From fascination to indifference - changes in students’ attitudes towards geography as a school subject in 1989–2009

The objecive of the paper is to answer the following questions: • How was the role of Geography among other school subjects was changing during education system transformation in Poland? • How were the students' attitudes towards Geography as a school subject were changing at that time? In order to meet the above objectives, a three-stage survey was conducted: in 1989, in 2002 and in 2010. Questionnaire containing 22 questions was a basic research tool. The questionnaire concerned students' attitudes toward Geography as a school subject. It was observed that the students had been interested in Geography before the education system reform. It was perceived as a useful subject, both in further education and day-to-day life. Unfortunately, in the following years of transformation, after the introduction of education system reform, students' attitudes towards Geography changed. The students did no longer appreciate this subject. They more and more often suggest that Geography is a subject which does not arouse interest.