Translated by Vahe H. Apelian
The attached translated quotes are from Zvart Apelian’s book titled “I and the Teaching” (note, I have used “he” in its genderless sense as article “he” and “she” are absent from the Armenian language). Mrs. Apelian, her students addressed her such, taught in Armenian schools, mostly in Armenian Evangelical Schools for over five decades. The Catholicos of All Armenians of blessed memory, Karekin I Sarkissian, bestowed upon her the order of Saint Mesrob Masdhots commenting in his encyclical order that Mrs. Zvart Apelian transmitted the Armenian language pristine to generations of students.
“I and the teaching met each other in my early youth, during my adolescent years and we fell in love with each other. Nothing else replaced that ideal love. We remained true to each other with an unbelievable faithfulness.”
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“It is not I who decided to be a teacher. I was born to be a teacher. I was born in the tranquil setting of my village (note: Keurkune, Kessab). I was hardly 12 years old when I organized summer schooling for the children of our village and kept them occupied for a few weeks. A little bit later, when I was a 14 years old teenager, I would organize plays to assist our village church. I would be the prompter whispering from the behind the curtain the cues for the kids on the stage and whenever anyone would be absent, I would assume the role. We mostly practiced our plays on the church alter and at times in our house, which was situated just across the church”.
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“The essence of teaching is to be able to relate to students in a positive way. Students and teachers complement each other. If there are no students, there cannot be teachers.
Students have a tendency to shield their true selves from the teacher. Their knottiness is mostly meant to shield the student from the teacher, often times rendering the teacher incapable to realize his or her calling to cultivate in the student tomorrow’s exemplary Armenian person, be it the virtuous woman, the great scientist or the decent tradesperson.
At times the teacher has to amend himself to the whims of the student’s capriciousness to create the opportunity to get to know the student. Usually the student is not problematic but misbehaves towards those who have not been capable of truly understanding him, be it the student’s teacher, or the classmates and even the student’s parents. A student, whether excelling in class or not, looks forward to be a center in the teacher’s attention. The fact of the matter is that students have honored their teachers more than teachers have honored their students.
Teachers should not be inaccessible to students. On the contrary, the teacher should create an atmosphere for the students to approach the teacher knowing that the student is accepted respectfully and lovingly.
The student is a very observant creature. He observes keenly and digs further and is the greatest judge. The student recognizes a teacher fast and renders his judgment quickly. A teacher needs to be very mindful of his behavior and communication and needs to present himself attractively to the preschoolers by dressing simply but neatly and attractively. But for the older students, the teacher needs to prepare the students not to render judgment by outward appearances but by appreciating the person. Last but not the least, a teacher should succeed in having the students look forward for the teacher’s arrival to the classroom and not be content with the teacher’s absence.
Teaching is a very difficult trade. Whoever has resorted to teaching accidentally has, sooner or later, failed. The successful teacher is the one who has been patient, has taken matter pertaining to teaching to heart, has viewed himself from the students’ perspectives and has strived to be a better himself as a person by self evaluating his manners and his thoughts
Finally, a true teacher is the outcome of students and the teacher cooperating to better their selves.”
With Ms. Hranoush Hagopian
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