The Damascus Community 'School'
I have always resented the Damascus Community School, or the "American School" as it is called locally. There was something about it that annoyed me immensely, firstly in that the only people who could afford to put their children there were very rich people with more money than sense, secondly their children grew up to be little Americans. During my last few trips to Syria I had noticed that the wall surrounding the school has gotten higher and higher to the point where it now looks like a mini-fortress, much to my approval. I don't believe it should be a target but I do believe that the students who go there must be made to recognise that there is something abnormal about their attending classes there, that they are not the same as other students elsewhere, and they are not. The curriculum of the school is available online and I noted with some interest how their "Social Studies" class really does mold their focus within a US framework. For example, whilst their kindergarden class begins with conceptions of what makes a good citizen and to follow the rules, by the time they are in the 11th grade the questions are related solely with issues concerning American politics, forms of government and domestic issues. Another theme they like to stress in the first few years of school appears to be that the Golden Rule is a theme which we can find in all major religions and philosophies. I think that is great, perhaps the United States would not mind to have American citizens educated under principles of Islamic Sharia, or perhaps a Cold War curriculum devised from Beijing or Moscow? Wait a minute, no, they only apply the Golden Rule to others and do not expect it to be carried out on themselves. So much for the Golden Rule then...Here is another example, in their 11th and, I think, final grade, Strand 5 - Culture Section carries questions like this:
3. Summarize how and why a distinct American character has developed and continues to evolve.
If you want to see the answer to that question, just look at the pimply Syrian teenager sitting and writing a paper about this in the Damascus Community School. I hope its closure becomes permanent.
35 comments:
I have completely different take and feeling about this.
Off course you are talking to yourself as you mentioned before. But you stated two different positions on the action of closing the school which is OK, may be it is Dialectic opinion, and that is what I do sometime, hope you accept different views or different take on this.
I wonder if the American schools different and what those kids who attend the school have to do with all of that.
I was not sure if are you against the wall or the school, what not clear to me if this school is different from other foreign schools, the pro and cons, and if we should government close only this one or all of them? Or let me be sarcastic a little: let’s keep the others in case they invaded Syria then they close them.
What you think of the government decision which been repeated along the past decades and then backed off on it later. Isn’t worse to back off than to make the decision?
What if the same thing happen to you like what happen to those kids in American school, what if your university kicked you out for the soul reason that your are Arabs or Circassian.
I wonder how the authorities in Syria look at education, it looks to me that they still play with education as a red card they hold and wave at times when it has nothing to do with the game on the ground.
What you think of the other school and their expansion:
I mean the Layek: which mean “Viva la free thought and tough education”
http://joshualandis.com/blog/?p=855&print=true
Without the Layek we would not have that wonderful president of Syria, don’t you think, didn’t he got his education and become smart understanding.
As you see, I’m very confused and I do not have your clear mind, but still I have different view please bear with me for thinking differently.
Come on Wassim, we are talking about a school here!!! I find your post spiteful and offensive. You are treating this school like it is a bastion of American imperialism. Starting from the title where you put school in parentheses. What is that supposed to mean, that it is a covert CIA operation? It is not hiding that it is an American schoold with an American curriculum, it says so right on the their homepage. It serves American families who work in Damascus and other families of diplomats, NGOs and foreign companies who may not have other options for educating their kids. You might have problems with the Damascene nouveau riche who send their kids to the school, and that's fine, but don't take it out on the kids and wish that the school closes permanently.
First of all, schools are started as bastions of imperialism. Many Universities started in the Arab world, for example, under colonialism in order for the colonizing country to breed domestics who would help them administer the country. However, that does not mean that the school is doomed to functioning in that way, or that all students who come out of it are drones, or that all teachers teach for those intentions. And Abu Kareem makes a good point that many American families in Syria and other internationals use the school.
But Wassim is on to something. These schools are for elite children, who are expected to be the Syrian global players which is why they have to be educated in the "way of the world" before they are educated in the way of their own society. I don't think Wassim's examples are necessarily the best ones, or his rage even, but the underlying points are true: these schools are for the elites, these schools are premised on the idea that "outside" and "corporate" knowledge are superior and mastery of them is an indicator of "success," and these schools have an effect which is more than the simple pursuit of knowledge.
Waseem, do you think it's also wrong to receive foreign education outside Syria? Does your view of people who graduated from the American School apply to those who studied in the US or Europe?
Saint,
It is good to have different views, I am sure you do have a completely take and of course like anybody you are free to present it.
Abu Kareem,
Abu Kareem,
Spiteful? Offensive? Am I not allowed to be even slightly upset that American soldiers are killing people only 500 km from Damascus, let alone in a neighbouring country? I'm amazed you think I am taking it out on the students there, though it would be tragic for them to have to study in an Arabic curriculum and that most of them would not be able to read. You have an American school in Damascus teaching young Syrians how to be Americans, whilst at the same time you have American occupying Iraq, bombing Syria and supporting Israel's right to exist. That doesn't appear to bother you as much as it does me.
Abu Kareem,
Sorry, I repeated your name twice by accident up there, I don't mean it to sound condescending.
Yaman,
Thank you and I agree, though I'm not sure what the problem with my examples is and I think "rage" sounds pretty cool a word. "Angry" Arab hasn't got a thing on me in that case!
Ayman,
You said, do you think it's also wrong to receive foreign education outside Syria?
I do not think it is wrong to get a foreign education inside Syria, so there is no also in your question.
Does your view of people who graduated from the American School apply to those who studied in the US or Europe?
This depends on what you understand of my view. Is it your view of what my view is or is it my view of what my view is. If it is your view then you must know that it is not what this post is about. If it is my view then yes, but the question becomes, have you understood my view?
Waseem,
How did you know what my view of your view is? :-p
I might have misunderstood you. What I got from your post is that you resent the fact that some rich Syrians send their kids to the "American school" where they become "little Americans". But in your replies you mentioned you are not against people seeking foreign education in Syria. Does that mean that you only object to young Syrians receiving American education?
And if this is the case, do you think it is okay to teach young Syrians to become Britons, French or German since we are at peace with UK, France and Germany - for now?
That is ok Ayman, not that I think you misunderstood me at all. I don't understand why you do not distinguish between education and between it being predicated with English, French, American and German. Education is to do with inculcating knowledge, which, on it's own is exactly what is required. To give that same meaning to French, German or English education means that the education now becomes specific to knowledge that concerns a particular national identity that is different from ours.
Perhaps I should have clarified when I said foreign education in my reply. I mean education which comes from outside Syria and not, as you describe, the education exclusive to a particular nationality. Otherwise I'd be saying it is wrong to learn from anyone who is not the same as you, which is absurd.
Now, if we rephrase your questions correctly, then the answer becomes clear:
1. I resent the fact that the children become "little Americans" [through an American education]
2. but I am not against people receiving an education which comes outside of Syria and is foreign (as opposed to an education predicated by British, French or so on.)
3. Am I only against Syrians receiving an [American] education?
4. Is it ok to teach young Syrians to become Britons, French or German since we are at peace with UK, France and Germany - for now?
I think it becomes clear now that your question isn't really in its place as it is quite clear that I don't think it is ok for young Syrians to become what you say and there is no conflict in what I have said. You might have wanted me to sound like I'm contradicting myself through your questioning :) , or perhaps you just misunderstood, as you said. Either way, I think I've made my position crystal clear.
Oh and I think it is silly to say that the UK, France and Germany are at peace with us. They are not at peace with the Arab and Islamic world, quite the opposite in fact.
First of all considering the fact that you have just analyzed the curriculum that is online and your using it as a point of preference to criticize the students that attend the school is unjust. Just because these students were taught through the means of an American system does not mean that these students have no understanding of what goes on around them or have no respect towards it. I can assure you that these students realize that they are more privileged then other students around them and just because they come from rich background does not mean that they are ignorant. This school has done a lot for the Syrian community which a lot of other local schools no nothing about. The students are taught to respect all people equally and are shown that being privileged in matters of wealth does not mean that you are of high stature. With in the school are several student bodies which donate regularly to different charity organizations including orphanages and houses of the elderly. I assure you that 99% of the Syrian students who attend this school have a bigger sense of patriotism towards their country in comparison to students graduating from public schools. I do agree that what they study puts them in a certain mind frame of how things work in the "American" manner but they remain Syrians who learn about their cultural values as well as country values throughout their education. When a person is educated using a foreign system does not mean that he will have to follow all the ideals and ideas he is taught. I believe that its only reasonable to take the good things from this education and apply to ones life and merging it with one's own cultural values.
Mounzer,
Thank you for your comment, but who are you fooling? Is it really an accomplishment for a school to teach its students that all people are equal? Also, I am pretty sure my emphasis in this article was not to do with Syria's horrendously solid class system but rather with the subtle indoctrination of which this school is a centre. This patriotism you mention is only a reinforcing of the superstructure and hardly a good thing when you find that it is these 'priveleged' who have done the most in selling the country part and parcel.
Maysaloon,
American schools throughout the world have been established to support the educational needs of American children whose parents work in foreign countries--just as British, French, Japanese, and German schools are often found outside of those countries' boundaries--not the needs of host country nationals. Some countries make it a requirement for granting the school's charter that the school accept a minimum percentage of their student population as a condition for its very existence (22% in the Philippines); other countries forbid their nationals to attend the school (Indonesia). This reflects the wide disparity of views about American education within a country's borders. However, wherever the International Baccalaureate degree is offered--as it was at Damascus Community School--a very international mindset is presented, granted, via the hands of the presenting nation. As one poster above mentioned, developing a sense of responsibility toward the needs of humanity is a strong theme of the International Baccalaureate program which, incidentally, originated in Switzerland. As a part of its accreditation with the International Baccalaureate sponsoring organization, Damascus Community School must strive to adhere to those principles. A look at the International Baccalaureate website will help you to see what those principles are. I would be surprised if you felt those principles to be unworthy.
What you appear to be most unhappy about is that a) there are wealthy Syrians, and b) some of those wealthy Syrians have chosen to send their children to Damascus Community School, and risk them being indoctrinated in American thought. Is that not a different issue than whether or not Americans have access to American education within the boundaries of Syria? Is it not possible, as the poster above suggested, to be educated without being indoctrinated?
The primary reason that host country nationals send their children to American schools outside of America is to give their young people a chance to learn English, which seems to have become the international language of commerce. The reasoning of many non-native English speakers is that they are giving their children a gift that will make it possible for them to be successful in business ventures in their future lives that require English. A secondary goal of most of these parents is that an American school will prepare their children to be successful in being accepted at an American or British university. You might have a better perception than I as to why this might be perceived to be of value. It has been my experience that many parents throughout the world seem to feel that education at an American university will profit their young people in their adult lives.
One very strong tenet of American education is to teach children to question rather than to accept the status quo, and to do it openly. This is an aspect of American culture that many non-Democratic cultures find very threatening. However, it should also be reassuring, because it makes it far more difficult for wool to be pulled over anyone's eyes if students have been taught to question.
I would like to stand on the side of freedom to seek truth wherever it may be found, rather than on the side of book-burning. Does not having a little bit of America inside Syria's borders give Syrians a chance to better learn what America is about, first-hand? Does not having Americans inside Syria's borders give those Americans a chance to learn and hopefully spread the truth of what Syrians are really like, first-hand? Is this not, in fact, the only hope we have that we might learn to live together in peace?
I am a teacher who has taught at many international schools. After being offered a contract to teach at DCS this year, I did a great deal of research about what it would be like to be an American teaching in Damascus. I read nothing but kind, encouraging things about the hospitality of Syrian people, written by Americans living in Damascus. The only reason I did not accept the contract was the worry that something might cause the school to close, thus leaving me without a job. Sadly, my concern appears to have been well-founded.
Because we are taught to question, you will find--if you seek to understand--that Americans who choose to live overseas and teach are apolitical. We see ourselves as educators first, and we usually do all we can to be peace-makers. We are often called global nomads.
The loss of life is tragic wherever it happens, and we weep with you. We have made our views known in the appropriate place: the polling place. We are hopeful of positive change. But please do not excoriate us. We want the same things for your children--and the children of all countries--that you want: peace and mutual understanding. We want our young people and yours--of every nation--to grow up understanding each other, and solving problems peacefully, in ways that do not cause the loss of life. Being able to see the good in each other--rather than demonizing one another--is the only hope we have to make this a better and safer world. Can we all commit ourselves to that?
Truth Seeker,
I am sure the principles of the International Baccalaureate are admirable and the Swiss had the best intentions in drawing them up, however, whilst the Swiss are fiercely neutral in their dealings with nations, the same cannot be said of your country (I am going to assume you are an American) who have put the Mongols to shame with the current occupation of the Iraqi Arab Republic. Please do not try to invoke these principles as somehow representative of this school again, or to claim I am arguing about something that I am not.
Also, I sure you do not know the first thing about me to assume knowing about what makes me unhappy. I would be interested to see how you have come to these three conclusions since you instantly present them as a given. You also take for granted the claim that the American educational curriculum really does teach students to question everything. You bravely assume that it manages to teach anybody anything at all and, provided that it does achieve this, teach them anything apart from questioning everything. There is an argument which says that a person in this situation does not need to have wool pulled over their eyes because they do not use their eyes in the first place, since they cannot trust them. On this understanding a lot about America and Americanism would actually begin to make sense.
You say you prefer to stand with freedom to seek truth rather than book-burning, a bizarre set of choices to put yourself between but I will grant you that for the sake of argument. You ask me:
Does not having a little bit of America inside Syria's borders give Syrians a chance to better learn what America is about, first-hand? and my answer is no, our neighbours have a lot of America inside their borders and the Iraqis have learnt more than they ever wanted to about you - by force.
Does not having Americans inside Syria's borders give those Americans a chance to learn and hopefully spread the truth of what Syrians are really like, first-hand?
No it doesn't. I'll believe that when I see Americans stop treating Syrians applying for visas like chattel.
Is this not, in fact, the only hope we have that we might learn to live together in peace?
We don't want to live with you, we don't want you to come anywhere near our lands and we want you to take your pet poodle Israel with you.
I hope this has answered your questions sufficiently. Please don't ever get confused, you are not our teachers, you are not our peace-makers and we do not want anything from you. We do not want you to weep with us, we have had enough of your crocodile tears. When you say to us that the loss of life is tragic, we are under no illusion that these words mean nothing to you. I couldn't care less where you make your "views" known and please, don't ever come to me writing paragraphs of useless drivel about "our" children, peace, understanding and the value of human life. If your educational curriculum cannot inculcate these into your leaders and people then we are more than happy to send you educators and peace-keepers.
You are the people who say one thing and do the other, who make the good appear bad and the bad, good. You promote corruption on this earth but think you are practicing virtue. If you can "commit" to one thing "Truth Seeker", then can you commit to all stop being pathological liars? To yourselves at least, if not to the rest of the world.
Who are you? How can you post a blog like this and expect to recieve support? Do you have ANY idea what the students and parents that attended DCS are going through right now? Where is your sympathy, in fact, where is your common sense?
If you were truly researching this topic then you would find that it does not teach the kids to be "americans", it merely gives them the top education that is not found elsewhere in Syria. And for your information, as a former student at DCS I know better than you that the curriculum is not solely based on US history. DCS teaches us to be international citizens, learning and being able to understand the world around us. Perhaps this would be of no concern to you, seeing that a narrow-minded critic like you would not comprehend the issue at hand. You are lost with your own peronal thoughts on the school, with no solid evidence as to what you are saying. I am positive that this blog derives out of jealousy and hatred, not facts. I can only laugh at your foolish attempts to make a point.
DCS,
I don't expect any support and I couldn't care less what they are going through right now. It is that simple - now go away.
if it is not support you are expecting, then it's attention you are calling out for. as you have so kindly opened up this site for people to comment then no, i will not go away. i cannot stand ignorance, and with every response you have given people i can only justify this ignorance. for reasons i cannot understand, you have chosen to take a stance on matters that do not concern you whatsoever. in a sense, you are supporting the punishment of kids due to a politcal issue, 70% of which are syrian. if you wish to make a valid point i urge that you dont let your anger get in the way; really, you only sound stupid that way.
I support DCS' post. You probably havent ever been inside the campus. you probably dont know anything about the feeling that DCS gives to the students. DCS is HOME to the students that attend it. Damascus Community School is truly a community, students and faculty form a family that will never break appart; but of course you will never understand that feeling becuase you have never been to DCS (if you had, this blog would be about the strong love you feel towards DCS. Because yes, that is what every student and person that goes to DCS feels). Also, it does not teach them to be "little Americans", DCS teachers the students to be people. The walls that surround the school are there to protect us, students, from any attack from outside forces; since when is being secure a bad thing? dont you have locks on your doors? Students at DCS know that they were VERY lucky to go to such school, the education that they recieve in that school is the best you can get in Syria. If you are an American-hater, well good for you, but that does not mean you should take it off on the school. And as DCS said, the education is not all about America, it is true that there is a course that focuses on American History. That is in 11th grade; however, it is not mandatory and there are other options that the student could take instead of that subject. Oh, and the Arabic system you mention, it is not in Arabic; it is taught in English for foreigners so that they understand, and in Arabic for locals. It is only normal that the school tries to give us a bit of background on the country we live in. I think you should try getting the opinions of the people that actually know about the school rather than start blabing about how DCS is bad; you clearly do not know anything about the school.
Thank you
I have never heard so much ignorance in my life.
Whoever you are, you have so much to learn. If
I were to assume that you are a Syrian then you
should be ashamed of your narrow-minded mentality.
DCS opened doors for so many eager students to leave
the country, get a great college education, and return
to help better Syria. These "ignorant" parents are the
people to praise and admire for they are the parents that
put their kids in the best possible school in all of Syria,knowing that they would develop not only a love for
learning but a love for the place they spent their
schooling years in: Syria. For that reason, kids would return and help Syria develop. Simply put- there is nothing
"abnormal" about DCS. What's abnormal with the best education?
What's abnormal with the idea of international peace and
understanding, as kids from DCS are continually exposed
to hundreds of different kids from different nationalities.
If DCS was open you could walk in and find the writings on
the walls of kids from America to Syria to Pakistan to Norway
to Africa- kids who grew up in DCS. Shut your ignorant and
idiotic mouth becuase the kids and parents of the DCS community
have more class and beuracracy than any person who would open a
site to bash the best thing that ever happened to Syria.
Excuse me "maysaloon", i just couldn't let your so called article go by me without rebuttal..
how dare you write such trash
and put school in quotation marks?
You're having doubts in the best school in damascus, possibly Syria.
You were never a student in DCS to critisize its accademical abilities and the students' intellectual levels. You make us sound like "little american idiots"; while truth is, you're not a bright man yourself. You're just an envious douche.
By reading your post i'm assuming that you have no idea the torture DCS families are in. I might as well just consider my parents divoreced since my dad is in Damascus and my mom along with my siblings and i are in a different continent.
Please, do us all a favor and stick a sock in your mouth..Shut that trap of yours and stay the Hell away from DCS..
If you wanna blog, blog about something your feeble mind can process..
A good place to start is perhaps an apollogy letter?
Peace and Blessings,
A DCS citizen, and ALWAYS
a dcs citizen
Look, I have no idea who you are but you have just managed to prove that you are the most close-minded, pathetic, and retarded person I have ever met in my life. Just answer me this one question: How could you create a blog, talk crap about people and a school you know nothing about, and then act like a know it all? I could sit here and tell you how wrong you are and how good DCS is but I would never finish. ( Anywayz, I would hate to waste my time on an idiot like you who wouldn't understand anyways.)You have never been inside the school and obviously have never met anyone who has. So simply, either know what you are talking about or just kiss my ass.
i dont know where to start and im not sure of the words i should use that describe how i feel about you right now. all i could say is that you are a pathetic with a lot of time on the hand. have you ever been to the school? did you take a look at the books? did u meet the wonderful teachers that worked so hard to turn us to well rounded individuals? did you meet any of the devastated students that considered DAMASCUS COMMUNITY SCHOOL as their second home? I'm guessing the answer is NO.
as DCS Forever said you are an ignorant, narrow-minded person, that seriously needs to stick a sock up your mouth.
"maysaloon" have you forgotten all the community service that DCS has done for Syria when other schools failed to address such matters? or have you forgotten that DCS won the award for most successful booth at the JCI fair for less fortunate kids? Frankly, your opinion does not matter. Your reasoning does not matter, but you should know that there are people, hundreds, who are willing to stand up for a school that has not only benefitted its students and teachers, but aided those in need of aid. Helped those in need of help, and i cannot stand here yet again and watch you undermine the "spoiled brats" at DCS. If you wish to critisize and be taken seriously, do so with respect and understanding. You are talking about 400 people here, excluding the parents, who have been affected by the decision to close DCS. People like you, Maysaloon, are weak. Creating a blog? Have you heard the expression "kick 'em while they're down?" Shame on you, you are heartless.
I'm trying very hard to understand your point of view but the more I think about it the more I realize that you are an idiot. You should know that before you critisize something, you should know something about it or at least research it. (Two things you obviously didn't do.)
The problem is that you fail to realize that DCS was only helping Syria and its people. The mojority of DCS students were going to ultimatly do something which will benefit their country and in the end benefit you.
And let me tell you something. Even though only the richer families in Syria could afford such a school, it doesn't mean that they are ignorent or don't know what is going on around them. I promise you that they know more about Syria and the outside world more than your little brain could ever imagine.
But lets face it, the reason you hate our school and resent it so much is not because it is not good or that it is creating "little americans", it is because it is the best and you couldn't reach it. It is human nature: When you cannot reach something that is way above your level, you break it down until it reaches yours.
But I am giving you my word that DCS and the people in it will never go that far down and reach your level.
I would just like to start out with: SHAME ON YOU. You have stated numerous false and completely pathetic facts. Clearly you did not research anything about Damascus Community School and all it stands for. The US History topic you so idiotically presented is not mandatory and is optional which, if you didn't realize, is even offered at the University of Damascus, should that university be put to shame as well? Also, we are not Little Americans we are always referred to and taught as World Class Citizens meaning we are taught as everyone should be, to think for the common good of everyone which I must say is a tactic you greatly lack. You say that DCS is full of people who are so rich to a point where their wealth makes no sense, well, these people who enroll their kids are people who worked hard as everyone else in the world to get to where they were so please do not criticize people you envy just because you did not strive and take the extreme measures that all these wealthy and thankful people took to get to where they are. I would also like to inform you that all DCS students and parents of students know how lucky they are to receive such a superior education, one that not only helps them for their educational path that is yet to be continued, but one that makes students want to learn more, help more, do more, it is an education that leaves students to try their best to do all they can for their surroundings and their community. You talk as if DCS has never served Syria. Well, I'd love to point out as everyone else did that it has joined hand in hand to help many of Syria's orphans, poor and needy, elderly, and handicapped people. Something you should also know is that last year DCS members tried very hard to get Syria to be a part of Habitat for Humanity, an organization which allows foreign countries (not just the US or Europe) to raise money to build homes for those in need in Syria or any other country which has this organization yet, the proposal was denied and it was something everyone was looking forward to because DCSers thought "Why only help foreign countries when we can help our own?" And do not dare talk about our Patriotism when clearly you have none for this country, and the blog you posted is only out of jealousy and hate. Patriotism is not something you can learn it is something that grows in you and I assure you it is something that grew immensely day by day, event after event, in DCS. During the elections for example, DCS students, not only Syrians, wore shirts and buttons to support our President. During the international fair as well, students hold the Syrian flag with pride no matter what their nationality is. Also, all DCS students are just as aware if not more, as any citizen about the events in the world whether in Syria or any other country. DCS even provides a program, MUN, where students act as UN officials and have a meeting with innumerable schools around the world to talk about international issues and find solutions for them. Also, don't dare think that people, especially the staff of DCS doesn’t have respect for Syria or it's people or its government, etc. The foreign staff comes every year despite any harm they may face or anything they are leaving behind just to teach us and to make something out of us that will come back and help the country we live in, Syria. The foreign staff was devastated and hurt when the closure happened and many did not want to leave and wanted to come back that is because DCS, our FAMILY and HOME was full of love for everyone and everything and its country. I also wanted to mention that you write with such good English and I'm quite sure that isn't something you just learned off the back of your hand, it required, as every other language, foreign work. Oh, and just by the way, I realized that you have deleted a few posts well I just think its common knowledge to never take on something you can't handle. You posted this disgusting blog post so take on the consequences and what people are going to say because you deserve every bad comment and every thought of hate and disgust YOU and your blog post receive. I hope you are well educated and if you are not I don't think any DCS student, parent, or DCS support would mind helping you get the facts straight and open up that closed mind of yours.
I'm sorry you cant afford getting into such a good school. you know its normal, some people are wealthy and educated, others are not. i want to make sure that you understand how much i DONT agree with you. you just makes a fool out of urself and no1 is even agreeing with u HAHA it is very funny actually. btw as a dcser, i know how good our education system is. and FYI, we learn about history ALL AROUND THE WORLD, not only us. we learned about ISLAM! THAT SHOULD MAKE U HAPPY AND LOVE OUR SCHOOL RIGHT? and we learned about all countries. atleast, the history education we're getting isnt only about syria like all of those public schools. so before you talk about how big the walls surrounding our school are , why dont u look at the paki school. im sure u've heard about the smoking and drug use in school. they also get alcohol. theres no respect between teachers and studentsl. and in many public schools, teachers HIT the students, so tell me now, why is your concern only around DCS? are you that jealous? cant u see that u have the only different opinion which is WONG, and no1 agrees with you. go write about the violence in other schools. btw they also learn about the history of pakistan in the pakistani school.. WHAT DO U THINK huh? i think you have no answer, and we dcser have just shut you up. im so sorry hun if you cant afford dcs, WELL GET USED TO IT, some ppl live good lives and some dont. too bad..and i dare u to reply after u've seen how much of a fool u've made of ur self haha too bad..BYE
hi , whoever you are.
first my name is Mauro , i`ve studied in DCS for 2 years and i`ve received a great education. a bit structured , but with great flexibility in organizations and extra curricular activites that we had. but there existed no pressure of any kind either from teachers and mates. it was the happpiest environment i`ve ever seen,and i`ve been studying in ACS cobham in london which is the number 1 american community school in the world and let me tell you,even if everything in their agenda and organization is meant to make you believe that the american way is right, all the kids that grew up with that education believed or incorporated what they thought was right or good or whatever. there was no `brainwashing of any kind´.
such a thing doesn`t exist if you are not week minded or have patriotic, nationalist, capitalist,jewish-zionist, US citizen beliEFS.
second: there`s no wall in dcs covering anything or separating the rich from the `poor´ or any racist response or behaviour of any kind. that`s bullshit.
i don`t like americans but that wall never existed. it´s not a symbol of anything. all the schools in the world are institutions that have walls,gates , barriers and doors that separate a school from any other construction.
then, the children that go to american comm. schools are not all
rich. i'm not , my father is not and for all i know from my friends in dcs with which i´m still in touch with are not rich.
4. everybody in the world has the right to receive the education they fucking want. american, syrian, taliban, african, cuban, north korean, iranian, afghan, pakistani, russian , panamenean, lebanese, palestinian, etc.......
all the countries that USA FEARS:
THAT IS ALL THE WORLD.
5.DCS WAS VERY SPECIAL. THERE WAS AN AMAZING SCENCE OF FREEDOM I NEVER HAD AGAIN . NOT EVEN IN ACS IN ENGLAND. THIS SCHOOL SHOULD HAVE NEVER CLOSED. IT IS STUPID
FOR SYRIAN PRESIDENT TO BELIEVE THAT THIS SCHOOL IS A THREAT FOR THEIR CHILDRENS EDUCATION OR PATRIOTISM.
``LITTLE AMERICANS MY ASS´´
THE ONLY ONES THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE ARE THE ONES WITH NO FEAR OR HATE TOWARDS ANY PERSON THAT BELIEVES DIFFERENTLY, HAS DIFFERENT CUSTOMS, HABITS, RELIGIONS, ETC...
ALL OF THAT PREVAILED IN DCS THROUGHOUT ITS EXISTENCE.
THAT`S THE FINEST EDUCATION ONE CAN EVER HAVE ,ASIDE THE DIFFERENT SUBJECTS ALREADY ESTABLISHED.
ANYWAYS, USA IS MAKING THE BIGGEST EFFORT TO IMPOSE FEAR AND HATRED AMONGST ALL NATIONS ,EVEN THEMSELVES , SINCE IT IS OF COURSE THEIR NATURE. THEY ARE BORN WITH GUNS UNDER THEIR PILLOWS TO PROTECT AN INVISIBLE ENEMY. THEY ARE RULED BY IMPERIALISTS, GENOCIDIC GOV, DICTATORS, THEY ARE ALL SOLDIERS WILLING TO KILL ANYBODY WHO THINKS DIFFERENT. UNFORTUNATELY THAT´S THE EDUCATION THEY GET, BUT NO ALWAYS FROM THEIR SCHOOLS BUT FROM THE POLITICIANS AND MEDIA . THEY PUMP THEM WITH FEAR AND HATE AND TOO MUCH DRUGS AND ALCOHOL AND ALL KINDS OF ENTERTAINMENT TO KEEP THEIR MINDS IGNORANT AND BUSY AWAY FROM THE
GOVERNMENTS PLANS.
ALL OF THIS IS GOING TO END OF COURSE.
FUCK USA, ISRAEL, THE IMF AND THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK.
DON`T BE BLIND.
take my position for example, im half syrian and half bulgarian and studied in the united states ffrom the 6th grade up until the 11th grade. when i moved to the united states, i enrolled in a regular american public school and spoke absolutely no english. i was accepted and helped by many. yes, there are racists,(like some of the people on here) that decided to be unaccepting, but i ignored them like any person in their right mind would do. now, im back in damascus syria, and still have my 12th grade year to finish. i was told by many that the american school was going to reopen. bc, if ANY of you guys know, syrian education is VERY different from any other education. education is the most serious thing they have in their lives here. more than any other place in the world that ive been to. ive been recently told that the act of possibly reopnening the american school has been denied again. so, im used to an american, regular easy education and would NEVER in a MILLION years survive in a regular school here in damascus syria. WHAT AM I TO DO. i am not american, i'm part syrian, i should be able to hold up in a regular syrian school, but i can't due to my father's job. NOT MY FUCKING FAULT.
so tell me you racist pieces of shits, who like to assume things. put yourself in my position, in a regular american's position, who's never received a foreign education before in his or her's life who's being told that well, IM SORRY, we dont agree with the united states SO. were fucking putting your futures at stake.
how would you fucking feel, if possibly a student that would have graduated from this american school turned out to be a fantastic doctor, who i dont know maybe saved one of your family members life, your life? WHAT IF, one of those students turned out to be a great politian and decided to run for president and fixed all of bush's mistakes. (my opinion on bush's presidency, i really DONT want to get into a debate about bush so nobody please bring this subject up) WHAT IF?
so dumb cunts, think about others before you run your mouths about shit you probably dont know anything about. think, before you speak. or better yet, but yourself in our shoes, americans, foreigners, and possibly syrians like me who IDK, want a fucking education.
no matter what kind of education is possibly offered at this school, good or bad, and decent smart human being should be able to tell whats wrong from right. many people dont agree with many things about history, ways of teachings. what you name as brainwashing, i call it education where you use your fucking mind to decided whether or not to actually believe some of the stuff. nobody always agrees with everything that life throws at us, thats what makes us individuals.
thats all i have to say. peace. and excuse my french :)
Um, Maysaloon. You didn't even care to comment back because you have no rebuttle whatsoever to what DCSer and DCS forever said. I'd just like to see what you would say back. :)
Salud!
The idiot that wrote this article must be an ignorant. I can not believe you called the kids (most of them arabs)"little americans". I'm sure you are a religious bastard that uses Islam above all things, even your own life. You fool!! to say such things about innocent kids. I lived in Damascus for 2 years and I went to DCS. I have great memories and I tell you again, most of those kids were arabs!!! But, you really make me mad when you call the yankees "Americans". I am from Argentina. It is also in America in case you didn't know. There fore I am American you asshole!! Fuck you and your ignorance!! Fuck religion!!! Fuck USA for making up wars all over the planet!!!
Fuck the monetary system!!!
Fuck capitalism!!!
But most of all, fuck you for being so stupid!!!
NI DIOS
NI PATRIA
NI AMO
VIVA LA ANARQUIA!!!
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