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Seasoned educator Alice Farkouh pens her memoirsPublished: Thursday, January 27, 2011, 2:30 PMBy Diane LoreSTATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - WEST BRIGHTON -The word "can't" does not exist in AliceCury Farkouh's vocabulary.After nearly half a century as an educatordedicated to her students, a mother, andnow a grandmother dedicated to herfamily, Mrs. Farkouh has penned herautobiography, "Never Say You Can't:Memoirs of a Lebanese-Syrian AmericanEducator" (Cedars Publishing).The title of the book comes from achildhood experience. "My first-gradeteacher was so upset to always listen tome say 'I can't do this' and 'I can't dothat.' She decided to write the word 'can't'on a piece of paper and take it to the backof the school with the entire class. Shemade me dig a hole and bury the paper.She was tired of me losing confidence, andthis is how she was going to teach me alesson," Mrs. Farkouh explained.In her memoirs, the distinguishedLongtime educator and West Brighton resident Alice Farkouh haseducator, who influenced a generation of published her autobiography. (Photo Courtesy of Alice Farkouh)students at Port Richmond and Curtis highschools, writes with heartfelt gratitude about her wonderful Lebanese-Syrian American family, her dedicatedteachers and her wise mentors, who together, inspired and encouraged her to take "can't" out of her life, tonever give up, and to believe that her dreams were always within her grasp.Chapters in the book are devoted to her years as a math teacher at Port Richmond and as head of the mathPage 34 of 157
department at Curtis.Mrs. Farkouh devotes a chapter to the late Herbert (Herb) Balish, a former principal of Port Richmond whowent on to serve as principal of Tottenville High School. She refers to him as her mentor, and "knight inshining armor" who showed up on his first day in 1971, with his trademark mustache and ever-presenttwinkle in his eye. She describes, with admiration, how he set about defusing the racial tensions that hadbegun to choke the school.A later chapter is devoted to Curtis. Mrs. Farkouh describes being welcomed by then-Principal Mitchell(Mitch) Schulich, who devoted his tenure to improving the curriculum and raising standards, and whobrought the elite International Baccalaureate honors program to the school. She tells of hiring a young andtalented math teacher from Liberia, Aurelia Curtis, in 1984. Mrs. Curtis would go on to become the currentprincipal. She also writes fondly of another Curtis colleague she hired, Timothy (Tim) Gannon, who is thecurrent principal of Port Richmond High School.Mrs. Farkouh went on to finish her career with the public school system as principal of Fort Hamilton HighSchool in Brooklyn.Since 2006, she has been principal of A. Fantis Parochial School, an elementary school in downtownBrooklyn affiliated with the Greek-Orthodox Cathedral of Sts. Constantine & Helen. She also is a facultymember at the College of Staten Island.FAMILY VALUESBut more than just a who's-who in education circles, Mrs. Farkouh's speaks, in her book, of how her family,her values and her upbringing influenced who she is today – at 70, a mother of three, and grandmother toseven. "I wrote this book for them, so they would know, and never forget, where they came from," she said.The book is flavored with wonderful family photographs of her parents and Mrs. Farkouh as a child, as wellas her own children when they were young. A chapter she titled "My Charlie" is devoted to meeting herhusband, Charles; the two married in 1960. Her husband died last month, not long after the couple hadcelebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.Mrs. Farkouh said she sees the book as an extension of her passion for learning and teaching."My passion is teaching and then carrying this to another level by helping educators convey this passion totheir students," she said."The most important thing to remember is your roots, teaching your children basic values, and never givingup on your passion for what you truly believe in. Never say 'I can't do it.' "Page 35 of 157
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Page 14 and 15: En una declaración, la Sociedad Is
Page 16 and 17: It was Fein whose nomination fueled
Page 18 and 19: offering access to digital cameras,
Page 20 and 21: The new location suits him just fin
Page 22 and 23: Pieces of the moon on display at th
Page 24 and 25: Tibetan Democracy Moves Forward, Fa
Page 26 and 27: “His Holiness the Dalai Lama [has
Page 28: Hakim, Catherine Morrison Buck; Cat
Page 31 and 32: are looking forward to going away t
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Page 41 and 42: College of Staten Island guard Bloo
Page 43 and 44: Totals: 17-61 17-30 50.Halftime: 37
Page 45 and 46: Totals: 29-69 10-19 70.Halftime: 39
Page 47 and 48: Coming from Moscow, Russia three ye
Page 49 and 50: College of Staten Island baseball t
Page 51 and 52: Staten Island: Baseball Celebrates
Page 53 and 54: College of Staten Island hoops star
Page 55 and 56: Richards 2-10 1-2 5, Simon 1-8 1-3
Page 57 and 58: CSI's Bloochy Magliore scored a tea
Page 59 and 60: College of Staten Island's Allie Sh
Page 61 and 62: “It’s been a lot of fun,” sai
Page 63 and 64: Tibbs' long shot at buzzer lifts Co
Page 65 and 66: Hilaire topped Baruch with 33 point
Page 67 and 68: It was Tibbs’ buzzer-beater from
Page 69 and 70: College of Staten Island forward Jo
Page 71 and 72: College of Staten Island women rip
Page 73 and 74: Tibbs hits another game-winning sho
Page 75 and 76: Halftime: 35-27, CCNY.Three-point g
Page 77 and 78: Hepworth 3-14 1-2 7, Quattrocchi 0-
Page 79 and 80: Staten Island's Villarruel, Hunter'
Page 81 and 82: Look for Jill and her talented team
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John Jay junior guard Joseph Padell
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Staten Island: Inaugural Men's Bask
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Lehman runs past College of Staten
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Markoe finds unexpected niche at Hu
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"The coaches have been pushing us t
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College of Staten Island tabs Rebay
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Smith Leads Men's Basketball to 67-
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At the event, an observer will see
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Magliore scored 18 of his 22 points
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StoriesPage 105 of 157
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and Staten Island, Staten Islander
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But Lanza (R-Staten Island) told th
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and must weigh a minimum of 110 pou
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My greatest and most touching exper
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Several Staten Island groups cancel
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"Well, he's done with the restauran
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Admission is a can or nonperishable
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CSI joins other city universities i
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Science; Education (Childhood (Elem
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"Step Up Speak Out Family Summit" a
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~More than 40 of the attendees were
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turn of the century. The spring exh
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Updated 01/23/2011 05:30 PMCUNY To
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CSI tells smokers they'll have to t
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presented by NEKS Level Research te
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Staten Island BP James Molinaro's S
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Cop pegs shots at suspects fleeing
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Students & AlumniPage 146 of 157
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Fire Commissioner Salvatore J. Cass
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Staten Island Soccer League Hall of
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JOE SCHIRRIPAFor the last two decad
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Olivet Presbyterian celebrates inst
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