Society of Elementary Books

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Society of Elementary Books (Polish: Towarzystwo do Ksiąg Elementarnych) (1775-1792) was an institution formed by Commission of National Education (Komisja Edukacji Narodowej, KEN) in 1775, Warszawie. The main goal of the Society was to design school syllabuses and textbooks for newly reformed schools.

Since education in Poland was until then conducted mostly in Latin, the KEN faced a problem of an almost complete lack of books and manuals. to cope with that problem the Society of Elementary Books was formed. The scientists working on the new Polish language textbooks at times had to invent the necessary specialised vocabulary. Much of the vocabulary they invented related to chemistry, physics, mathematics or grammar is still in use today, and some of its textbooks were in use during the times of the Second Polish Republic (1918-1939).

Among the famous books created by the Society were "Elementarz dla szkół parafialnych" and "Gramatyka dla szkół narodowych z przypisami". Chairman of the Society was Ignacy Potocki, and general secretary function was held by Grzegorz Piramowicz. Hugo Kołłątaj has made many important contributions towards the Society projects. Members included Onufry Kopczyński, Kazimierz Narbutt, Józef Wybicki and science directorors of the Szkoła Rycerska (Knignt's School, Akademia Szlachecka Korpusu Kadetów)- Ch. Pfleiderer (mathematics) and Michał Jan Hube. Society was dissolved in 1792.


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