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WHERE FATHERLAND STARTS AND IS EMPTIED
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir
Sept 3 2007
Armenia
It was certainly touching and pleasant to see how the representatives
of the legislature and the executive of our country visited different
schools on September 1 and congratulated children on the day of
knowledge and education and the start of the new academic year. One
of them, Hranush Hakobyan, even stated that in very few countries of
the world the day of science and education is a national holiday.
Armenia is one of these few countries indeed. In fact, Armenia is
one of the few countries where science and education is a national
holidays. In the other countries science and education is daily work,
the course of life. Therefore, in those countries the officials
do not rush into schools on September 1 to show how the country
takes care of schools. Especially, the schools of the capital. When
Mayor Yervand Zakharyan visits the schools of Yerevan, it is somehow
explicable. Although it is not clear why he visits. Does Zakharyan
think the first form children understand the lengthy speeches he
makes in front of the school? The parents can understand who hear
about the care of the government. But they can see this care from
the state the schools are in, can't they? Do the officials need to
state see that we take care of the education system.
Or does care for the education system involve only repair of school
buildings? Who is supposed to repair the climate at schools, the
teacher-student or teacher-parent relations which have now become
informally commercial. Why does the government fail to tackle this
problem? Or does the municipality think it can make use of these
relations as long as they exist? Our teachers and directors of schools
do not fear raising money from students because they are confident of
the loyalty of the municipality, which is in charge of the schools,
to this phenomenon. And this loyalty is the reason why the government
which is responsible for the same system benefits from those commercial
relations at schools.
These are issues which are usually discussed less because their
solution requires hard work, harder than the redecoration of schools.
It is better to celebrate the day of education and science, give
out some gifts to students. It is also necessary. But why only this
celebration? Why only on September 1? Why don't the officials hold
less solemn and more practical meetings with students and their
parents to listen to them and solve the problems that they raise?
Or why do these officials celebrate the day of education and science
at the schools of Yerevan? I repeat it is O.K. that Yervand Zakharyan
remains in Yerevan, although he should also go to Shushi because
he is the head of Shushi Rebirth Foundation. Why do the members of
parliament and other officials never visit remote villages on September
1? There are still a few students who go to the local schools because
their parents have not found yet the way of leaving the village or
maybe they are reluctant to leave. Why are our officials reluctant to
celebrate September 1 at the schools of those remote villages? Maybe
they are not used that there is no luxury at the schools of the
border villages on September 1 and generally everyday, unlike the
schools of the capital where children carry larger bouquets than
their bags or children themselves and arrive at school in cars which
cost more than the school's furniture. The officials like to see all
these things because it allows them making bombastic speeches and
uttering touching words about progress in the country. But the border
is also the country. Moreover, the country starts from the border and
is emptied from the border. Does it take much science and education
to understand this?
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir
Sept 3 2007
Armenia
It was certainly touching and pleasant to see how the representatives
of the legislature and the executive of our country visited different
schools on September 1 and congratulated children on the day of
knowledge and education and the start of the new academic year. One
of them, Hranush Hakobyan, even stated that in very few countries of
the world the day of science and education is a national holiday.
Armenia is one of these few countries indeed. In fact, Armenia is
one of the few countries where science and education is a national
holidays. In the other countries science and education is daily work,
the course of life. Therefore, in those countries the officials
do not rush into schools on September 1 to show how the country
takes care of schools. Especially, the schools of the capital. When
Mayor Yervand Zakharyan visits the schools of Yerevan, it is somehow
explicable. Although it is not clear why he visits. Does Zakharyan
think the first form children understand the lengthy speeches he
makes in front of the school? The parents can understand who hear
about the care of the government. But they can see this care from
the state the schools are in, can't they? Do the officials need to
state see that we take care of the education system.
Or does care for the education system involve only repair of school
buildings? Who is supposed to repair the climate at schools, the
teacher-student or teacher-parent relations which have now become
informally commercial. Why does the government fail to tackle this
problem? Or does the municipality think it can make use of these
relations as long as they exist? Our teachers and directors of schools
do not fear raising money from students because they are confident of
the loyalty of the municipality, which is in charge of the schools,
to this phenomenon. And this loyalty is the reason why the government
which is responsible for the same system benefits from those commercial
relations at schools.
These are issues which are usually discussed less because their
solution requires hard work, harder than the redecoration of schools.
It is better to celebrate the day of education and science, give
out some gifts to students. It is also necessary. But why only this
celebration? Why only on September 1? Why don't the officials hold
less solemn and more practical meetings with students and their
parents to listen to them and solve the problems that they raise?
Or why do these officials celebrate the day of education and science
at the schools of Yerevan? I repeat it is O.K. that Yervand Zakharyan
remains in Yerevan, although he should also go to Shushi because
he is the head of Shushi Rebirth Foundation. Why do the members of
parliament and other officials never visit remote villages on September
1? There are still a few students who go to the local schools because
their parents have not found yet the way of leaving the village or
maybe they are reluctant to leave. Why are our officials reluctant to
celebrate September 1 at the schools of those remote villages? Maybe
they are not used that there is no luxury at the schools of the
border villages on September 1 and generally everyday, unlike the
schools of the capital where children carry larger bouquets than
their bags or children themselves and arrive at school in cars which
cost more than the school's furniture. The officials like to see all
these things because it allows them making bombastic speeches and
uttering touching words about progress in the country. But the border
is also the country. Moreover, the country starts from the border and
is emptied from the border. Does it take much science and education
to understand this?