Evangelical School
The history of the school in Boguszyce is not the history of a single building. In successive periods, the local school used two different premises: the building at number 72 and the later school at number 63.
Both buildings survived, but their later histories took different paths. The first became a residential building, while the second, after the school closed, served the residents as a village community centre.
From school reform to two premises
The beginnings of organised education in Boguszyce should be sought in the period when the village belonged to the Evangelical Duchy of Oleśnica. Teaching was then closely connected with the local parish, and the school formed part of the village’s religious and social life.
It is not known exactly when regular teaching began in Boguszyce. The earliest currently known reference directly concerning the local school dates from 1845. This does not necessarily mean that the school was founded at that time. It may have existed earlier, but no documents have survived that would allow its exact founding date to be established.
The history of the school is connected with two buildings. The older one was the building at number 72, previously associated with the manor farm. At a later stage, the school was moved to the building at number 63, shown on a postcard from 1913.
The available materials do not indicate that these were two independent schools operating at the same time. The most likely explanation is that a single school changed its premises.
Duke Sylvius Nimrod and the school reform
Sylvius Nimrod of Württemberg took power in the Duchy of Oleśnica in the mid-17th century. His rule coincided with the period of reconstruction after the devastation of the Thirty Years’ War.
In 1664, the duke issued a church constitution regulating religious life, parish administration and the operation of schools. The reform provided for the development of education connected with local Evangelical churches.
Point 2 states: “Throughout the duchy, a school is to be established at every church. Suitable people are to teach in these schools. (...). All children who have reached the age of six are required to attend school. A compulsory break in lessons is to take place during the harvest. The person running the school (Schulhalter) has the right to charge fees for lessons given.” It was decided that children aged 6 to 9 were required to attend elementary school.
In villages, the role of teacher was often entrusted to someone connected with the parish — an organist, cantor, sexton or municipal clerk. Teaching focused mainly on reading, writing, arithmetic, religion and church hymns.
The reform of 1664 does not prove that the school in Boguszyce began operating precisely at that time. It does, however, show the legal and organisational framework within which local education could develop.
From manor farm to school
The older school premises are associated with the building at number 72. It was not originally built as a school. It formed part of the local manor-farm complex and served as a manor house or the estate manager’s residence.
At a later stage, the building was adapted for use by the Evangelical school. Such changes of function were common in small settlements. Existing buildings belonging to the parish, estate or municipality were often used for teaching.
The architecture of the building still reveals its original purpose. The façade and entrance faced the former manor-farm courtyard rather than a typical schoolyard.
After the school moved to new premises, the building once again became residential. Today it functions as a multi-family house. In heritage documentation it is listed as a former Evangelical school, now a residential building.
Boguszyce 72 — former manor house or estate manager’s building, later an Evangelical school
The school moves to number 63
At a later stage, the school began operating in a separate building at number 63. The exact date of the move is unknown, but a surviving postcard confirms that the new premises already existed in 1913.
The building was single-storey, masonry-built and covered by a high gabled roof. Its regular arrangement of windows and simple form corresponded to the architecture of a small rural school.
The school known from a postcard
The building at number 63 was shown on a postcard from 1913. Beneath the photograph appeared the German word Schule, clearly identifying its function at the time.
This was the location of the later Evangelical school. After the end of the Second World War, the building retained its educational function, but from then on it served the Polish children of settlers who had arrived in Boguszyce.
The language of instruction, staff, curriculum and student community changed, but the building itself remained one of the most important places in the life of the village.
After the school closed, the building was converted into a village community centre. Meetings, dances, celebrations, holiday gatherings and events for residents were organised here.
For this reason, the building is remembered locally under two names: “the old school” and “the old community centre”.
Boguszyce 63 — former Evangelical school, later a Polish school and village community centre
Memorial Room
The former school and later community centre were also associated with the activities of the Oleśnica Municipality Memorial Room.
Residents collected photographs, documents, everyday objects, family mementoes and accounts concerning the history of the village.
The building thus became a place of education once again. Ordinary lessons were no longer held there, but successive generations were told about the lives of former residents of Boguszyce and the entire municipality.
One school, two premises
Older building
Former manor house or estate manager’s residence, later an Evangelical school, and then a residential building.
Later building
Evangelical school, after 1945 a Polish school, then the old community centre and a place associated with the Memorial Room.
Sources and materials
This page was prepared using information from publicly available historical materials and studies. The content was written and edited specifically for the Boguszyczanie project.