First of all, this village resembles the words of the founder of independent Poland - 'That, what is most valuable, lies on the coasts'. Lavoriškės actually sit on the edge of the Vilnius district, of the Lithuanian state, on the point where cultures, languages, traditions, and customs meet.

Secondly, there is a Polish secondary school in Lavoriškės - Stefan Batory Gymnasium - which was built recently as part of the campaign known as '100 Marshal Józef Piłsudski schools on Vilnius Lands'. Over 80% of the population of this commune is Polish,

School - pride of residents. Graduates - glory of establishment

The school is one of the most important institutions functioning in the commune of more than 2500 people. The gymnasium carries out various projects, integrates school community and local environment. The school brought up, educated and prepared for life hundreds of young residents of the commune and of the Vilnius region.

'I owe strong foundation of knowledge to the school. Teachers are great specialists, always ready to help and advice. We had quite a few after-school activities. Everyone could choose according to their field of interests: sports, dance, music or something else,' said Pavel Rynkun, former student, graduate of 39th promotion of the school, who is currently working in the Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy of Vilnius University.

'By fulfilling requirements of teachers, we, students, knew that laziness and excessive indulgence enslaves human being. Thanks to this we were able to set ambitious goals and draw plans for life. We were taught to be open for needs of other people, to have our own opinions, skills to express our views with regard to dignity of other people,' Irena Branicka, master of universal nursing practice, graduate of 40th promotion, shared her thoughts.

Diluter of Polishness?

Emergence of the Lithuanian school in 1998 in the neighbourhood was a big challenge for Poles. In any case, Lavoriškės is not the exception when it comes to neighbourhoods with schools with the Lithuanian teaching language. Lithuanian educational institutions - next to Polish ones - emerged in many other places in the Vilnius Region where the majority of residents are Poles. Society of Poles in Lithuania believes that this is part of the policy aimed at diluting their society. Poles have no doubts that these schools are the tool of Lithuanian authorities to depolonize and lithuanize Polish society in Lithuania.

Reckless parents' decision causes harm for children

Most of the parents letting their children to the Lithuanian school in Lavoriškės have no idea what harm they are causing for their kids. Results of scientific researches, inter alia, conducted by prof. Jagoda Cieszyńska or Educational - Psychological Clinic of the Vilnius District, show that teaching children in an environment of foreign language affects their intellectual and psychological development very badly, children are not using their full potential, often have lowered self-esteem, sometimes even problems of psychological nature, not mentioning the loss of feeling of national identity.

'I feel very sorry for these exceptionally gifted Polish children, who are becoming average students by going to Lithuanian schools. Not only they are unable to use their potential, but they also have emotional problems,' says principal of Educational - Psychological Clinic of Vilnius District Roman Juchnevič.

They are better

An experienced principal of the Secondary School in Lavoriškės Ana Ancevič points out the reasons why it is better to entrust the education of a child for the Polish school - 'A child will know a few foreign languages (English, German, Russian), the native and the state languages. First grade pupils receive layettes; furthermore they have a possibility to take part in trips to Poland. We have a scouts team, sports school team, graduates of our school can apply for 'Semper Polonia' scholarship. The principal adds that this year a new free group of extended day started. The Lithuanian school has it as a payable option.

School graduates successfully study in Lithuania and abroad. They have no problems in finding place in their dream profession in Lithuania or other countries.

'We have noticed a tendency for graduates of Polish schools to let their children to Polish schools. We offer high level of education and our students show a high level of ability to join higher studies. We also offer higher number of foreign languages lessons. With such an amount of knowledge and skills our graduates have higher chances of seeking new opportunities and self-realization in every corner of the world', said A. Ancevič.

Everything will be fine

It is always worth to have hope. We should believe that Polishness in Lithuania and its foundations will defeat any obstacles on its way and will stay in Lithuania - land of its ancestors, where it has same rights as other indigenous citizens of this country.

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Handful of historical knowledge
Officially, the school in Lavoriškės was established in 1899. The school was known as the Secondary Lavoriškės School since 24th April 1955. In 1958 the graduates of the first promotion received their school leaving certificates. In 1962 four new classrooms were added to wooden school building.

In 2014 the 50th promotion of graduates left the school.

In 1999 thanks to the Vilnius district municipality the school building was expanded and the new part included 7 classrooms, library, canteen, and sports hall.

On 24th April 2015 the school acquired the status of gymnasium and now it is known as the Gymnasium of Stefan Batory in Lavoriškės. Why Stefan Batory? Lavoriškės town is one of the points of Batory Route - an old route of military significance.
It was an important route going from Vilnius to Pskov on which Stefan Batory led his army against Ivan the Terrible. The route goes from Vilnius through Naujoji Vilnia, Mickūnai, Lavoriškės, Slabada, Symoniele, Mikališkės, Svir, Konstantinov, Kobylnik (Naroch), Dunilovich, Hlybokaye, Polotsk. Stefan Batory used this route several times. Additionally, as school principal A. Ancevič mentioned, Batory highly contributed to the development of the education in Lithuania.

"This project is co-financed from the funds granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland."