Objective of Education - contd.

I follow Mark Parkinson's blog....he is the director of the Shriram School in the National Capital Region of Delhi - a school that my daughter has just joined. So I am at a stage where i am like a sponge for anything that happens in the school. Admittedly, both me and my daghter are stiil having withdrawal symptoms about her previous school (Shikshantar)

Not to digress, Mr. Parkinson's blog (http://markparkinson.wordpress.com/) led me to this interesting article
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/top-school-hires-mind-gurus-to-teach-its-pupils-how-to-think-1670423.html

What this article talks about is something that the progressive schools in India have been talking for a while. There is no substitute to discovering and experience...and most skills and knowledge can be imparted through these two tools. Which is what, in my mind, progressive schools have set out to do. The only dilemma is whether the progressive schools are facilitating the child's progress?

Leaving children free, not imposing anything on them, letting them decide force me to think that all our value system as an adult is probably a matter of conjecture. Why else would we not expect a child to imbibe some values and instead be happier if they go along the same learnign curve again???

Objective of Education

The most natural subject to begin with. I have come to think that one of the primary objective of education is maturity. Now as they define it, it would mean 'appropriate response to given circumstances'. In my understanding it would encompass knowing and achieving what one really wants and the strength to respond to any given situation appropriately given the variables.

Even that seems like asking too much.....so what do we make of the compartmentalised learning that we do in the name of education....social studies, science, maths etc. To what objective? To the objective of .... in India, of taking some exams which then ensure/facilitate entry to xyz colleges which in turn ensures employment (lucrative, depending on the 'grade' of college you went to)

More often than not, we pass our school years never being in touch with our real selves...and then coming to college, some vistas open up...we come out on our own...and I guess by the time we hit late 20s or early 30s we begin a relationship with ourselves. This at least was true of most part of my generation (went to school in 80s).

At the end of it....probably we and our careers and living were/are a result of who we are and not directly of what the schools at that time help us discover. In fact, for most part, schools hindered this self discovery....I mean weren't we a different person at home and altogether different at home......And why do I have a strong feeling that was true not just for me?.

Certainities in Education and Educationists

I have been ruminating about Education in India - the good, the bad and the ugly. Over the last few years, being an involved parent of a 9 yr old in an urban setting has led me to many forums - online and offline, in search of what is best. Needless to say, most of us are trying to work it out....I like to believe sometimes that there is really no science other than mathematics. Everything else has to have some grey, some uncertainty, some doubt.

I sometimes find it difficult to go with very vehement views in education for kids. There has to be a good amount of flexibility in the first place which would eventually lead to inclusion, making space, giving freedom to children, letting go ....all of that. So anyone who has very set views to begin with worries me.

Now with that disclaimer, I am ready to jump in...with all my uncertainties, learning and facilitating the learning in young and old.