Polish Society "Oświata"
The organization was persecuted, and during its legal activity, it was treated with hostility by the Russian authorities because strengthening Polish identity in the annexed lands contradicted the state administration's strategy of Russification and assimilation.
In the entire Minsk Governorate, according to the same census, people considering Polish as their native language constituted 3% of the population, trailing behind Belarusian (76%), Yiddish (16%), and Russian (3.9%).
[2] On 12 December 1904, with the advent of the so-called "liberal times" in the Russian Empire, a tsarist decree was issued partially lifting restrictions on the teaching of the Polish language.
It allowed for its instruction in Russian elementary and secondary schools as an optional subject, conducted outside of mandatory class hours, for an additional high fee.
[5] The society's activity mainly involved coordinating[4] and expanding[5] Polish clandestine education, which, according to reports from the tsarist police, was widespread in the Minsk Governorate.
Its implementation was to take place through comprehensive cultural and educational activities, including the establishment of Polish schools, running a library, organizing lectures, and summer camps for children.
It was divided into sections dealing with various areas of activity: elementary education, adult literacy education, teacher training seminars, summer camps, lectures, libraries, book lending, and financial:[5][6] On 17 October 1907, the Polish Society "Oświata" presented a project for the publication of a Polish magazine titled Pogoń in Minsk.
The intention was for it to be a weekly publication featuring texts on religion, history, social and political matters, literature, and specialized topics.
The request for permission to publish it was made to the authorities by Włodzimierz Dworzaczek, the former editor-in-chief of the Kyiv weekly Kresy, with the support of the society.
Parents willingly sent their children to learn in illegal Polish schools, despite the risk of punishment if the practice was discovered by the Russian police.
From 28 to 31 August 1908 in Minsk, a congress of the "Orthodox Brotherhood" took place, where a resolution was adopted demanding stricter punishment for clandestine teaching.
In the spring of 1909, the governor of Minsk assessed that closing "Oświata" would be difficult because it did not violate the law, and its members generally did not establish schools or officially finance them.
[8] In 1909, the chief of police of Mozyrsky Uyezd issued a report stating that the local branch of the Society "Oświata" was illegally operating five schools there.
[8] This significantly reduced the number of students but also led to the creation of more clandestine schools[8][5] and increased involvement in Polish education among the Minsk bourgeoisie.
As late as October 1911, the police received reports that Mieczysław Porowski and Father Kazimierz Bukraba were organizing illegal Polish education in Minsk.
On April 20 (May 3), 1917, the Polish Educational Society of the Minsk Region [pl] was established, with its board including creators and leading activists of the former "Oświata," such as Mieczysław Porowski, Michalina Łęska, and Zygmunt Węcławowicz.
