An incident that took place in one of the schools has been discussed a lot lately. According to the media, one of the teachers was engaged in political propaganda and, among other things, said that the current Prime Minister of Armenia should be fired. If this information is correct, then the teacher’s behavior is categorically unacceptable to me. Everything about “burning” is clear. No one should be called to burn someone at school, on the street, at home, or from any pulpit. The same goes for hitting someone on the head with a hammer. It only seems like a metaphor at first glance, but in reality it poisons people’s brains, and sows in one corner of the soul the idea that it is possible somewhere, under certain circumstances.
As for political propaganda in educational institutions, it is prohibited by the legislation of Armenia and many other countries. And that’s right. At the beginning of the 20th century, the German philosopher Heinrich Rickert gave a very beautiful explanation. There is a world of values - beauty, justice, etc. They exist independently of us, they are gods who argue or agree with each other there, “above.” These values are understood in history and culture, and this is no longer possible without us, without people. The scientist in their research, the teacher and the professor in the educational institutions, are engaged in conveying these meanings, but not in their subjective interpretations and opinions. As soon as the teachers go down to that field, their place is not at the pulpit, but at the bench, because in that case their opinion is equal to the opinion of the pupils and students, whose expression, of course, should be encouraged.
So teachers should refrain from expressing their political views in the classroom and in the classroom, as well as, I think, in scientific research. Political propaganda should include the posting of a portrait of the head of state on the walls of universities and schools (as far as I know, there is no such thing). As soon as the professor enters the president’s office and sees a picture hanging on the wall of the head of state, it is the end of academic freedom. It is the same phenomenon when the leader of the ruling party becomes the chairman of the university’s board of trustees, a practice that, unfortunately, continues. The ugly and unacceptable practice of dragging schoolchildren to political rallies continues.
In some American schools, the national anthem is played before school and the national flag is raised. Because the state is a value, the meaning of which must be passed on to students. In the case of the United States, I can also say eternal value. In the case of Armenia, I doubt it.
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Aram Abrahamyan
