Iš "Žiburio" draugijos istorijos

ENThe author presents the history of the 4 branches of the ‘Žiburys’ association starting from the opening day up to the First World War when they were closed. The most intensive activities were leaded by the branches in Punskas and Seinai, which started their work in 1906. The Punskas branch opened the libraries, the reading rooms, and the schools (the teachers were called daraktoriai). It developed an amateur artistic movement (dancing groups, choirs) and conducted the wide ant-alcoholism project. In 1909 it opened the separate society ‘Blaivybė’ (Sobriety). The branch opened its shop in Punskas and organized the courses for farmers. The activities of the Seinai branch were very similar. Two other branches of Smalėnai (opened in 1907) and in Vižainis (opened in 1912) had modest achievements. The association ‘Žiburys’ opened and ran its schools. In 1908 the primary school in Seinai started its work. The courses for adults were organized in Seinai and Punskas. The association opened the secondary school in Seinai in 1918 and one year later the school for girls started its work. 7 schools were opened in the region (Bubeliai, Klevai and other places) in the period of 1915-1919. All of the schools were closed in Autumn 1919 when the region of Seinai was brought under the control of the Polish authority. The secondary school from Seinai was moved to Lazdijai and continued its work starting from 1920.