polish education in southern Belgium is an example of what can be achieved through the systematic and organised efforts of all those interested in the existence of Polish teaching. Excerpts from a letter from a Polish boy in Brazil to a member of the Stow. Opieka Pol. nad rod. na Obczyźnie dated 1 November 1931 Dear Madam.

The first word of my letter: "Jesus Christ be praised". I have received your letter. Thank you very much and sincerely. We were very pleased that you have not forgotten us. I will now describe our good fortune. Praise God we are all healthy, which we also all wish you. We are very sad here, there is a colony where we live, but it is Dutch. There is no church, no Orthodox church, no school. There is a church, but it is Dutch, there is a rooster on the steeple; there are Polish churches in town in Ponta Grossa and there is a Polish school, but it is 3 miles to town. Dear lady, we are very sad when Sunday comes so that we can at least hear the sound of the bell, and here we hear nothing.

We are very sad for our country. You ask me if I go to school, and I praise God that I finished fourth grade in Poland, I will know it. I have a sister, she is eight years old, she went to second grade in Poland, and here there is nowhere to send her. It's very distressing for Mother, because there are still young children and there's nowhere to send them to school, which makes it bad in Brazil. If we had the money, we'd go back today; if God helps us, we'll go back to Poland one day. Maybe the Lord God will grant that times will change here, because Father is working on the railways, but it's small, that's how we earn our living. I'd like to earn something, help you a bit, but there's nowhere to do it.

Dear Madam, we've got five morgens of land here, but that land isn't like in Poland, it's sandy, it's been unplowed for God knows how many years, you need four oxen to plough it once. My father hired oxen and ploughed one and a half morga, he paid 120 mil. and planted potatoes and corn on that land, God knows if it will grow, because it's unworked land, and the rest is lying unworked, because there's nothing to pay for it, because it costs a lot to cultivate it.

Dear Madam, one day we were afraid, because an adder crawled into our house in the evening and we were afraid to catch it, so Father went to one man and he shot it, it was 2 metres long. Thank you very much, dear lady, for the picture and the photographs, and we ask you to send me a prayer book. Our best wishes to you all with your family, may you remain with God.