The purpose of this article is to present data on the preferences of parental educational values: conformism and self-direction according to the theory Melvina.L. Kohn, which assumes that the key dimension of the values is conformism vs. self-direction. Conformist orientation, including accents obedience to parents, cleanliness and neatness, and conduct in accordance with gender. Th e second, called self-direction, emphasizes the importance of independence in thinking and behavior, the quest for understanding. Th e second objective was to compare these results with data gathered in Poland during the last 40 years. Th e study was carried out on a national sample of parents (N = 4931) using a tool similar to the concept of M. Kohn. Data analysis confi rmed that self-direction and conformity are the values accurately characterize the preferences of the respondents. Th e main diff erentiating factor of parental preferences is the level of their education (those with higher education more important attribute to self-direction a less educated to conformism). Comparison of the results with the results of similar, previously completed studies show trends in the fi eld of educational values that clearly emerged in the transition period.