EN
Shaping right patriotic attitudes in Poland requires from the state introducing patriotic and military education incorporated in the learning curricula. Defence education is a system of activity of schools, nonmilitary institutions and learners themselves, aiming at preparing the school youth to defend their own country and ensuring them proper physical and moral development. The aim of the article is to present defence education theory, its genesis in Poland and establishing the status quo of defence education in the area of youth’s preparation to defend the country.