Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-02
American Lies Impression. on
A Visiting Boy from Syria.
BY Khalil Totah A. NJ.

BY Khali Totah A. NJ.
Perhaps the impressions of America
on a peasant Boy born not over fifteen
miles from The spot where Jesus him.
self was born. might. interest the aver
age American. One who has visited
Bethlehem. Jerusalem and Nazareth ON
n donkey, is in n position to tell an in
teresting story to those who frequent
Bunker Hill. Concord and Lexington
by auto or trolley 1t is quite a change
from Palestinian grapes to Maine APP
pies and Syrian lentils TO Boston bak-
ed-beans. In academic life the con-
trast is fully as striking between the
oppressive spirit of Eastern schools
and the healthy, free atmosphere of
American Institutions.
In America, school life impresses me
MS vigorous and stimulating. 1t is
free--too free for one who has Just
come from the orient. The unrestrain-
ed hiternringiing OF. the sexes. at first,
bothered me: the natural and uneere-
monious relations of teacher and stu
dent We're also very novel. In SYRIAN
schools, the whole class stands. as the
teacher enters the room: the American
student is sometimes seen stretching
his legs ON the chair in front OF him,
while he recites. American students
know little of how much Difference and
. respect teachers in the other parts of
the world exact from their pupils In
SYRIA and even in Europe he is mas
ter. People. here, don't know how it
strikes a foreigner when they speak
of Il. teacher as '.she.'' AT first. ! could
not get reconciled as l did not know
of the overwhelming per cent. of wo
men teachers in .the schools of this
country,
The teachers authority is not rec
ognized as much as it might, by either
pupil or parent. Pupils in American
schools answer back much more freely
than they 10 in Syria. OF course, it
may be said that it is this that de-
yelops the spirit Of originality and in
dependence in American children, to
have them think for themselves, sass
the teacher and depend on her as
little as possible. American teachers
have their faults. but as rule, they
are fair, honest, conscientious ana
straight forward. Like most Ameri-
cans. ,1hay are exceedingly provincial.
They are interested in their OWE little
corner American history, for in
stance. seems to them about the only
history They know enormously little
about world movements and many
make no serious efforts to improve. 1t
is different in SYRIA. Any student
over there that is worthy of the name
could talk fairly intelligently about
George Washington the Civil War, |
Nelson, Peter the Great and Napoleon
Bcnaparte.
Students Good Fellows.
As 10 the american student, he may
be accused of Being a good fellow. In
fact, n durn good fellow is all YOU
can say about him. He is full of life,
joviai. quick. independent, good
tnred. athletic. soeiabie and irreverent.
He is not a snob. He is ever ready TO
poke I'm al levervbody. everywhere. \
respeeter. OF persons? Not muchi
American students are up for good
time at almost all occasions. They
nickname everybody-from the ianitor
10 the president Their pranks are not
restricted To the class room, but they
extend To the chapel. That these are
normal and whole some activities. il is
agreed but there is no doubt but what
they arr carried too far. American
students lack seriousness, poise and
sobrieiy. Their lively spirits need a
little regulation and toning down.
Both high school and college stu
dents impress me as conspicuously
deficient in general knowledge. Ii
is amazing how little they know about
their own country, To say nothing
about world affairs. A college stu
dent once couldn't tell me how many
senator's each state had in the I. ;.
Senate. When | first came here, ]
asked dozens and dozens of questions
about American institutions and time
upon time could not get an answer
Perhaps was asking too much when
/ wanted to Know how they made
Presidents. what Halloween meant
aside from the pumpkin lanterns. etc.
Most of them could talk with author
ity on the Giants and Red Sox' but
when II came to more substantial m
formation they were lamentably short.
In this country. students know very
little about The Bible. Their ignorance
OF the mos; common Biblical stories is
really distressing in G so-called Chris
tian land. At the same time, | car
honestly testify that in spite of theif
ignorance OF Biblical matter, they are
"A Wholesome set. They are just a.
honest helpins and good hearted as
many students IN Syria whom ! know
to be able to quote the Bible with no
embarrassment whatever. This might