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ATATURK REPLACED BY OTTOMANS AT ICONIC ISTANBUL HIGH SCHOOL
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Feb 13 2015
ISTANBUL
The new principal of a renowned girls' high school in Istanbul has come
under fire from parents who have slammed her for replacing photos of
the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, as well
as ballerina murals, with pictures of Ottoman sultans.
Saadet Berna Ocakcıoglu became the principal of the Erenköy Girls'
Anatolian High School in December 2014.
According to photographs shared on social media, Ocakcıoglu renewed
the decorations of the school building after the semester holiday
break that began on Jan. 23, 2015, covering ballerina murals painted
on the walls and removing photos of Ataturk, replacing them with
pictures of Ottoman sultans.
Some parents claimed that the new decorations were against the "spirit
of the school," which they described as one of the centers of "women's
enlightenment" in the early republican era.
Muammer Yıldız, the National Education Director of Istanbul province,
confirmed that Ocakcıoglu renewed the internal decorations, but
denied the decision was made with any "ulterior motive."
"The corridors were unusable. Now they have been repainted and
cleaned," Yıldız said, adding that while Ottoman figures have been
added, the Ataturk photos have also been rehung.
"The school principal told me that she covered the ballerina mural
because it looked old and was not of a quality to inspire students. It
was not covered just because it showed ballerinas," he added.
Officials deny that there is any reason to launch an investigation
into the incident, stressing that the school principal had not violated
any rules.
February/13/2015
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ataturk-replaced-by-ottomans-at-iconic-istanbul-high-school-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=78313&NewsCatID=341
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Feb 13 2015
ISTANBUL
The new principal of a renowned girls' high school in Istanbul has come
under fire from parents who have slammed her for replacing photos of
the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, as well
as ballerina murals, with pictures of Ottoman sultans.
Saadet Berna Ocakcıoglu became the principal of the Erenköy Girls'
Anatolian High School in December 2014.
According to photographs shared on social media, Ocakcıoglu renewed
the decorations of the school building after the semester holiday
break that began on Jan. 23, 2015, covering ballerina murals painted
on the walls and removing photos of Ataturk, replacing them with
pictures of Ottoman sultans.
Some parents claimed that the new decorations were against the "spirit
of the school," which they described as one of the centers of "women's
enlightenment" in the early republican era.
Muammer Yıldız, the National Education Director of Istanbul province,
confirmed that Ocakcıoglu renewed the internal decorations, but
denied the decision was made with any "ulterior motive."
"The corridors were unusable. Now they have been repainted and
cleaned," Yıldız said, adding that while Ottoman figures have been
added, the Ataturk photos have also been rehung.
"The school principal told me that she covered the ballerina mural
because it looked old and was not of a quality to inspire students. It
was not covered just because it showed ballerinas," he added.
Officials deny that there is any reason to launch an investigation
into the incident, stressing that the school principal had not violated
any rules.
February/13/2015
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ataturk-replaced-by-ottomans-at-iconic-istanbul-high-school-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=78313&NewsCatID=341