our hope and our future

 

The Sts. Tarkmanchats Armenian (Holy Translators')

School in Jerusalem was built on the heights of Mount

Zion in the year 1929 in the days of His Beatitude, the

late Patriarch Yeghishe Tourian, homage to his memory

and to all those who had the vision of creating this

school.

      It was then an elementary school. During the British Mandate, its student population was 700. Now this figure has dwindled to 150, the community itself having shrunk considerably, by the emigration of many families who have chosen to resettle in safer havens on foreign shores.       In 1953, the Secondary Department was added, class by class, through the untiring efforts of His Grace, Bishop Guregh Kapikian, and in 1957, the school gave its first graduates from the Secondary Department. Nothing was more difficult, more exhausting, more exacting than the start of our Secondary department's first crucial years.      So far, we have had around 400 graduates from the secondary department - boys and girls, half of whom have furthered their higher studies either in the country or abroad; many have distinguished themselves in medicine, engineering, law, education and in other areas. This year [Ed: 1999], we celebrate an important milestone, the 70th anniversary.      It is time to reflect on our past achievements and prepare for further challenges that lie ahead.      For the past 70 years now it has been shining brightly like a beacon of hope, guiding generation after generation the children of our nation. It is a fountain of knowledge operating on a par with all other schools in the area; it is the greatest blessing to the Armenian Community - a vibrant force, throbbing and pulsating with life, that plays a vital role in its contribution towards the preservation and propagation of our Armenian cultural heritage; in addition to safeguarding the national identity of the members of our Armenian Community.     Besides, it imparts knowledge to our students, helps to mould their character_ to form their personality and to instil in them a sense of individual worth and self-confidence. all this helps them to wage and win the battle of life, which is one long strife, in which only the fittest survive.      The Tarkmanchats offers its students the unique prerogative of learning side by side with other languages and sciences, their golden mother tongue and to perpetuate it. We see to it that our children are imbued with a healthy atmosphere, inbred with a pure national spirit.      The mission of all Armenian schools in the diaspora should be to save the Armenian Language from extinction. This is our sacred mission.       In addition to this, our objective has been to supply our students with a sound education and the prerequisite qualifications that constitute the necessary mid-work for higher learning and education.      Also our aim has been to impart the type of education that  should enrich the lives of our students, and widen their horizon. Over and above this, we prepare our students for the G.C.S.E. previously known as the G.C.E. which qualifies the bearer of this diploma admission to any university to enable him further his higher studies; in the final analysis, nothing can be more rewarding than the education of our youth, as they are the key to the survival of the Armenian nation.       Year in year out, a new batch goes to join the long caravan of our graduates, thus adding one more ring in the long golden chain - they are the pride of our community and nation wherever they may be.       Our message to our graduates has been to infuse in their heart a profound love for our fatherland, our mother tongue, its rich legacy and priceless national heritage, to spare no efforts in upholding its national interests, as now, more than ever before, it stands in need of brave, dynamic, educated, and dedicated young ladies and gentlemen.       We are infinitely grateful to His Beatitude, Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, our [Ed: late] patriarch, for his positive stand and keen interest in the educational life of our school; he closely supervises our work and spares neither time nor energy, and never denies his moral and material assistance towards the well-being of our school; he has been instrumental in the introduction of several reforms in the school.       A special word of gratitude to all those who have steered this vessel, and to all those devoted teachers who have served with the utmost dedication the children of our nation. Their work, more than a job, is a lofty mission. A good number of these teachers have departed from us for good, but their memories shall remain forever immortal.       Teaching is the most sensitive task, the most humanitarian calling that far transcends any other vocation. However, there is a distinct line of separation between teaching and education: teaching implies the imparting of knowledge, education on the other hand, deals with moulding the character, edifying a child, and preparing him for life after school. Education is a lifelong process, it starts at home, but schools are an extension of the education the foundations of which are laid at home.      Home alone, school alone, cannot assume the full brunt of the responsibility of a child's education, only a preconcerted co- operation between the two can help shoulder successfully this noblest of all callings, especially in these days of a polluted moral and spiritual atmosphere, it is therefore incumbent on both - parents and teachers to constantly co-ordinate their efforts.       Also, our whole-hearted gratitude is due to all the magnanimous and noble-hearted benefactors and benefactresses whose spontaneous assistance, both moral and material, has been vital for the running of the school.      May the Almighty reward them in their unwavering commitment to help us confront and surmount the formidable financial challenges. Indeed to keep Armenian schools running in the diaspora in the face of a host of hurdles is a Herculean task.       Last but not least, our love and greetings go to all our graduates, scattered as they are is the four corners of the world, and who, we believe, shall never betray the trust that has been ed in them, but shall always remain the faithful ambassadors to their Alma Mater wherever they may be. [Ed: Yeghya Dickranian has been deputy principal of the Sts Tarkmanchats high school for several years, helping steer it into the IT age, educating a generation of young Armenians. He has also taught at the school, his primary subjects English language and literature.]