I am against commemorating Atatürk every November 10 with only rhetoric and tears. We spent every memorial day praising his works. We wrote many books about him, organized conferences in his name, opened exhibitions and erected his bust in every corner. Then we realized that 88 years have passed since the day we sent him off to eternity, and in this process, we have come a long way on the path of 'Contemporary Civilization' shown by Atatürk. We, who could not create new works, considered it a feat and Kemalism to sing the 'Tenth Year' anthem describing his works.
I wonder if this was real Kemalism? Wasn't it pointed out by Mustafa Kemal that we should strive for new ideas, new life and great ideals in every corner of the country?
It will be a reminder of Ataturk's ideas for "Contemporary Turkish Education", which would be the basis of the Republic of Türkiye, the establishment of which he had been planning for years, while he was fighting the war of independence in Anatolia. I leave it to you to examine today's miserable state of the education he designed and implemented. Let's start by saying "What did he say?":
“On the one hand, eliminating ignorance and, on the other hand, providing the actual knowledge necessary to make the children of the country effective and productive in social and economic life in a practical manner should constitute the basis of our education and training method.” Ataturk said the following about Turkish education in 1925:
"Could the Turkish nation, a great nation, worthy of having a respected place in the family of world civilization, tolerate dividing the education it will provide for its children into two completely different types of institutions called schools and madrasahs? Unless there is unity in education and training, wouldn't it be futile to seek the opportunity to create a nation consisting of individuals with the same idea and mentality?"
The "Education Union" realized by Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha on March 3, 1924 is the most important milestone of the enlightenment revolution that he initiated in Anatolia. While he was passing the "Education Union" law in the 5th month of the proclamation of the Republic, we tried to take revenge on 84 years ago with the Imam Hatip schools we opened after 1950. He aimed to raise not only the Turkish people but also all Islamic countries above the contemporary world level with the education he would provide. Gazi said the following in another speech he gave in 1925:
"After stating that the education that the new Turkish Republic will give to the new generation is national education, I will not dwell on the others. I will only explain the meaning I want to point out with a short example: There are more than three hundred million Muslims in the world. They receive education and morality through the education of their parents and teachers. But I regretfully say that the real thing is that all these millions of human masses are under the chains of captivity and contempt of this or that. The spiritual tendencies and morals they receive, It could not and cannot give them the human ability to break these chains of slavery. Because the goal of their education is not national, there should no longer be any confusion in knowing what national education means. Moreover, after national education becomes the basis, the necessity of making its language, method and tools national is also far from controversial. On the other hand, it is necessary to carefully avoid filling the young minds that are intended to be developed and raised by national education with corrosive, numbing and imaginary excesses.
While we opened Village Institutes and raised generations that learned education while doing business and shed light on those around them, we could not understand how much importance Gazi and his friends of the revolution gave to vocational education. We could not understand why he visited the Arts School every time he came to Izmir. If only we had understood the importance he gave to vocational education, we would not have experienced the anachronistic events we are experiencing today. Today, if we had listened to Him and made no mistakes, we would not have gathered millions of young people at the university gates. In 1928, Atatürk's goals for vocational education were as follows:
“…Our education and training efforts aim to ensure that primary education is general and compulsory, that education is united in the country, that secondary education is increased and facilitated with good tools, that vocational education is provided in the country from primary and secondary levels to the highest level, and that higher education is as valuable as it is in number and is sufficient for the needs of this century.” Another speech of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha on Art and Technical schools in 1936 is as follows:
"The demand for art and technical schools has increased. While I say this with joy, I would also like to add that it is necessary to increase all kinds of incentives." In 1923, before declaring the Republic, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha addressed the teachers he always trusted as follows:
"In order to bring our country and society to the real goal, happiness, there is a need for two armies: One is the military army that saves the life of the country, the other is the cultural army that molds the future of the nation. Both of these two armies are valuable, sublime, efficient, respectable. But which of these two armies is more valuable, which one is preferred over the other? Undoubtedly, such a choice cannot be made; both of these two armies are vitally important. Only you, members of the cultural army, can explain the value and sanctity of the army to which you are affiliated." Let me say this for you, you are members of an army that teaches the first army that dies and kills why it kills and dies.”
Let's read the words of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha, which could be the "Teaching Oath", at the Teachers' Union meeting in Ankara on August 25, 1924:
"Teachers, you will raise the new generation of self-sacrificing teachers and educators of the Republic. The new generation will be your work. The value of the work will be proportional to the degree of your expertise and sacrifice. The Republic requires guardians who are strong in thought, knowledge and body and have high character. It is in your hands to raise the new generation with this quality and talent. I have no doubt that you will devote yourself with high efforts to the fulfillment of your superior duty.
Teachers! It is important that the education and training of our boys and girls equally at all levels of education is based on the principle of work. Dormitory children should be equipped to be constructive, effective and successful in the attitudinal field at every level of education. Our national customs should be developed and strengthened with the principles of civilization and free thoughts. This is very important; I especially draw your attention. Morality based on fear is not only not a virtue, but also not reliable.
Never forget that the Republic demands from you generations with free thought, free conscience, and free wisdom.”
After the adoption of the new alphabet, Gazi made the following speech at the casino in Sarayburnu Park, Istanbul, on 8.8.1928:
"This nation is not a nation created to be ashamed; it is a nation that was created to boast, and has filled its history with boasts. But if eighty percent of the nation is illiterate, it is not our fault, it is not the fault of today's people; it is the fault of those who do not understand the character of the Turk and wrap their heads with chains. We are now in the days of eradicating the irregularities of the past. We will correct the mistakes. I expect all citizens to work in correcting the mistakes. In a year or two at the most, the entire Turkish society will have learned the new letters. Our nation will show that it is on the side of the whole world of civilization with its writings and minds.”
To those who think that by doing the opposite of what Ataturk said, they are taking revenge on the Turkish Revolutions; Let me remind you that the darkness brought by the counter-revolution first made that society a slave to the imperialist countries and then destroyed it. While he rose like a sun over Türkiye, he became a guide to all oppressed and exploited countries. Nowadays, our neighbors who are in darkness are trying to drag us into that darkness.
Have we ever thought that Kemalism should be a way of life? Ataturkists, who are aware of being good citizens, should first set an example for future generations with their contributions to the environment, nature, city and country. He must raise generations that can show the same stance of the Turkish nation in the war of independence to those who covet the underground and aboveground resources of their country.
Ataturkists; Instead of saying 'what will happen, nothing will come of this', it should first shout to the whole world that it is in favor of the nation-state. Ataturkists should always remember and implement his principle of 'Peace at Home and Peace in the World'.
Instead of saying “What He Said, What We Did”; I wish for days when we can say, "We strictly implemented what He said."
November 10, 2026
Ahmet Gurel
ADD General President Chief Advisor
