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Aleppo Students in Wartime
By Arda Der Hagopian, March 2014
Translated by Vahe H. Apelian
The below article appeared in the March 2014 issue of "Kantsasar", the
official biweekly of the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church in
Aleppo. The Armenian title of the article is 'Ô»Õ?Õ?Õ? Ô¿Ô¸ Õ?Õ?Ô±Õ?Ô±Ô¿Ô· Ô±Õ?Ô±Ô¿ÔµÕ?Õ?
Ô¸Ô¼Ô¼Ô±Ô¼ Õ?Ô±Õ?ÔµÕ?Ô±Ô¶Õ?Ô» Õ-Õ?ÔµÕ?Õ?Õ'Õ?' (What does it mean to be a student during
wartime?).
It is war. Rockets and bullets, fear and anxiety, increase in cost of
living and in unemployment, interruption in electricity and running
water, danger, and unusual encounters are all daily realities. But in
spite of these, students hurry to school in the morning.
Like other institutions, the Armenian schools bear the brunt of the
war to the detriment of the students.
I, as well as many others, often wonder how do students carry on their
scholastic work in war conditions. Concerned over the welfare of
Aleppo students, I headed to Karen Jeppe Armenian Secondary School and
met its Principal Hagop Kilejian.
`The 2013-2014 scholastic year resumed on schedule, unlike last year,'
said the principal. `Taking into consideration the prevailing
conditions and the social and financial adverse situations the
families are experiencing, we find the students orderly. We do not
face undue disciplinary issues,' said Mr. Kilejian. `The major issue
we face is catching up on materials that were to be taught last year
but were not because of the disruption of the academic year that
contributed to the students not doing as well in their exams,' the
principal added.
The boys and girls of the grade 11 seconded the principal's
observations. `There were instructional materials in Arabic and in
math that should have been given to us last year,' said one of the
students. `At the beginning of this academic year the teachers
explained to us the materials that we should have covered in these
subjects last year, when we were in grade 10. We felt that we needed
more time and instruction to cover the materials we had lost,' she
said. To make up for the lost instructional material, the
administration and the teaching staff instituted additional classes.
These take place after hours for a token fee.
Along with security concerns, the major issue facing Aleppo students
is the frequent interruption of electricity. This has become
unbearable, the students say. The situation has a profound and adverse
effect on the students. It was interesting to note the way students
coped with the situation. `It's true that we do meet such
difficulties, but we are able to overcome them. It is not much of an
issue to prepare for our exams by studying in candlelight,' said a
student. Anna Maria Barsoumian and Kevork Yeghayan said that they take
the daylight time into consideration and strive to finish their
assignments before darkness sets. Nina Mouradian, a grade 8 student,
had a different opinion. She said: `The majority of the students in
class have no inclination to study. The disruption of the electricity
is a major concern for all. Every morning the students ask each other
whether they had electricity the previous day.'
Nina and the rest of the students in grades 7 and 8 dream of attending
the famed Karen Jeppe Armenian College. However, the campus remains
closed because of security concerns. The students of Karen Jeppe hold
their classes at the Gulbenkian School.
Student councilor Alice Melkonian emphasizes that change adversely
affects the psychological well-being of students. `Changing the
location of the school, the departure of some of the classmates,
changes in the class hours and recess times, all have serious adverse
impact on the psychological well-being of the students,' she said.
Along with issues related to their teenage years, the students face
challenges that pertain to meeting necessities of every day life such
as obtaining bread, organizing household chores around the
availability of electricity, storing water for daily needs and other
necessities. Ani Mouradian, Nina's mother, is aware of the changes in
her children's internal life and outlook. She never stops telling them
to be patient. `The children do the best they can. I am satisfied with
their behavior. It goes without saying that when a student lives in
comfort and leaves the cozy home to go to school in the morning he or
she would do better in exams,' she observes. She tells her children
that since they live in Aleppo they have to be patient and bear with
the rest the adverse situation and make the best of it.
Overcoming the difficulties brought about by the war is now engrained
in the grade 11 students. They said that during psychology classes
they discuss, with their teacher, the impact of the war on their
psyche and reach out, help and encourage one other. `Every city can
experience such things. Therefore we should not hate this city,' says
Garo Avakian. Araz Chakrian said that she and her friends often
organize social events to distract themselves from the war atmosphere.
Takouhie Melkonian related the panic that prevailed in the school
during the very first explosions. `All the students were in shock, but
nowadays myriad battle sounds have become routine for us,' she said.
`If some students get scared in the class, we immediately try to
change the atmosphere. The sounds of gunshot during the burial of the
martyrs often disrupt our classes. We have all become accustomed to
these sounds,' she explained.
Miss Melkonian added that safety precautionary measures have been
instituted in the school and that the students are instructed what to
do when the alarm sounds in the school premises.
Despite adverse conditions, the students looked to the future with
hope and faith for better times. What is noticeable to an observer is
the change from the usual behavior of teenagers. They have acquired
maturity and wisdom well beyond their years. They have all understood
that in war young and old face difficulties.
One student summarized the thoughts and feeling of his fellow
students. `We do not have the groupings we had once. Instead we have
become one big group. The bad conditions became reasons for us to know
each other better and to trust each other. Our character has changed.
We find ourselves grown up ten years. We understand our parents much
better now. We have become more cognizant and appreciative of the
efforts our parents make to keep the families going. Nowadays we give
thank to God for everything,' he said.
I reflected about Principal Kilejian's words that one of the
fundamental characters of Armenians is to do better than expected
under adverse conditions. It became apparent to me that our
instinctive ability to adapt to the times and to overcome adversity is
the ultimate winner of the war. It also became obvious to me that
along with the customary classroom instructional materials, the
students have learned many facts about life that could only be taught
in a city called Haleb.
http://www.keghart.com/A-Der-Hagopian-Apelian-Students
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
By Arda Der Hagopian, March 2014
Translated by Vahe H. Apelian
The below article appeared in the March 2014 issue of "Kantsasar", the
official biweekly of the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church in
Aleppo. The Armenian title of the article is 'Ô»Õ?Õ?Õ? Ô¿Ô¸ Õ?Õ?Ô±Õ?Ô±Ô¿Ô· Ô±Õ?Ô±Ô¿ÔµÕ?Õ?
Ô¸Ô¼Ô¼Ô±Ô¼ Õ?Ô±Õ?ÔµÕ?Ô±Ô¶Õ?Ô» Õ-Õ?ÔµÕ?Õ?Õ'Õ?' (What does it mean to be a student during
wartime?).
It is war. Rockets and bullets, fear and anxiety, increase in cost of
living and in unemployment, interruption in electricity and running
water, danger, and unusual encounters are all daily realities. But in
spite of these, students hurry to school in the morning.
Like other institutions, the Armenian schools bear the brunt of the
war to the detriment of the students.
I, as well as many others, often wonder how do students carry on their
scholastic work in war conditions. Concerned over the welfare of
Aleppo students, I headed to Karen Jeppe Armenian Secondary School and
met its Principal Hagop Kilejian.
`The 2013-2014 scholastic year resumed on schedule, unlike last year,'
said the principal. `Taking into consideration the prevailing
conditions and the social and financial adverse situations the
families are experiencing, we find the students orderly. We do not
face undue disciplinary issues,' said Mr. Kilejian. `The major issue
we face is catching up on materials that were to be taught last year
but were not because of the disruption of the academic year that
contributed to the students not doing as well in their exams,' the
principal added.
The boys and girls of the grade 11 seconded the principal's
observations. `There were instructional materials in Arabic and in
math that should have been given to us last year,' said one of the
students. `At the beginning of this academic year the teachers
explained to us the materials that we should have covered in these
subjects last year, when we were in grade 10. We felt that we needed
more time and instruction to cover the materials we had lost,' she
said. To make up for the lost instructional material, the
administration and the teaching staff instituted additional classes.
These take place after hours for a token fee.
Along with security concerns, the major issue facing Aleppo students
is the frequent interruption of electricity. This has become
unbearable, the students say. The situation has a profound and adverse
effect on the students. It was interesting to note the way students
coped with the situation. `It's true that we do meet such
difficulties, but we are able to overcome them. It is not much of an
issue to prepare for our exams by studying in candlelight,' said a
student. Anna Maria Barsoumian and Kevork Yeghayan said that they take
the daylight time into consideration and strive to finish their
assignments before darkness sets. Nina Mouradian, a grade 8 student,
had a different opinion. She said: `The majority of the students in
class have no inclination to study. The disruption of the electricity
is a major concern for all. Every morning the students ask each other
whether they had electricity the previous day.'
Nina and the rest of the students in grades 7 and 8 dream of attending
the famed Karen Jeppe Armenian College. However, the campus remains
closed because of security concerns. The students of Karen Jeppe hold
their classes at the Gulbenkian School.
Student councilor Alice Melkonian emphasizes that change adversely
affects the psychological well-being of students. `Changing the
location of the school, the departure of some of the classmates,
changes in the class hours and recess times, all have serious adverse
impact on the psychological well-being of the students,' she said.
Along with issues related to their teenage years, the students face
challenges that pertain to meeting necessities of every day life such
as obtaining bread, organizing household chores around the
availability of electricity, storing water for daily needs and other
necessities. Ani Mouradian, Nina's mother, is aware of the changes in
her children's internal life and outlook. She never stops telling them
to be patient. `The children do the best they can. I am satisfied with
their behavior. It goes without saying that when a student lives in
comfort and leaves the cozy home to go to school in the morning he or
she would do better in exams,' she observes. She tells her children
that since they live in Aleppo they have to be patient and bear with
the rest the adverse situation and make the best of it.
Overcoming the difficulties brought about by the war is now engrained
in the grade 11 students. They said that during psychology classes
they discuss, with their teacher, the impact of the war on their
psyche and reach out, help and encourage one other. `Every city can
experience such things. Therefore we should not hate this city,' says
Garo Avakian. Araz Chakrian said that she and her friends often
organize social events to distract themselves from the war atmosphere.
Takouhie Melkonian related the panic that prevailed in the school
during the very first explosions. `All the students were in shock, but
nowadays myriad battle sounds have become routine for us,' she said.
`If some students get scared in the class, we immediately try to
change the atmosphere. The sounds of gunshot during the burial of the
martyrs often disrupt our classes. We have all become accustomed to
these sounds,' she explained.
Miss Melkonian added that safety precautionary measures have been
instituted in the school and that the students are instructed what to
do when the alarm sounds in the school premises.
Despite adverse conditions, the students looked to the future with
hope and faith for better times. What is noticeable to an observer is
the change from the usual behavior of teenagers. They have acquired
maturity and wisdom well beyond their years. They have all understood
that in war young and old face difficulties.
One student summarized the thoughts and feeling of his fellow
students. `We do not have the groupings we had once. Instead we have
become one big group. The bad conditions became reasons for us to know
each other better and to trust each other. Our character has changed.
We find ourselves grown up ten years. We understand our parents much
better now. We have become more cognizant and appreciative of the
efforts our parents make to keep the families going. Nowadays we give
thank to God for everything,' he said.
I reflected about Principal Kilejian's words that one of the
fundamental characters of Armenians is to do better than expected
under adverse conditions. It became apparent to me that our
instinctive ability to adapt to the times and to overcome adversity is
the ultimate winner of the war. It also became obvious to me that
along with the customary classroom instructional materials, the
students have learned many facts about life that could only be taught
in a city called Haleb.
http://www.keghart.com/A-Der-Hagopian-Apelian-Students
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress