Chronicles of Lviv Polytechnic: 205 years since the establishment of the Real School

ROMAN KUZMYN, DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY, MUSEUM STUDIES AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
Фасад головного корпусу Львівської політехніки

March 7, 2021 marks the 205th anniversary when the Austrian Emperor Franz I signed the report of the Court Educational Commission on the establishment of the Tsisar-Royal Real School in Lviv. The urgency of the emergence of such an educational institution was caused by the need to encourage the development of crafts and technical progress in Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, the capital of which was Lviv.

To the anniversary, we publish a fragment of the report, which was approved by the emperor and became the starting point of the establishment of modern Lviv Polytechnic National University

Your Majesty!

[The emperor] approved the humble report of the loyal Court Educational Commission of September 4, 1810 on the establishment of the Real School in Lviv. On January 11, 1811, the Governorate [of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria] was instructed, after receiving the project of the Viennese Real School, to decide on how to establish this school.

[…]

The most obedient referent must first of all ask for merciful patience for the delay of this report, which he [made] because of the big, frequent, and important additions to the Central Organizing Court Commission. The benefits as well as the need to open such a Real School in Lviv do not need any further discussion.

[…]

As for the school professors, there is no doubt in their professionalism. This applies to prefect Schlick, school professor Dudzilowicz, school teachers Kuzyk, Kimstetter and Kramer, but Busse and Lahat have yet to prove their skills.
 […]

As for Polish language lessons, we do not consider it desirable to suggest their rejection, as it is very important in those areas. There was a corresponding order and, in case of consent, a salary of 400 guilders was requested. As for the director, his salary is planned to be 1,200 guilders. It should be noted that the request for competences should be heard from the director of the [Vienna] Prächtl Polytechnic Institute.

[…]

After the consent of the Credit Court Commission, Your Majesty also approved the fund to cover the cost of transportation of the institution inventory, so that these funds amounted to only a small part of the incoming payroll tax. If your Majesty allows satisfy these proposals, we will be able to see the opening of the Real School on November 1 this year.

Vienna, January 5, 1816 Alois Ugarte [signature

[Resolution]

[Proposals] Court Educational Commission in

all [items] receive my consent.

 

Franz I [signature]

Milan, March 7, 1816.

Franz I (1792–1835) – emperor of the Austrian Empire

Alois Count Ugarte (1749–1817) – Chancellor and Chairman of the Court Educational Commission