Students at Karol Miarka Gymnasium in Świerklany have been learning about the cultural heritage of their region since 1999, including the history of local monuments, places, and people. Some of the important cultural sites discussed are the Wayside Shrine, the figurine of Saint John Nepomucen, the Sobieski's Beech tree, the first fire engine, Ludwik Holesz's Gallery, and the parish cemetery. A poll of students found that 87% know and admire local monuments, thinking most highly of the Sobieski's Beech, Ludwik Holesz's Gallery, and the parish cemetery.

1. THE CULTYRAL HERITAGE IN ŚWIERKLANY
We have been working on the cultural heritage at Karol Miarka
Gymnasium in Świerklany since the beginning of its existence. Since 1999
students have been learning about historical, patriotic, religious or artistic
values connected with our region during Regional Education Classes. Moreover,
at those classes they have been knowing history of monuments, interesting
places or people connected with Świerklany. Students were taking photos of
the most interesting places in our village.
Wayside Shrine
And
Figurine of Saint
John Nepomucen
At Świerklany grow trees which are the
monuments of nature. One of them is beech
(Fagus sylvatica).
It is called The Sobieski’s Beech by the
inhabitants of Świerklany. The legend says
that the king John III Sobieski found shelter
at the shadow of that beech when he was
coming back from Vienna.

2. The first fire engine Ludwik Holesz’s Gallery
What is more, students from our school at 2005 solemnly signed the Act
of the Adoption of Monuments within the confines of the Program „Traces of

3. the Past. Students Adopt Monuments.”
Our students adopted parish cemetery. The adoption was an element of
the Project “School of a Dream”. They were taking care of cemetery and its
surroundings.

4. At the school year 2006/2007 our Gymnasium joined in the project
InterEOL – Intercultural Education OnLine. The main goal of the project was to
prepare teachers and students to the dialog and co-operation to create Europe
of different cultures. The program was also connected with the cultural
heritage of our region and country.
To find out which of the cultural heritage is the most important for
inhabitants of Świerklany there was the poll in our Gymnasium.
According to the poll students know what is the cultural heritage. 87% students
know and admire local monuments. They think the most highly of Sobieski’s
Beech, than Ludwik Holesz’s Gallery and parish cemetery in Świerklany because
most of inhabitants are Christians. At their life the most important values are
God, faith and love.
Students at the poll unambiguously stated that aside from home – school is the
place where they learn about the cultural heritage during regional education,
history or polish classes. Probably that is the reason why graves and

5. monuments of murdered during the second World War are very important
values of the cultural heritage.
Inhabitants of Świerklany bewitch beauty of the local nature that is why
considerable group of students appreciate the Sobieski’s Beech.

6. monuments of murdered during the second World War are very important
values of the cultural heritage.
Inhabitants of Świerklany bewitch beauty of the local nature that is why
considerable group of students appreciate the Sobieski’s Beech.