EDUCATIONAL ISSUE IN THE ACTIVITIES OF JEWISH PARLIAMENTARIANS IN THE LEGISLATIVE SEJM OF THE POLISH STATE (1919–1922)

Jewish ambassadors' activities in the Legislative Sejm (1919–1922) aimed at protecting and developing national schooling are analyzed. Emphasis is placed on Jewish deputies defending their voters' educational rights during parliamentary speeches, political debates, submissions, and interpellations. The ambassadors raised such important educational issues as the adoption of educational legislation agreed with national minorities, the development of non-Polish educational institutions of all types, the "utraquisition" and liquidation of minority schooling, and the persecution of Jewish, Ukrainian, Belarusian, and German teachers. There are differences in Jewish ambassadors' views on the interpretation of the place of Jews in Poland, approaches to determine the role of religion in education, the national language, and the medium of instruction in educational institutions (Yiddish, Hebrew, Polish). Such differences partially hindered the consolidated activities of Jews to protect the educational rights of their people. It is noted that some of the parliamentarians supported the development of schools with Hebrew as the medium of instruction, others - Yiddish. At the same time, some advocated for religious schools and the rest for secular ones. Despite the lack of a unified vision of solving the educational issue among Jewish politics, Jewish parliamentarians, getting the support of German deputies and representatives of Polish left-wing political parties, used the parliamentary platform to protect the educational interests of electors. They joined in providing Jews with fundamental rights guaranteed by domestic law and international agreements, as well as in expanding the network of schools with Yiddish, Hebrew, or bilingual instruction.