Leon Starkiewicz

Starkiewicz family tomb in Busko-Zdrój with the inscription: "Leon Starkiewicz – founder and director of the Municipal Gymnasium in Łódź, an outstanding educator, mentor, and friend of youth" Leon Starkiewicz (born in 1878 or on 24 May 1881 in Będzin, died on 16 September 1953 in Busko-Zdrój) was a Polish teacher, founder, and long-time principal of the Municipal Gymnasium in Łódź.

He came from a family of teachers. Starkiewicz began his natural science studies at the University of Warsaw, but after being expelled in 1905 for participating in a school strike, he continued his education independently. After passing his diploma exam, he became a teacher of natural sciences. From 1910 to 1916, he taught at the Polish Gymnasium. He was ideologically connected to the Warsaw Organization of Independence Teachers, organizing activities aimed at removing the Russian language from schools and commemorating the January Uprising anniversary in schools.

From 1916 to 1939, he worked as a teacher and director at a new school he established for boys from less affluent families. During World War II, he stayed in Busko-Zdrój and its surroundings, where he participated in clandestine teaching. After the war, he did not return to Łódź. His legacy was carried on by his successors, including his former students, who managed the Tadeusz Kościuszko Third General High School in post-war Poland.

Biography

Childhood and youth He was the son of Antoni Starkiewicz and Leonia Jundziłło. His father was Lithuanian, and the family communicated in Lithuanian at his grandparents' house, using the language for their correspondence as well. His mother was from Kresy and was a Uniate. Both parents were teachers in the primary schools of Congress Poland (Piotrków Voivodeship). The birth of their first son, , was kept hidden for over a year to avoid the compulsory Orthodox faith, which Russian law required for children of mixed marriages (this would have led to the child being recognized as Russian). To be certain, the family moved to Będzin, where the child was registered in the civil records. Leon was one of three younger brothers of Szymon. The brothers attended the primary school in Będzin, run by their father. In 1908, he was granted permission to continue his studies externally and passed an exam before the state commission in Odesa, earning the title of candidate of natural sciences.

From 1910 to 1916, he taught natural sciences at the 8-grade Boys' Polish Gymnasium, where served as principal starting in 1911. During World War I, he and a group of progressive educators campaigned to remove the Russian language from schools. On 15 March 1915, they co-organized a rally where a resolution was passed: "We demand Polish as the language of instruction for all subjects, the introduction of Polish history and geography into schools, and the conduct of all administrative activities in Polish". He served as the principal of the new school from 2 October 1916 to December 1939.

He maintained close ties with the Piotrków branch of the , co-organizing a museum section with Michał Rawita-Witanowski, Józef Karczewski, and others. Onufry Krajewski became the first curator of the museum collections. Starkiewicz also served as a school inspector for the Łódź School District Board

World War II period During the German occupation, the school building in Łódź housed a German girls' school. Many members of the teaching staff, Leon Starkiewicz's closest colleagues and friends, did not survive the war. He resumed administrative duties at the Górka Sanatorium in Busko-Zdrój.

Orders and decorations

Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (9 November 1932)

Commemoration On 20 November 1966, during the school's 50th anniversary celebrations, a monument to Principal Leon Starkiewicz was unveiled in front of the school's façade. The monument was created by Marian Wnuk, with architectural design by Marian Spychalski, Marshal of Poland and a former student of the school.Efn|In the 1966 commemorative book of the school's anniversary reunion, the following was written: "On the morning of 20 November 1966, a monument to Principal Leon Starkiewicz was unveiled in front of the school building. The initiative for the monument's construction came from the Alumni Association, and it was realized thanks to the efforts and financial support of the Łódź National Council. The unveiling ceremony was the central event of the Teacher's Day celebrations in Łódź. The ceremony was attended by Marshal Marian Spychalski, representatives of municipal authorities, President of the Main Board of the Polish Teachers' Union M. Walczak, Curator M. Woźniakowski, the school's Pedagogical Council, a large gathering of Łódź teachers, members of the Alumni Association, and students. After the reading of the monument's erection act by the Chairman of the Alumni Association, the monument was unveiled by the First Secretary of the Łódź Provincial Committee of the Polish United Workers' Party, Józef Spychalski". The anniversary reunion and the unveiling ceremony were attended by the director's daughter, Eugenia Starkiewicz-Chłapowska, who was living in Warsaw at the time.