The Polish School in Paris has been associated with many prominent Poles, including Adam Mickiewicz, Joachim Lelewel, General Joseph Dwernicki, Józef Ignacy Kraszewski, Louis Mieroslawski, Luigi Biernacki (former Minister of Finance in Congress Poland) and Count Ksawery Branicki. The Polish School in Paris dates back to the mid-nineteenth century, when representatives of the Great Emigration, mainly members of the government, deputies, officers, journalists and writers in Paris founded the Educational Assistance Association, to give tangible support to Poles wishing to study. The Association was chaired by Prince Adam Czartoryski. On 3 April, 1843 a concert was held involving Frederic Chopin and other French artists including the famous actress Mademoiselle Rachel.
The school had a very good reputation in France. During the years 1847-1853 of the 50 students who graduated from the school, 27 went on to higher education.The school’s development under the leadership of outstanding people and its high educational attainment resulted, in 1865, in Napoleon III’s declaring the school a public utility institution. Today the school works equally dynamically, spreading knowledge of Poland and maintaining high educational standards. Thus it was a great honour for me to accept an invitation from the headmaster Mr. Konrad Leszczyński. More than 100 students attended the session, during which we spoke about literature in the widest sense of writing and reading about travel and about … life. It was a memorable event with bright children and welcoming teachers in a lovely school with a soul, in one of the world’s most beautiful cities.
