Playing is Learning
The Syrian Protestant College (SPC)
October 11th, 2016
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Welcome to the World of PROFESsee™by seeCOSM™ PROFESsee™ is my title. I am the perpetual learner, in pursuit of knowledge, wisdom and truth. I derived my name from professor |
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Despite increased suspicion over the agenda of the American university of Beirut and America in particular in recent years, the university formerly known as The Syrian Protestant University has been hugely successful, especially the period between 1866 and 1948. This period, anchored by two families: The Blisses and the Dodges. The president’s post of the university has been held cumulatively by either family for 81 years. Here’s a brief story about how two families (four generations) help shape AUB into the cynosure of education in the Middle East; bringing with it, American culture and values. In the beginning was a missionary – Reverend Daniel Bliss – on a mission, and a wealthy businessman – William E. Dodge whose paths collided to build a great institution. Daniel Bliss provided the leadership and vision, while William Dodge provided the funds. One of the reasons for outsourcing funds was because of the clear intentions stated by the committee that approved Daniel Bliss' appointment. In their response, they stated that, “…such a school should not be supported by ordinary mission funds, but have its own independent endowment and board of trustees.” (The Syrian Protestant College: http://www.arabicbible.com/for-christians/the-bible/148-fifty-three-years-in-syria/1458-the-syrian-protestant-college.html) Perhaps the most important Dodge family member in this story is Reverend D. Stuart Dodge. He wasn’t the wealthy businessman, but his passion for missions and his personal wish to become a missionary in Syria made him an advocate of the university, both within his family and everywhere else – the pulpit and the press. The early days of the college were fraught with challenges like getting an apartment and securing teachers for key departments. As at the day of opening on the 3rd of December 1866, the university had only 16 students, the president and three teachers including Reverend Daniel Bliss and Reverend Stuart Dodge in a rented apartment. Its first building was laid on December 7, 1871, by you guessed who, Honorable William E. Dodge. The language of instruction at the start of the school was Arabic before it was changed to English in 1980 for the collegiate departments, and in 1987 for the medical departments. The reason for adopting Arabic early on was to avoid “denationalizing” the natives by not shifting focus away from their own native language. While other people and families have also contributed to AUB's growth, there’s no doubt that the Blisses and the Dodges played a more prominent role in creating and fostering this great institution. Can you Identify the key elements in the founding of the SPC? Image courtesy of: http://aub.edu.lb.libguides.com/c.php?g=431715&p=2944882 |
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