Since a long time ago, with the opening of modern schools in Iran, gradually the month of Mehr has established its place for the official start of schools and classes (of course, with turning a blind eye to some specific incidents and important events in the country). But now, for two years, with the ruthless invasion of the coronavirus and its continuous mutations, the month of Mehr has refrained from its kind smile and open arms for eager learners and climbers. The widespread destruction of this virus has forced the country’s officials and decision-makers to keep the doors of official educational institutions closed in order to protect the lives of people until the anger of this century’s giant is appeased.

A method became prevalent in the world and countries adopted it to reduce the spread of the dreadful disease by quarantining and adhering to social gatherings and regulations, and by vaccinating their citizens – both young and old – to defeat and eliminate this great monster of time, death. In the face of this pandemic, all countries should responsibly share and participate in the global effort (although Iran has not paid enough attention to even the minimum of this humanitarian duty so far; and the continuation of this painful statement is clear and evident to all aware and conscious citizens).

With this extra statement, it can be said that despite all the crazy mutations, like other disruptive phenomena of human life, eventually, with the powerful hands of today’s human beings, the coronavirus – this too – will disappear and cease to exist; just as previous diseases have been eradicated from the path of human progress towards the knowledge of their time.

But what we remember from the experience of history is that the opposing forces of existence, namely “good and evil”, disease and health, happiness and unhappiness, peace and worry, and countless other dualities, are constantly involved in a transaction and debate, and are the driving force of the flow of history. None of them can completely eradicate the other. Although the phenomena of “good and evil” constantly change their positions and coordinates in the passage of time, and each one in its own continuity never hesitates or delays.

Coronavirus and education at student levels

Human knowledge and achievements, for conscious humans today, at the very least carry this great message on their broad forehead: that pains, sufferings, failures and defeats, calamities and injustices of the times can be cured and remedied through the help of knowledge and the efforts of experts in their field. As we have seen, diseases such as tuberculosis, smallpox, plague, and other physical and mental illnesses, as well as all human obstacles and problems, gradually diminished and even reached a negligible or zero state, thanks to their ruthless attack on their unknown selves. However, as mentioned before, in the course of existence – and in the course of life – the form and type of diseases and obstacles also change; and naturally, the engineering of life in its essence constantly seeks to cure and remove its own obstacles. Therefore, this action of evil and reaction of good – or vice versa – is constantly in conflict in the essence of history. For this reason, history is always considered as a

If this is the case – that based on signs and analysis, the certainty of life is the same – then the dynamic education system or modern and effective education and training in a country that is growing, what responsibilities should it take on so that the country can overcome its problems and obstacles, and rise above its illnesses and diseases in its process of progress?

It is better to first delve into the common perspectives of philosophers on education and upbringing in order to answer this question. Despite the difficulty of expressing the heavy weight and practical application of these two keywords, it can be said that “education” is the process of facilitating the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and values. Its four methods are teaching, practical training, storytelling, and dialogue and research. In general, any experience that influences an individual’s way of thinking, feeling, or functioning can be considered a form of education. However, “upbringing” refers to a regular and continuous process or flow whose goal is to guide physical and mental growth, or in general, to guide the all-around development of the character of those being nurtured towards acquiring and understanding human values and accepted norms of society, as well as helping to develop the talents of those being nurtured. In short, with this perspective, the main goal of all educational institutions is to nurture individuals towards developing the talents of society in which

Coronavirus and reopening of schools

With the reopening of schools and considering the above statements regarding the destructive coronavirus, what important tasks should the country’s “Ministry of Education” now take on?

Given the limitations of media pages, I am forced to express this section very briefly but clearly and transparently – based on the above statements. What is very necessary is that now that COVID-19 is responsible for the country’s highest death toll and has become a cause of sorrow and suffering for the masses, the most scientific method must be used to control it so that the dynamic goals of education and upbringing can be achieved and its difference from static education and upbringing (based on the meanings of education and upbringing, it can be said: Iran now) can be completely distinguished. It should be noted that COVID-19 sometimes kills an Iranian every two minutes during some peaks, and this one person is not the only one who suffers. This is another excruciating pain or can create even bigger problems.

In addition to administering the general vaccine according to global health standards, relevant educational books in simple language should address the topic of coronavirus and education should arm itself with the most essential needs against this disease. It can be said that the health of the students of the country means the health of the majority of the people and the society in which we live. Therefore, from every perspective, this necessity – namely, valid universal vaccination and educating students in schools – is strongly felt and inevitable.

Of course, dynamic content is not just about Corona; it can be said that many of our current textbooks are not up to date and with the definition of dynamic education and upbringing, there is a gap between the generations and this causes severe psychological and emotional damage, the most destructive and continuous blows to society, and its output statistics have become evident to everyone. The increasing prevalence of addiction, divorce, depression, violence, embezzlement, lack of kindness and forgiveness, family breakdowns, suicides, and street fights, whose interpretation remains in another realm, are among these outputs.

At the end, I would like to pay my respects to the founder of modern elementary schools in Iran, Mirza Hassan Roshdieh. In his will, he had said: “Bury me in a place where every day the students of modern schools pass by my grave!”

Given our understanding of the role of Islamic thinking today, it is up to all educated individuals and teachers in Iran to pay tribute to Mirza Hassan Roshdieh’s deep perspective at the beginning of this new academic year. We, who were involved in establishing the Roshdieh elementary school in Tabriz and later faced numerous obstacles and opposition from many individuals throughout Iran, have truly endured the hardships in creating these types of schools. It is thanks to him that such schools have now taken on a formal shape with modern teachings; otherwise, we would still be in madrasas and traditional schools!

Note:

The author of this article is a writer of educational books and instructional aids with over three decades of experience in the educational field of the country.