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Push Not the River
James Conroyd Martin
Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin's Press
September 2003

News

The Polish translation of Push Not the River, a novel based on the diary of a Polish countess who lived through the Third of May Constitution years (1790s) has been published by the largest book club in Poland, debuting there at # 5. Seventeen-year-old Anna Maria Berezowska started her diary at the age of seventeen, when both her personal life and the political situation in Poland began to unravel. Author James Conroyd Martin began work with the diary in 1976, balancing and integrating Anna's very personal odyssey with the rise and fall of the ill-fated Constitution. Critics have cited the story as having the sweep of stories like Gone with the Wind and Doctor Zhivago. "But Anna's story is true," Martin is quick to point out.

Read more: Push Not the River by James Conroyd Martin - Book Review

Part III. Education after the Reform

This is a third article from the series of educational articles.

The middle school educates according to the traditional division into subjects like in contemporary high school. But the education program will also encompass philosophy, ecology and civil defense. The education in middle school is also, like in the elementary and high school, accomplished by an exam that will decide about next education choice of the student. The result of the exam will basically determine whether student will attend the 3-year high school or 2 -year vocational school.

Read more: Changes in Education System in Poland: Part III. Education after the Reform

Part I. The recent Past

During 40 years of communism the education system in Poland had a simple to understand structure: 7 (later changed to 8) years of elementary school, 4-5 years of high school, depending on profile or 2-3 years of the school preparing for job (vocational school) and the university as the last step - 4-6 years. Everybody was supposed to complete at least 7 (or 8) years of elementary education. All schools were public, especially at the elementary level. A couple of private high schools owned by church existed and all universities in exception of a few theological universities were also public. School education was free of charge at every level although a student had to pay for his school manuals, books, tools and cloths.

Read more: Education System in Poland: An Overview and Maturity Exam

Part II. Education after the Reform

This is a second article from the series of educational articles. Here is the link to the first article describing the education system in Poland in the recent past: Education System in Poland (1 of 3)

Now, everything is changing from the economical and structural aspect.

The elementary and high school education remains still mainly public, although there are more and more private schools. Universities become less and less public - every fourth student in the public university has to pay for his/her education. Many private schools were formed.The privatization had good and bad sites. Students appreciate education more than in the past, especially on the university and college levels since they pay for it. There is also growing concern that some of new founded schools do not give the proper education, they just take money from students and give students certificates.

Read more: Reforms in Education System in Poland: Public or Private?