Do you know all the teachers of the Mother school?

“Of course, I do! What an amazing question!” you will grin. But do you know who the most interesting person of all them is? Look, you frowned!

But we… we know.

Where from? I’ll tell you right away. “We” (Menk), let’s say were thirsty for getting the answer to that question and to quench our thirst through a small sociological survey we found out that the most interesting person of the complex, according to the teachers, is Ashot Bleyan. And the most interesting and surprising thing was that Mr. Bleyan considered himself to be the most interesting person of the complex. That was why “Menk” had a small, but an interesting interview with the interesting person.

It’s pleasant to feel, that I don’t get spent up.

An interview with Ashot Bleyan

“During the school sociological survey you called yourself an interesting person. As for you, what are you interesting with?”

“Every man is a model of space, a small micro space. I think so. By the way, the statement of this micro space is very interesting for me. For example, I look into myself with great interest all the time, finding my inner powers, interesting qualities not used yet. It’s pleasant to feel myself not to be finished, spent up. It’s very interesting for me to recognize my space. In this way I also recognize the people around me, the environment, the world.”  

“Is there a pedagogue of whom you’re envious?”

 “Yes, many. In this regard, by the way, the indifference of the republic towards the Educomplex annoys me; Our methodist-pedagogues can be mentor-teachers. For example, our Russian teacher Irina Baghdassaryan! What a teacher she is! She is such an expert of literature and so artistic. Such a teacher may not even exist in the schools of the republic. We have a dozen of teachers like her.”

“Where do you feel better: in the information centre, in your study, in the Parliament or somewhere else?”

 “Most of all I feel safe in the places which are well taken care of, where care is taken of both the environment and human relationships. Therefore I feel very well in the Mother School because the environment refinement is better here.

There are, of course, more pleasant sections in the Mother School as well. I like my study very much. The publishing house with its information center is the most perspective section which attracts my attention most of all. Let’s recall Harutyun Mansuryan after 20 years. Our next step of progress is connected with this section. It is the creation of the routine of communication environment. People will be able to communicate freely, to exchange thoughts and ideas.”

“How do you imagine yourself being without us?”

“Well, I try not to be bound up to anybody. I try not to be bound up to people and art.

There are teachers who get bound up to children and each time parting with each other is a tragedy. When you speak to a person, communicate with him, you place him in your space, in your micro world. And even if he is not beside you, he is in your micro world and you always have to meet him. You think about what and how he would say, how he would tackle this or that question. In the same way I treat all the people so that I wouldn’t have to part with them.”

 “Everybody loves you at school. Isn’t your wife jealous?”

“It is difficult for my wife. But I don’t tolerate any form of violence towards my personality: neither from my children nor from my wife. I don’t violate my wife’s mode of life, her personality. She lives a life which she considers to be right. And I will not tolerate her violence towards my personality. I can’t stand falsehood and violance. It is difficult for her but I can’t change my mode of life in order not to harm her. I should confess that it is very difficult to feel that you are causing a harm to a person who is very important to you. And Hovhannes Tumanyan was right to say that a woman’s role in a man’s life is very important.”

“What happy moment are you looking forward to?”

“I am constantly living every minute, every day. That is life for me, an everyday life.”

“How do you imagine being in the role of «Grandfather Bleyan?”

“I have become a father in the course of time and I will be a grandfather in the course of time. I don’t think I will be troubled seriously.”

“What would you do if all the children of the Educomplex suddenly became angels?”

“I would become an archangel. My position is self-determined, isn’t it?”

“Which animal would you resemble yourself?”

“The dog. Once I was resembled the dog for its olfactory and faithfulness… I mean faithfulness to principles, progress. In other words I am like a dog that keeps lasting values.”

“What would you become if the school were a jail: a jailer or a prisoner?”

“Of course the jailer. I would be the chief in any case.”

“Do you always want to govern?”

“Why not? Management is art and it demands big abilities. Management is science and art. One of the thinkers, though, said that it is also a curse, a great violence towards your personality.”

“What do you most of all laugh at?”

“Most of all I laugh at people who laugh. I am admired by people’s laughter.”

“Which is your most favourite dish?”

“My favourite dish is dolma, for dessert I like pakhlava and grapes.”

“As for you, what kind of a director are you?”

“Astonishing…”

The interview was taken by Rafael, Hrair, Suren, Misak and Gagik.

“Milky Way” and “We 5” 1.06.1994