Իմ գրախոսականը Պիետրո Շաքարյանի “School Without Walls – Դպրոց առանց պատերի” դիպլոմային աշխատանքի վերաբերյալ
Itroduction
Dear Pietro, I liked you introduction. But I wish you added a very important idea after this paragraph : “ Broadly speaking, innovative education is a term that focuses on a humanistic education that is primarily centered on the individual learner. It is a form of education that caters to the learner’s specific needs, interests, talents, and abilities.” The educators of Mkhitar Sebastatsi Educomplex have even gone further in their innovative pedagogy: with the implementation of individual curriculum for each learner at high school the most significant issue of pedagogy, revealing inner abilities of learners and creating favorable conditions for the development of these abilities, is being actually carried out.
Experimental Education in the Russian Empire and Russian Armenia
Dear Pietro, I am not very much interested in History mainly because it is not true to fact. Historians usually make up History according to the needs of the government which is ruling the country at the given time. But I know one historical fact connected with the education in Russian Armenia in the 19th century. The Tsarist Government then closed nearly all the Armenian schools in Eastern Armenia. Russia didn’t want Armenians to be educated.
Soviet Innovative Education, from the Revolution to Stalinism
You have written a very good historical outline on pedagogical science of the Soviet times. I myself took an exam on the history of pedagogy, and the names mentioned here are known to me.
The Khrushchev Thaw and the Rise of the Soviet Teacher-Innovators
Very good historical background.
The Origins of the Sebastatsi Educomplex
Here is a very good description of the origins of the Educomplex. While reading these pages I admired your style of writing. I especially appreciate your ability to prepare good soil for your oncoming main idea.
I have to confess that I didn’t know the term “ethno pedagogy”. Thank you.
The ‘Three Ashots’ and the Foundation of School No. 183
Dear Pietro, I don’t agree about this paragraph: “The school was located in Yerevan’s outer district, officially known as Malatia-Sebastia, an area so far removed from the city center that locals refer to it by the name “Bangladesh.” This was an allusion to the fact that the country of Bangladesh was once a far-off extension of Pakistan, much like how the district of Malatia-Sebastia (or “Bangladesh”) was (and still is) a far-off district of Yerevan.”
In fact our district is not geographically too far away from the city center. It usually takes 15-20 minutes to get to Republican Square from our district. Nor Nork, Zeytun, Avan Arinj districts are much farther from the city center than ours. Our district was nicknamed “Bangladesh” not because of its remoteness from the city center. In those years, late in the 1970s, the people in Bangladesh were struggling for their independence, and the Soviet Radio stations were informing about this revolutionary struggle from morning till night. In parallel with this our Armenian radio stations were informing very actively about the construction site of the new district in the South West of Yerevan. Bangladesh, Bangladesh , Bangladesh… from morning till night, and parallelly, South West, South West. That was how these two names were associated with each other in the minds of our citizens.
But, anyway, your justification will also seem to be true in the course of time.
I would like to add some information about Ashot Dabaghyan’s activity as principal of our high school from 1989 to 1993. Our high school was the first in Armenia with specialized classes. Already in those years the teachers themselves compiled the syllabuses of the school subject they taught.
From School No. 183 to Sebastatsi in the Time of Perestroika
I agree about everything written in this passage. Thank you for mentioning my and Susan Markosyan’s name and our point of views.
The Sebastatsi Educomplex and the Karabakh Movement
This is our recent history. I myself wasn’t involved in the Movement, but I can say that everything you have written here is true to facts. I imagine how much you have worked, how many interviews you have taken in order to be able to write such a good review about Karabakh Movement and our Educomplex. Well done!
The Sebastatsi Educomplex in the Post-Soviet Era
Everything is very well written. I can’t disagree about anything which is written in this section. But still I have a feeling of dissatisfaction. I think there should be some more information about our current pedagogy. The word “innovative” should be unveiled. I wish the reader of this paper to understand completely what innovative pedagogical work is being carried out at our Educomplex which helps to reveal the inner abilities of our learners. What makes our teachers and learners live an interesting life every day instead of waiting for something in the future?
- Implementing the pedagogical program “Fun of Knowledge” for pre-school and primary school learners. Working out individual curriculums for the learners of our three high schools (High School Gymnasium, Fine Art High School and Vocational High School ) These individual curriculums are worked out according to the interests and preferences of our learners.
- Using blogs in teaching-learning process
- Project based education
- System of rewarding the teachers financially for their creative work
- http://tv.mskh.am/ , Sebastatsi Radio, http://www.mskh.am/ http://lusastx.mskh.am/ http://partez.mskh.am/ http://avag.mskh.am/ http://mijin.mskh.am/ All these school websites of our Educomplex help the learners and teachers to self-realize, express and share their own ideas, reveal inner abilities.
- The existence of Media library with a great number of electronic versions of text-books, dictionaries, other literature.
- Teachers’ weekly seminars-workshops
- System of further education for gifted learners and learners with special needs
- Open clubs of learners preferences
- Teachers’ Choir “Sebastatsies”, Youth Choir “Sebastatsies” ; organization of their concerts
- Organization of fine art exhibitions, outdoor drawings (Plein Aires)
- Ensembles of musical instruments, organization of their concerts
- Annual open reviews (EduDigitech, Science Technological, Translator’s, Robots, Theatrical, Musical) of the programs of author pedagogy
- Organization of Eco Tour
Notes
The bibliography is impressive but it would be better if the electronic address of our pedagogical journal Dpir was mentioned on the list http://dpir.mskh.am/hy/taxonomy/term/256 Dpir 2015
http://dpir.mskh.am/hy/taxonomy/term/202 Dpir 2014
http://dpir.mskh.am/hy/taxonomy/term/157 Dpir 2013
I think that these articles written by our teachers will give a very good picture of our innovative pedagogy.
I wish you all the best, my dear Pietro.
Yours faithfully, Yura Ganjalyan
ganjalyanyura 