Teaching & Educational
Leadership of the great
Teacher of Teachers Ari
The teaching and educational leadership skills
and qualities of a great teacher of teachers, the
late Orhan Seyfi Ari changed a philosophy and
a history of education -here is how. Motivation
and teaching skills that succeeded and tributes
"He did not become a teacher,
he was born a teacher."
(Dogrudan -Kibris 5 Feb 1999)
Great teachers inspire. Teacher Orhan Seyfi Ari was one of the great teachers who inspired a nation. Pupils, parents, teachers, all loved him. In prose and poetry they hailed this teacher's teaching and educational leadership. Pupils carried flowers laid by former students on his tomb, epitaphed 'Teacher of Teachers'. To honour his mark on their teaching philosophy of education and history of education people named streets after this great teacher of teachers.
Teacher Ari's teaching and educational leadership, "...Such nice things I had heard of him... And these are only some of them" (Fedai -Halkin Sesi 27 Dec. 1992). Teacher Ari cared: "His concern -so sincere! " (Metiner -Birlik 29 Jan. 1993 [poem]). In this teacher of teachers' philosophy of education and teaching honesty was part of educational leadership -it helped ensure this great teacher's place in his nation's history of education and teaching.
Teacher Orhan Ari, always wore a smile: "Ari's voice filled the room.. full of wit..." (Dogrusoz -Kibris 5 Feb. 1999). This great teacher of teachers motivational teaching skills kept pupils interested by involving in discussions also the quiet and shy; witty and approachable, he enjoyed teaching and general popularity: "...He enjoyed high regard..." (Kitromilides, 'Images from My Life' -Nicholas press, London 2002). Educational leadership skills and his teaching philosophy of education involved student-teacher co-operation, trust; it contributed to this great teacher's mark on his people's history of education and teaching.
Teacher Ari's motivational teaching skills and educational leadership qualities involved appreciating social aspirations, parents'-students' psychology. This great teacher influenced philosophy of education and teaching of a nation in whose educational history education was unpopular, with his educational leadership skills and teaching. Teacher Orhan Ari's educational leadership never scorned cultural values; communally discussed betterment respectful of social attitudes, extrinsic-intrinsic aspirations. At parent teacher dealings he informed of pupils achievements, praiseworthy deeds; in student teacher relations, with frank discussion he approached school student discipline -preventively not punitively; he understood pupils -as in a poem of the great teacher of teachers Orhan Ari: "Sometimes such fools we were, sometimes smart kids… Sometimes Satan's tools, sometimes with saintly deeds."
(Born 12 December 1918 in Lapithiou, Paphos, Cyprus, Orhan Seyfi Ari after the Teacher Training College also studied agriculture. He was teacher, 1941-1979, with teaching appointments as elementary and secondary teacher and head teacher; he taught, mostly, English. He was a great teacher of the people too, was loved also for popularising education with his late wife Suzan Ari, and [columnist-poet-thinker] as a fearless defender of freedoms. Regard for teacher Ari and his cultural and educational leadership qualities extended beyond Cyprus; he was invited to cultural discussions in the UK and in retirement to visit schools in Australia. He passed away peacefully 17 December 1992.)
The teacher of teachers Ari "was a luminary to teachers" (Cemal -Halkin Sesi 27 Dec. 1992). Teacher Orhan Ari's mark on Cypriot history of education isn't small. The great teacher's teaching philosophy of education reflected his verses: "'I was an ape' you say, or 'amphibian'.. And now?! Are you not, now, 'man'!?", and, "Never a thinker expires.. Who in others thinking inspires."
To teacher Orhan Ari teaching was more than a profession, also service to society. Tells of the great teacher's "Such services!" a book ('Akincilar [Luricina] Turkleri'nin Yuzyillik Varolus Mucadelesi -Bir Kahramanlik Belgesi', Yucelen -Ates Matbaacilik, Nicosia 2006), from teacher Ari quoting his successful educational leadership and motivation another by the Ministry of Education and Culture ('Batmayan Egitim Guneslerimiz [Kibris Türk Egitimi Hakkinda Bir Arastirma]', Nesim -Milli Egitim ve Kültür Bakanligi Yayinlari, Lefkosa 1987). This great teacher's educational leadership included non-school education: "'We came across this teacher Ari.. so, I was able to complete my apprenticeship.'" (Tezel -Halkin Sesi 9 May 2004 ). A presentation by a Lycee he never taught at reads: "To commemorate unforgettable services rendered."
Pupils loved this great Teacher of Teachers: "We had a teacher.. Ari.. There was teaching." (Dasci -Birlesik Kibris 19 Sept. 2003); because he loved them: "Look what our teacher Orhan Seyfi Ari has said: '...my spiritual reward.. my beloved children -my pupils.. achieved success'." (Guvenir -Halkin Sesi 27 Nov. 2004).
When the great teacher Orhan Seyfi Ari passed away, a road was named after him in Loudrijina, an avenue in Lisi, a street in Nicosia. In teacher tributes condolences were also to his nation. He was loved by teachers and students who also wrote fondly of teacher Ari, his teaching and educational leadership.
In teacher tributes to Orhan Seyfi Ari they wrote: "sometimes a school is one man, one man a school"; and, "… the universe was you!". This Teacher's teaching and educational leadership continue to inspire. This great teacher loved people and pupils, and they loved him back; a leader of Parliament TRNC wrote: "We shall always remember him with respect and love."