CRISIS OF THE ARMENIAN SCHOOLS IN
Believing in the essential role of the Armenian School in the preservation of the our national heritage, the following outline view is an invitation addressed to all responsible parties related to the educational sector, in order they participate in a collective analytic study aiming at the detailed diagnosis of the present situation and based upon a comprehensive set of conclusions to plan and implement a wide range of reforms.
Hence, the synthesis of the opinion, criticism, proposals, thoughts and expectations of parents, students, alumni, teachers, principals and the leadership, may be translated into practical projects based upon objective facts.
Education in general and Armenian studies in particular should be adapted to the ever changing external conditions. In the absence of a clear vision and a set of attainable goals, in time, belief and confidence fade away. Without a credible belief system, the mission of education becomes aimless and loose.
The satisfaction of the physical, mental and spiritual needs of the growing generations is a collective responsibility requiring constant adjustments based upon continuous thoughts, consultations and adjustments.
NON-EXAUSTIVE LIST OF
THE CAUSES
UNDEFINED LONG-TERM OBJECTIVES
- Is Diaspora a temporary station or a final home? As communities and individuals
ECONOMIC FACTORS
-
Deteriorating economic crisis in
- The overall economic decline of Armenian community members
- The existing inefficient organizational system
- Competition of the public schools
SOCIAL FACTORS
- Demographic decline of the Armenian community
- Post-war geographic dispersion of Armenian families
- Increasing number of mixed marriages
- Dilution of cultural identity as Armenians
- Existential crisis as Lebanese citizens
- Altered set of values
- Altered set of habits and character traits
ROLE OF THE LEADERSHIP
- Dominance of pragmatic considerations
- In the absence of a clear vision, waning of the belief system
- Lack of confidence in the administrative capability of human resources of the educational sector
- Lack of constructive and positive relationship at all levels
- Inability to take positive decisions and implement them
- Insufficient appreciation of the effort of the teaching staff
- Hesitation and inability to take the daring decision to merge schools
THE ROLE OF ACADEMIC BOARD MEMBERS
- Defective definition of roles, rights and obligations
- Absence of long-term educational programs
- Absence of full-time professional school managers
- Lack of consciousness of the responsibility of educational sector
- Narrow minded indifference
- Limited field of action and authority
THE ROLE OF THE PRINCIPALS
- Insufficient experience in school management
- Insufficient continuous self education
- Blocked sense of initiative
- Inability to introduce academic reforms in a continuous manner
- Parallel to the academic responsibilities, different other activities
- Deficient management of internal and external communications
THE ROLE OF THE TEACHING STAFF
- Lack of motivation for continuous specialized learning
- Indifference due to lack of appraisal through appreciation and constructive criticism
- Deficient output due to deficient programming and control of implementation
- Demoralizing effect of the economic crisis
- Deficient teacher-student relationship, academic and disciplinary
- Deficient teacher-parent relationship
THE ROLE OF THE PARENTS
- Economic considerations
- Social factors
- Psychological reasons
- Geographical considerations
- Practical considerations
- Unwilling distancing from Armenian community programs
- Willingly distancing from Armenian community programs
- Social showiness
- Contradicting opinions towards the necessity of Armenian studies
THE ROLE OF THE STUDENTS
- The influence of globalization
- Environmental behavioral factors
- Vagueness of political and economic prospects
- Uncertainties concerning career orientation
ACADEMIC STANDARDS
- Questions related to the Arabic language courses
- Questions related to the conversational skills of the English language
- Questions related to the level and importance of Armenian studies
- Relationship of academic programs and real life requirements
INAPPROPRIATE PHYSICAL PLANTS
- Unsuitable classrooms
- Insufficient teaching resources
- Inadequate recreation courts and fields
- Inadequate spaces for extra-curricular activities
THE PROBLEM OF TUITIONS
- Improper definition of priorities by the leadership
- Administrative defects
- Inappropriate tools for crisis management through finding new sources of funding
- Rare irresponsible ill will
- Often negative declarations and acts by tuition collection staff members
ACTION ITEMS
COMMUNITY REORGANIZATION
- Organized and effective defense of community rights
- Establishment of a network of community social service
- Positive and constructive inter-community relations
- Elaboration of a system aiming at an active and pragmatic solidarity among AGBU members
- Establishment of network of community solidarity
ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS
- Merging existing schools
- Asset management of community properties
- Closer planning and control of budgets
- Developing further the parent-teacher relationship
ACADEMIC REFORMS
- Introduction of new academic and pedagogical programs
- Improving the physical plant
- Developing pragmatic programs for Armenian studies
- Focus on verbal expression of all languages
- Focus on character formation as individual and citizen
CONTINUOUS TRAINING OF THE TEACHING STAFF
- Through proper incentives, to motivate the continuous self-development of the teachers
- Plan and implement a comprehensive system of academic development of the teaching staff
- Introduce a system of appraisal with its corollary of appreciation, caution and warning
WIDE SCALE EXPOSURE AT THE LEVEL OF COMMUNITY
- Church
- Media
- Flyers
- Open house days
- Lectures
- Panel discussions
- Parents associations
SOURCES OF FINANCE
- Organize a campaign to plead the continuous assistance of alumni
- Wherever it is possible, to get from benefactors of the schools, a yearly assistance for repairs and development of the existing physical plants
- To search and find Lebanese Armenian emigrants to establish temporary emergency scholarships for kindergarten and primary school students
- To create summer work opportunities for secondary school students as partial payment of their tuition
- Investigate possibilities of getting scholarship grants from the public sector
- Investigate possibilities of getting scholarship grants from international organizations
Meguerditch Bouldoukian