Classical school of the medes

The Classical School of the Medes (CSM) is a private, Christian, English-based network of schools operating in the secure Kurdish region of Northern Iraq. Because the Kurds consider themselves modern-day descendants of the ancient Medes, these schools are known as the "Classical Schools of the Medes." It is the goal of CSM to equip students to positively shape the future of their families, community, and nation.

Program Background

CSM began in response to requests from local church and government authorities to establish a school with English-based curriculum and international training support as a means to bless and enrich their communities. The first CSM opened in Sulaymaniyah in January 2001 and currently enrolls approximately 10 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. A second CSM opened in Duhok in the fall of 2002 and now enrolls over 200 students (K-4). In September 2003, a third CSM campus opened in Arbil which enrolls approximately 250 students (K-2).

Students

Over 95 percent of the students come from Kurdish Muslim families, with the remainder from Orthodox, Evangelical Christian, and other backgrounds. Many students are children of local government officials and community leaders. CSM families understand the need for and appreciate an education that is both rigorous and nurturing, while CSM staff and faculty are honored to help prepare young men and women for leadership in a new Iraq.

Community Support

Parents, local officials, and community leaders are all very supportive of these schools. Government officials have even granted land and assisted with construction of new CSM school buildings in several cities.

Model of Education

CSM schools draw from the classical educational model and use English-based curriculum for most subjects; supplemental classes are taught in Kurdish and Arabic.

Program Staff

On-site American staff typically teach one or two courses per semester, with the balance of their time spent in relationships with students, their families, and community contacts. All curriculum development, international staffing, and training is coordinated through Servant Group International, a US-based non-profit Christian organization.

Curriculum

The Classical School of the Medes (CSM) seeks to equip students with age-appropriate skills, knowledge, and virtues. Curriculum draws from the classical model of education, with a strong emphasis on Language and History.

Subjects

A team of educators based in America work to design and compile program curriculum. Curriculum and supplies are shipped from America to Iraq each summer. Core subjects include:

• English, Kurdish & Arabic Language
• Literature
• Mathematics
• Science
• Humanities (emphasis on Mesopotamian history)