The icarian element as a contribution to the autonomy in education and upbringing

Polish education is on a precipice of change. This is associated great hopes and great concerns. For too long the school system has condemned to indifference of politics and the public opinion was led also to similar believes. The school must change but not superficially, it must change for the inside. But in which direction should the changes be guided? The author of the this article proposes a thorough transformation of the polish school paradigm to increase the autonomy of educational institutions, teachers and most importantly, students. This is the basis to build up through education an adequate attitude needed for the future world, which as never before will be in the need for informed, competent and free people, who understand the value of choice. To clarify a holistic need for abovementioned changes the author will invoke a cognitive tool in the form of metaphorology to outline an analogy between the condition of the modern student and mythical Icarus, for whom freedom and fulfillment of potential, were more important than obedience and safety, on which contemporary kids and youth also cannot count.