From 1845 onwards, the number of the schools increased rapidly and created a network of the congregation of Armenian priests in Western Armenia. Both the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire and those in the Russian Empire, contributed to the realisation of this goal, which aimed at establishing a school alongside each church.
It was because of these schools that the Armenian people, together with the Greeks, soon became the most active element of the Ottoman Empire. Bertrand Bareilles thus notes: "It is this network of schools, which from an educational and teaching point of view, moulded to the first class element of the Ottoman Empire."
In regard to intermediate studies, the Armenians began first to expand to junior schools and in time extended them to higher level classes in which intermediate subjects were taught. Later several intermediate schools were opened, including the senior school of Sanasarian in Erzurum, which opened in 1910, with the help of contributions from a wealthy Armenian in Russia, the Central school in Constantinople, established in 1887, the intermediate school of Berberian in Skotaris, the intermediate school in Van and the religious school in Ter Varag. 85
These four schools were the cradle of the education of future great Armenian intellectuals in the Ottoman Empire amongst whom the majority of Armenian teachers and thinkers emerged, intellectual personalities who lead the Armenian cultural life at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.
The Armenian religious school in Marash (in the vicinity of Ismid) also deserves mention. From 1889 onwards this school, under the leadership of Ormanian and later Tourian, educated the most important Armenian intellectuals and priests, and the progressive religious personalities who later became bishops in the most remote places in Armenia. These isolated areas had been cut off from their surroundings by the regime, and their religious leaders welcomed any soothing measure which Constantinople offered them. 87
American and French educational centres in Turkey were also instrumental in the teaching and spreading of knowledge amongst the Armenians. Amongst the American institutions we can mention Robert College, the women's college in Constantinople, and also the American senior schools in Mersivan, Ayntab, Tarsus and Kharpout.
French religious missionaries also played their part, described beautifully by certain powerful eastern men "as if they made France to grow underneath their feet". The Dominican monks in particular carried out invaluable educational work with great altruism in some of the most remote places in Armenia.
In Eastern Armenia, the growth of Armenian schools proceeded alongside the American and French schools. However, these schools faced difficulty especially after the order in 1884, following the decision of the Russian Tsar to convert all of his subjects into Russians. The new intermediate and senior schools which were established during this time include the Lazarian Institute in Moscow, the Nersessian Religious School in Tbilisi, and the Academy in Etchmiadzin.
|
