History of education in Trzebiatów

The history of education in Trzebiatów spans from the first half of the 14th century to contemporary times.

In larger population centers, the development of education was tailored to local, church, and state needs. Over the centuries, various types of schools emerged in Trzebiatów, including Latin schools (from 14th to 19th century), particular schools (16th century), foundation schools (18th century), elementary schools, schools for the poor, a gymnasium (19th century), secondary schools (20th century), private schools, and the so-called clandestine schools (up to 1734).

Educational reforms carried out by the Kingdom of Prussia in the 18th century introduced compulsory schooling for children aged 5 to 12. Until the 19th century, schools primarily educated boys. As a result of reforms in 1800, the first girls' school was established in Trzebiatów, followed by coeducational institutions. From 1887, the German Empire implemented a centralized management system, transforming schools into state institutions.

After 1945, Polish education developed in Trzebiatów. Compulsory schooling and centralized management of educational development were introduced. By the educational reform of 1999, the town had established primary, secondary, and vocational schools. This reform also led to the creation of gymnasiums and upper secondary schools. Additionally, private schooling and education for working individuals expanded.

Decline of the Middle Ages

First source mentions

The first mention of an educational institution in Trzebiatów comes from a document issued by Abbot Arnold of , dated 29 November 1328.The first source information about the school in Western Pomerania dates back to 1089 (). This document refers to the construction of and the foundation of a school. The abbot, along with the municipal council, reserved the right to influence the appointment of the school's rector. This patronage continued until the secularization of the monastery in 1521. The school rector also served as a reader at the abbey. A minor mention is found in a document dated 6 December 1354, issued by Johannes, Bishop of Kamień, regarding a pension for the Norbertine monastery in Białoboki from the village of Roby, purchased by Ludolf Webelen. Part of this pension financed the school's activities.

Latin school The Latin school in Trzebiatów, established in the 14th century, was intended for the sons of the town's patriciate. Its aim was to prepare young people for work in trade and the town magistrate. The townspeople of Trzebiatów sought to ensure that their descendants received an education that extended beyond the ecclesiastical training norms. Therefore, they intended to establish a type of secular school. However, this project was never realized due to the lack of consent from church authorities, who at that time claimed the exclusive right to establish schools.In the Middle Ages, monastic, cathedral and parochial schools were established under the aegis of the church. Exceptions were the few schools established by private teachers (). A compromise allowed for the organization of education in Trzebiatów at the middle, lower, and lowest levels.

The Latin school's curriculum was based on the seven liberal arts. The first stage of education included writing and reading, Latin grammar, and familiarization with classical works. The second stage included instruction in rhetoric and dialectic (known as trivium, which, along with grammar, constituted the lower level of education), arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy (known as quadrivium, the higher level). Additionally, due to the education of the wealthy bourgeois youth, the curriculum was expanded to include geography and elements of law. Latin remained the language of instruction.

Early modern period

Activities of Johannes Bugenhagen

The peak period of Trzebiatów's school occurred when Johannes Bugenhagen served as its rector. In mid-1504, through the intervention of Abbot H. von Beggerow of the Norbertines, Bugenhagen arrived in Trzebiatów and took charge of the town school. He held this position continuously until 1517, with a brief interruption until 1521. Bugenhagen's work was supported by A. Knöpke,In 1521, A. Knöpke went to Riga, where he promoted Reformation teachings. He is known for his studies of church and school ordination for that city (). G. Bugenhagen (Johannes' brother), and J. Lorichius. The rector expanded the curriculum, which gained wide interest; he lectured on the First and Second Epistles to Timothy and the Psalms, and introduced students to humanistic studies. Students began arriving in Trzebiatów from regions such as Westphalia and Livonia (modern-day Lithuania and Latvia).

In 1517, at the initiative of Abbot J. Boldewan, the Collegium presbiterorum sive sacerdotum (College of Priests) was established at the Białoboki Monastery. Bugenhagen was appointed as a lecturer. His lectures were marked by anti-clericalism and new theological theories. He expressed disappointment with the church institution in his sermons, which became evident in 1521 when he openly left the church after becoming acquainted with the works of Martin Luther. He propagated the new teachings among students and clergy. That same year, he left Trzebiatów for Wittenberg. Many new followers of the Reformation left the town and later contributed to spreading it in Pomerania. Trzebiatów became a major center of Reformation thought, especially after the Trzebiatów Parliament session on 13 December 1534, where the introduction of Lutheranism in Pomerania was approved.

Church and administrative ordinance At the beginning of 1535, work began on a new church ordinance for the Duchy of Pomerania. The general provisions contained in Die Kerken – Ordenige des gantzen Pamerlandes regulated church, administrative, and educational relations in the duchy. Chapter V of the document was dedicated to educational matters.This ordinance was in force until 1565 ().

The ordinance envisaged the establishment of so-called particular schools in larger urban centers. A minimum of three teachers (rector and baccalaureus) were to be employed, with funding for the institutions coming from church funds. School principals were to be appointed by municipal councils along with deacons and pastors. It was proposed to establish educational institutions at cathedrals, which would teach both Latin and German, along with writing, reading, prayer, catechism, and singing skills. These institutions were to be managed by rectors. Coordination of the work of Latin and German schools was also recommended.

School ordinance In 1556, during the synod in Greifswald, work began on a new ordinance that included the expansion of Pomeranian education. This work was completed in 1563, and the document was issued two years later.

The school in Trzebiatów was located on the northeast side of St. Mary's Church. The massive building housed five classrooms and an apartment for the rector.Classes were held in the school building until 1830/1832. The school building, due to structural defects and threats of collapse, was demolished (). The school operated under the patronage of the municipal council, according to the 1563 ordinance and the later school ordinance for Trzebiatów, Ordo scholae Treptoviensis ad Regam, issued in 1594. High standards were set for teachers. They were required to have a university-level education and the approval of the local pastor and church council. In the 1590s, the school employed three teachers: a rector, a cantor, and a hypodidascalus. The rector at that time was Joachim Teske. Teachers' salaries ranged from 16 to 60 guilders. Additionally, they were entitled to an annual bonus (4 guilders) and the so-called Holzgeld (from 6 to 8 groszy per student).

School classes were held from Monday to Saturday, from 6 AM to 3 PM, in both summer and winter systems. On Wednesdays, classes began with a mass and were shortened to 10 AM. Exams were held on Sundays. Besides Latin, Greek was also taught. Commonly used textbooks in Pomerania included Religion die Catechesis D. Chytraeusa, Dialogi sacri Castellii, Luther's Catechism, F. Melanchton's Lateinische Grammatik, and works by Cicero, Terence, and Ovid.

During the Thirty Years' War, teaching at the Trzebiatów school was disrupted. Financial problems due to contributions imposed on the town by imperial troops (1630, 1636, and 1648) led to frequent suspensions of the school's activities. The incorporation of Trzebiatów into Brandenburg-Prussia following the Peace of Westphalia, signed in 1648 in Osnabrück, did not cause significant changes in the curriculum. The so-called Latin model of education based on religious upbringing remained in place until the end of the 18th century.German historiography up to the mid-17th century lists 26 employed rectors in succession ().

Prussian education system

Changes occurred in the Prussian education system in 1717, 1735, and 1763. Royal edicts introduced compulsory schooling for children from 5 to 12 years old. This obligation only applied to towns (including villages) with existing schools. The edict issued by Frederick William I in 1734 included mandatory winter (daily) and summer (once or twice a week) schooling. The school reform revealed imperfections. The shortage of qualified teaching staff was supplemented by unqualified workers, particularly former soldiers and disabled people.The provisions were regulated under an edict issued in 1779 by Frederick II ().

The reforms also addressed the existing method of school funding. Each school received initial capital, granting them legal personality. Following the school reform in Trzebiatów, it was decided to abolish the existing "clandestine" school (). Sources do not indicate when it was established in the town, but it is known that such (private) institutions existed in Pomerania from the mid-15th century. They taught basic writing and reading skills with limited religious knowledge. This school was closed in 1734 at the request of the then rector Erasmus B. Egerland. Another aspect of creating a new education system was addressing the needs of the town's poorest class. A record from the 1730s mentions that Martin G. von Beggerow built a building at Kirchstrasse No. 412 in Trzebiatów for a foundation school for 20 poor children (). He also bequeathed 20 thalers for its maintenance in his will (1739). The funds were to be managed by St. Mary's Church.

In the 18th-century Trzebiatów school, textbooks included Allgemeine heilige und weltliche Geschichte by Hardion, Geographie by Phennings, Naturlehre and Naturgeschichte by J. J. Ebert, Grammatik by Langen, and works by Cornelius Nepos, along with Cicero's letters and De rebus gestis Alexandri Magni by Quintus Curtius Rufus. Classes began at 7 AM and lasted with breaks until 5 PM (Monday to Friday). Besides mandatory prayer, singing was taught, Bible passages were read to the children, and exercises in German and Latin (grammar) were conducted, as well as instruction in orthography and calligraphy. Classes were also held on Saturdays. Besides prayer and mandatory Gospel reading, lessons in morality, principles of faith, and arithmetic were conducted.

Modern era

New education system

In 1800, Prussia introduced a new education system designed by Wilhelm von Humboldt. This system established compulsory education for children at the elementary level and introduced a three-tier structure consisting of general elementary schools (), secondary schools (), and higher education institutions (). Elementary schools provided education in German, religion, arithmetic, natural sciences, geography, history, calligraphy, drawing, and singing. Secondary schools prepared students for university studies. A significant aspect of this reform was the removal of the new education system from church control.

School reorganization