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Badge "For Secret Teaching". - Al-muell - 02-16-2014
A badge awarded by the ZNP (Association of Polish Teachers, the teachers' trade union) to the people who were engaged in organising the secret teaching during Nazi occupation of Poland 1939-1945.
In the majority of the territories of the pre-war Poland that were under nazi occupation all the schools for the Polish were closed, while in the area of the Generalgouvernment only the schools learning basic skills (basic maths, writing and reading, German) were available. Because of that many teachers started secret teaching at various levels. It was even possible to graduate from secret universities or medical schools (supervised by the proper authorities of the Government in exile delegature in Poland). Until 1949 the diplomas of secret university-grade schools were officially recognised by the new authorities, but after thatr date, a graduate had to pass additional exams.
The badge is made of heavy metal (brass? if so - gilt) with enamel. The letters "TON" mean "Tajna Organizacja Nauczania" (Secret Organisation of Teaching).
I have found noinfo as to when was the badge instituted, but probably in 1970's or 80's.
Badge "For Secret Teaching". - Al-muell - 02-16-2014
Here's the document for this badge awarded to Marta Kruszewska, teacher from the school nr1/2 in Płońsk, who was secretly teaching primary and secondary school students for 5 years. her husband, Franciszek Kruszewski - also a teacher of the school, was arrested in April 1940 and sent to concentration camp.
Short text about the secret teaching by the teachers of the school is available here:
Tajne nauczanie
Kruszewska's short memoires is also inclouded there.
The doc is damaged - most likely because the badge was attached to it for a longer period.