The media and Internet cover ardent debate regarding the subject of teaching “dance” classes at the schools. As usual in Armenia, it is accompanied by the struggling of personal ambitions of who is the most important and the most unrivaled specialist among us. In the provincial mindset, everything looks like in this way, starting from the politics up to the garbage disposal. The arguments are quickly running out, and the debate are continued at the level of “Hey guy, who are you?” For instance, those who disagree with the opinions expressed in my articles, sometimes write, “What right do you have to write if you have worked as a music teacher in Ddmashen?” As if it is a discreditable fact.
Singing, dancing, playing chess – all of it is wonderful. However, in my opinion, there should be compulsory and non-compulsory subjects at the school. The scores of the first one should find their place in the graduation certificate, while for the second one, a reference should be given that the child has passed this-or-that course so that in the future, the educational institution shall consider it if necessary. But pertaining to singing and dancing, as much as I respect them, they cannot be compulsory subjects. Whereas, the physical education, for example, is compulsory. And although formally it is so, actually this important subject in some of our subject is either of the 7th significance or is not taught at all: the academic hours do exist on the paper, but the children are taught other subjects. Actually, an educated man cannot take care of his body.
Unlike extremist liberals, I think that the history of religion can also find its place in the school curriculum. Simply, in my understanding, children need to be introduced not only to our religion, but also to all major religions in the world, and it does no way contradict the principles of freedom of conscience. It’s another question that such subjects are also neglected at our schools, and here, the school-principle may do a “favor” to one of his close friends by “writing down academic hours”.
The idea of opening engineer-programmers’ hobby-groups at the schools is very welcomed, which is carried out by the Union of Information Technology Enterprises. Exactly hobby-groups, so that the retarded practice of “writing down academic hours” in our schools does not work out. So far, the specialists should take this teaching under strict control. But, later on, it seems to me that it would become a compulsory subject. It is a must for Armenia.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
