The tradition of Polish literature has no continuity in the former Poland’s Livonia. Zofia Rujkowna began her literary adventure in the Polish press published in Latvia in the interwar period. Her poems can be found for example in “Dzwon”, “Nasz Głos”, “Nasze Życie”. She is the author of numerous works dedicated to the land that is situated by the Dvina River. Among them quite a few poems appeared on the occasion of many anniversaries: the anniversary of publishing “Dzwon” or the tenth anniversary of Latgalia’s liberation.
The history of press in the former Poland’s Livonia is created by Polish periodicals arising in the twentieth century interwar period such as: “The Voice of Poland”, “The Polish Weekly”, “The Bell”, “Our Voice”, “Our Life”. There is little mention of these magazines. Each of them played a major role in shaping the national identity, preserving the language and tradition. “Our Life” along with “The Dwarfs” – the supplement for children – were published from 24th December 1934 to 4th August 1940.
Polish schools in Latvia played an important cultural, educational, patriotic and utilitarian role, which is why they deserve to be described. The scant literature on the problems of Polish schools in Latvia is complemented by numerous articles in the Polish press published in the former Polish Livonia in the inter-war period, including periodicals such as Dzwon (The Bell), Nasz Głos (Our Voice) or Nasze Życie (Our Life). Members of the Polish minority living in the former Polish Livonia could send their children to primary and secondary schools. In the new, better circumstances after the partition period, the possibility of freely cultivating one’s own national unique identity, also when it came to education, was an important element in the preservation of national consciousness, transmission of tradition and preparation for the next stage in the education process. Education institutions were founded on the basis of legislation adopted by the newly established Republic of Latvia. The first ten years were conducive to the founding of schools and to their development. Following the economic crisis of the early 1930s and Karlis Ulmanis’ later coup, schools were closed, teachers sacked and the Polish language was removed from mixed schools. Young Poles continued their education at universities in Poland, but also at the University of Riga, established in 1919 following the closure of the Riga Technical University. Education institutions, beginning with kindergarten, primary and secondary schools, were an effective tool in the fight for Polish identity, even considering the limitations and weaknesses that would emerge in their work.
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