Kształtowanie się współczesnej koncepcji polskiego systemu szkolnictwa muzycznego w latach 1945–1959 w kontekście dyskusji środowiskowych

In the period after World War II, a new three-tier organization of music education was intro-duced in Poland. In 1945, schools were divided into music schoolsoflowerdegree, middle degree schools and music colleges and academies as higher music education. There were also music appreciation schools The solutions adopted were largely based on the patterns that exi-sted in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The three-tier structure enabled – according to the designers of this model – to adapt teaching to new needs and specialize depending on the student’s level of talent. However, the introduction of new organizational solutions faced dif-ficulties, some of the music community questioned the scope, pace and nature of the changes. A separate position was presented by many recognized Polish musicians and teachers. Music schools introduced the new teaching structure in a slow and often reluctant manner. As a result of the pedagogical discussion in the late 1940s and early 1950s, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage introduced quite significant changes. Although the three-tier structure was retained, music appreciation schools were closed.In the 1950s, intensive efforts were undertaken at the Ministry of Culture and Science to analyze the problems of the Polish model of music education and prepare new structural solutions. Outstanding representatives of Polish musical life took part in these. A number of systemic difficulties were noticed, including students overburdened with studies, high drop-out rates, and artificial separation of the stages of education. New concepts for the organization of education were presented, frequently with references to the old, pre-war solutions, which were appreciated as already tested and more effective. Some outstanding musicians and teachers presented their critical standpoints in the music press. Despite the unequivocal position of many representatives of the pedagogical and music community, the authorities of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage lacked the determination and sufficient courage to carry out a fundamental reform of the Polish model of music education. Legal acts were prepared and published in which the then current model of education was maintained. Primary music schools of the first degree were provided functions of music appreciation education, and second-degree schools were assigned professional functions.This article is the first attempt to show the circumstances of implementing a new model of music education in Poland. It shows the reaction of the pedagogical and musical community as well as the continuous structural problems. The article was prepared with the use of extensive archival sources, press articles and legal documents.