Tehran – Samine Baghchiban, a well-known Iranian educator, passed away in Tehran on September 17th at the age of 97.
The funeral of Samine Baghchiban, a writer and pioneer of children in the deaf education, was managed by many former students at Baghcheban School for the deaf on Friday, September 19th, after his father, Jabbar Baghban died in 1966.
When she died, the Minister of Education issued a message of sadness. “Late Baghcheban, who, like her respected father, had tireless efforts, a love for knowledge and education, was the leadership light for past and future generations,” Alileza Kazemi said.
“She left behind a secular and spiritual contribution that she has always had ineffable, not only in the field of education for the deaf, but also in all aspects of the learning and development of children and adolescents,” he added.
“In addition to her educational activities, the late Baghchiban is a valuable and inspiring role model for teachers and educators, constantly highlighting the importance of love to raise learning and student awareness,” the minister said.
“Her positive and hopeful spirit, her efforts to overcome challenges and problems, integrity, courage and the promotion of human values were one of the special characteristics of this prominent woman,” Kazemi pointed out.
Samineh Baghcheban was more than just a teacher. She was a cultural pioneer. Her leadership, education, writing, translation, and involvement in establishing an institution for the deaf is all testament to her brilliance, perseverance and commitment. She has proven that children’s literature is not merely for entertainment, but a tool for the cultural and social development of future generations. She is a role model for women who want to play an active role in social and cultural fields.
Her famous father, Mirza Jabal Asgarzadeh, is known as Jabar Baghcheban, founded the first Iranian kindergarten and first school for deaf people in Tabriz. He was also the inventor of Persian cues.
The first kindergarten he founded was called “Bagshe Atfal”. This means “children’s garden.” That’s why he was given the nickname for Bugcheban, which literally means “gardener” in Persian.
He founded a school for the Deaf in 1924, next to the kindergarten. In 1928 he wrote the first book for Iranian children in Persian. This is the title “Bababalfi,” which means “father of snow” in Persia.
Jabbar Baghcheban founded a school for deaf children, and then her daughter Samineh took over the school’s leadership and served until 1979.
Samineh Baghchehban was born in Tabriz, northwest of Iran. She received her bachelor’s degree from Teachers College in Tehran and was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship to continue her research in the United States. She received her master’s degree from Smith College in 1953, and a scholarship for Middle Eastern students was founded in the name of the deaf from Clarks School in Northampton, Massachusetts.
She has developed a Baghcheban method of teaching over 60 years of life, training teachers, teaching Persian to both Iranians and non-Iranians, writing primary school textbooks used throughout Iran, and writing books for children for both hearing and hearing children.
Her publications include numerous textbooks, professional papers and articles in Iranian magazines. She also translated several books from English to Persian.
SS/SAB