This unassuming plaque tells a powerful story. It commemorates the Gimnazjum Zofii Sierpińskiej a remarkable school in Warsaw. Founded in 1903 it was housed in the elegant ‘Pod Syrenami’ building on Marszałkowska Street 63. The Gimnazjum Zofii Sierpińskiej was a unique institution. It was Catholic yet democratic. It employed teachers from minority groups. One such teacher was Zygmunt Szczawiński a renowned author of mathematics textbooks. Even its students came from diverse backgrounds including Jewish girls.
In 1929 Józef Grabowski became the director. He was a humanist a left-leaning social activist and a lecturer at the Workers’ University Society. Under his leadership the private school transformed. It became a state-recognized school known as the Społeczne Gimnazjum i Liceum Stowarzyszenia Szkolnego im Zofii.
The Gimnazjum Zofii Sierpińskiej wasn’t afraid to stand up for its beliefs. In 1931 the school boycotted a government initiative. The initiative required sending birthday postcards to Marshal Józef Piłsudski who was vacationing in Madeira. The school saw this as an attempt to politicize education. A bold move for the time.
The Gimnazjum Zofii Sierpińskiej continued its work until September 1939. The ‘Pod Syrenami’ building was damaged during the war. Undeterred Józef Grabowski continued teaching underground. After the war he moved to Silesia educating youth in Racibórz. His dedication exemplifies the spirit of the Gimnazjum Zofii Sierpińskiej. A spirit of learning resilience and social justice. This plaque is a testament to a school that made a real difference. It represents a time when education was not just about acquiring knowledge but about shaping a better world. A world that valued diversity and courageously opposed injustice. A world that the Gimnazjum Zofii Sierpińskiej actively tried to create. Remember its legacy. Remember its story.