KONARSKI, STANISLAW. - Polish educator, Piarist, b. at Zarczya on 30 June 1700, d. at Varzavia on 3 Aug. 1773. He devoted his activity as a writer and priest to the moral elevation of his homeland.
Author of political works, including O skutecznym rad sposobie (On the method of deliberation in the diet), against the liberum veto, he wished to prepare the youth of the nobility for the fulfilment of their national duties, and founded the Collegium Nobilium, where he implemented the school reform prepared in his work: Ordinationes. At a time when
instruction was purely verbalistic, K. aimed at the harmonious formation of the mind. He alternated the study of Latin with that of the national language, literary culture with scientific culture, hitherto banished from schools; he completed education with physical exercises, and also laid down excellent rules for female education. From the Collegium emerged the flower of the generation that prepared the democratic constitution of 1791; the Commission of Education, which was the first Ministry of Education in Europe, was later to draw inspiration from K.'s reforms. K. also wrote a tragedy, Epaminonda, and some poems.