The upbringing of children in the light of old Polish pedagogical theory.

In the 16th and 17th centuries the Polish pedagogical theory frequently drew attention to the importance of a proper upbringing of the younger generation. This was done the most emphatically by Andrzej F r y c z M o d r z e w ­ s k i , who accorded third place to this question among the most vital problems of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In the book On Cus­ toms he wrote: “I think that all matters concerning the Commonwealth depend on there thing, and if these are well established, the state, too, will be well established. Of these three things the first is the question of governing, defending and keeping in order the civic association of people: the second concerns pure unblemished worship of the immortal God, and the third is a proper upbringing and education of youth”1. Poles echoed the views of ancient thinkers and asserted that the up­ bringing and shaping of a human being should be started as early as possible. Childhood “provides a solid base for a later honest, unblemished and praiseworthy life. For nothing is rooted more strongly in people’s souls than what they have become accustomed to since their childhood”2. Care should be taken of the child’s upbringing immediately after its birth. The mother was best qualified to do this. Mikołaj R e j wrote: “Mothers, in particular those of good character, should feed and bring up their children them­ selves”3. If this was not possible, a foster-mother should be carefully chosen; she, too, should have “a good nature and honest habits and should observe the child’s inclinations”. Hieronim B a l i ń s k i was of the opinion