Meet the Lebanese Professor Recognized as the Most Influential in Ireland
Wissam Abdulsamad, a distinguished Lebanese professor at St Fintan's High School in the Irish capital of Dublin, has made it to the top list of the most influential professors in Ireland. His educational influence has even crossed the borders with his award-winning project that has been impacting the literacy levels of street children in Zambia.
Son of the Lebanese village of Amatour in the Shouf mountain, this distinguished down-to-earth professor is one of the ten immigrant professors who entered the educational system in Ireland.
However, unlike his peers, he focuses on the freedom of the students "to be" in blooming their inherent genius disposition.
Via Karl Kitching
When asked what he teaches, he replies: "I teach science, math, and freedom." And when we asked him if he has a message to convey to The961's readers, here is what he told us:
"The message I would like to convey would be the importance of 'renovating' the Lebanese curriculum and the Lebanese teaching methodology to equip the students with the skills needed to face the world and change it."
Teaching freedom and world-facing skills are more than theoretical for Professor Abdulsamad. In fact, we found his application so interesting that we decided to highlight his constructive and influential methods that brought Ireland to recognize him as the most influential professor nationwide.
Mr. Wissam teaches Secondary School Students, aged 12 to 18, Dialogue, Communication, Interaction, Social Justice, and Critical Sense away from oppression and indoctrination.
Via Bchoufk
His relationship with his students is that of a mentor, breaking the all-time known traditional barrier to reconstruct and nurture a student-teacher power connection that favors significantly the development of his pupils.
Another distinctive approach of his is to promote in these young minds constructive criticism that qualifies them to study any idea and analyze any topic. The students learn hence to think by their own instead of being taught what to think. It is a method of Critical Pedagogy.
That approach goes hand in hand with the freedom "to be" he affords his students in the classroom; freedom to express themselves, to share with their classmates during the explanation of topics, to leave the classroom without permission, and to do whatever they want, even to stand on the table!
Mr. Wissam treats his students with the same human respect he gives to all other people outside the school. He sees no use to impose his power of teacher-authority on them nor does he punish them.
They can speak with him as the mentor who deems them not inferior to him. In that, he is nurturing in them a strong sense of self-value, which is critical to one's thriving journey in life.
Via Bchoufk
Interesting enough, professor Wissam does not prepare his lessons in advance nor does he give his students homework to take home!
"This is not absolute freedom, but it is a responsibility that the student takes to bear, which makes him responsible for his own actions," Abdul Samad told Lebanese website Bchoufk
Via Alaraby
Despite this unprecedented educational freedom, Abdul Samad says that his students are very disciplined and he doesn't need to give a remark to anyone. If there is any chaos, the students take charge of calming each other.
The only red line he does not accept to be crossed is insulting the professor. In those very rare occasions, he asks the student to leave the classroom to reflect on the futility of his misbehavior to then discuss it together with the teacher.
Via Bchoufk
We can't but wonder if the most amazing with Mr. Wissam is that he deems every student a genius who simply needs to awaken with proper guidance. He has taken it upon himself to do it with every one of his pupils.