Category Page: Education
Why Integral Education
“Everyone has in him something divine, something his own, a chance of perfection and strength in however small a sphere which God offers him to take or refuse. The task is to find it, develop it & use it. The chief aim of education should be to help the growing soul to draw out that in itself which is best and make it perfect for a noble use.”
The Three Principles Of True Teaching
“The first principle of true teaching is that nothing can be taught. The teacher is not an instructor or task-master, he is a helper and a guide. His business is to suggest and not to impose. He does not actually train the pupil’s mind, he only shows him how to perfect his instruments of knowledge and helps and encourages him in the process. He does not impart knowledge to him, he shows him how to acquire knowledge for himself.
“The second principle is that the mind has to be consulted in its own growth. The idea of hammering the child into the shape desired by the parent or teacher is a barbarous and ignorant superstition. It is he himself who must be induced to expand in accordance with his own nature. There can be no greater error than for the parent to arrange beforehand that his son shall develop particular qualities, capacities, ideas, virtues, or be prepared for a prearranged career. To force the nature to abandon its own dharma is to do it permanent harm, mutilate its growth and deface its perfection. It is a selfish tyranny over a human soul and a wound to the nation, which loses the benefit of the best that a man could have given and is forced to accept instead something imperfect and artificial, second-rate, perfunctory and common.
“The third principle of education is to work from the near to the far, from that which is to that which shall be. The basis of a man’s nature is almost always, in addition to his soul’s past, his heredity, his surroundings, his nationality, his country, the soil from which he draws sustenance, the air which he breathes, the sights, sounds, habits to which he is accustomed. They mould him not the less powerfully because insensibly, and from that then we must begin. We must not take up the nature by its roots from the earth in which it must grow or surround the mind with images and ideas of a life which is alien to that in which it must physically move. If anything has to be brought in from outside, it must be offered, not forced on the mind. A free and natural growth is the condition of genuine development.
Sri Aurobindo in ‘The Human Mind’
NURTURING – Thinking and Learning
Kalpesh M. Chhaya
Learning to Know……Learning to Do……Learning to Live together……Learning To be……these are the four pillars of Learning that makes the whole of YOU. When we work through basics, it helps in founding the concrete future for society. It is evident that making learning a game of life starts from very basics of Elementary Education. This needs to be in ever molding tone and note because it is the way we can customize the game of life through meaningful learning.
Keeping the general scenario in mind, it seems little tedious yet not impossible as educators are becoming more and more applied and experimenting with lot of researches. Scenes may have contradictory projections. Balancing this game of learning in all aspects covering both urban and rural areas is the key area to work on. This is changing now, technology is bridging the gap. Lots of Progressive agencies are working to change the scenes around, it is encouraging.
But my main focus would be on Nurturing, Thinking and Learning. Let us have that discussed now. Let us see through the following points.
• This very thought forces us to THINK whether WE are promoting Learning or Education?
• What is ignored?
• Where?
• How much have we ignored?
• To whom should we hold RESPONSIBLE for Gestured IGNORANCE?
WE ARE NOT GATHERED TO DISCUSS THE HISTORY OF GESTURED IGNORANCE; WE WANT TO CRAFT THE SHEER FUTURE.
When we work on these symptoms some base line queries may arise. We need to answer them. They may be simple yet effective questions. Are we dealing with the FORTUNES of our kids enough effectively? Are we responding to our kids’ curiosities? Are we really allowing ourselves listening to them? Are we really helping our kids?
So the conclusion comes in a very simple format:-LEARN EVERYTHING THAT COMES ON THE WAY?
The school need to work on questioning. When we are dealing with the future, the questing is the first step towards LEARNING…. As it is said…WHEN WE DEAL WITH THE FUTURE; QUESTIONING IS SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPENING.
Amidst all these inputs the biggest thing we need to work on is “Sustainability”. See, all areas of learning will end up with whether we are going to have a sustainable livelihood or not. In my opinion we must draft all schools and everything in the name of learning for Sustainable Future. How will we define it in a simple term?
‘Development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,’
‘Enable all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life, without compromising the quality of life of future generations’.
‘That is guided by a commitment to care: Care for oneself, Care for each other (across cultures, distances and time) Care for the environment (near and far)’
To do this we must strive for the following norms in everyday life. I am sure as an educator that learners of all age group will start following you if things are honestly placed up. It comes through various formations and workable as follows. How will the change come then….?
• It comes through transformation of thoughts.
• The perception that reflects the insight of cultural impact.
• The classical document suggests everything-Constitution.
• Teacher-Learner-Parents-a collaboration…
• Virtual inputs- Collaboration with far-away-institutions…
• Teachers’ up-gradation.
• Training on good governance, practices, continual improvements, comprehensive workmanship,
• Involvementive mind-set development.
• Think Future…..Think Sustainability.
• Methodology speaks a loud.
• Will need complete modulation in imparting learning.
We start working on these inputs we start working developing competencies among all. As learning helps Competencies develop. It helps to develop Ability to Think,Ability to Learn,Ability to Communicate,Ability to Collaborate, and an ability to do all of These Across Disciplinary Boundaries.
The educators will have to create climate of real time learning. It is possible by all means and ways. We must follow these basics in and out of the classrooms; they are applied rules and realities.
To learn collaboration, Work in teams.
To learn critical thinking, take on complex problems.
To learn oral communication, present.
To learn written communication, write.
To learn technology, use technology.
To develop citizenship, take on civic and global issues.
To learn about careers, do internships.
To learn content, research and do all of the above.
Kalpesh M.Chhaya
Educator
Auroville – The City Of Dawn
With technology taking an edge over everything and the world getting flatter day by day, we are slowly but consistently losing our cultural diversity. As universal declaration by UNESCO says “cultural diversity is as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature.” In this scenario have not you ever desired a place somewhere in the world that no country can claim as its property, where no compulsion of any facet of diversity become submissive to another, allowing each its exclusivity and all liberty, and yet recognizing the equality of status of each one?
An adventure by those who believe in progressive universal harmony and willing to work for it. Where human relations would not be based solely upon competitions and conflict, where man would use all his fighting instinct to defeat the causes of his suffering and misery and to triumph over his limitations and inabilities. Where children grow and advance integrally without losing the essence of life. An international township where aesthetics in all forms, painting, sculpture, dance, music, literature will emerge to give life the consciousness in all its freedom, the opportunity to share the joys they bring would not be bounded solely by social or financial position. A collective experiment bestowed to human unity and international understanding for fairer, brighter and nobler life. By now, you might have started wondering if I am talking something Utopian and building castles in air. Nope!! Auroville, The City of Dawn is one such place on earth which transcends the vision of an ideal society into a reality. The city-in-the-making is located near Pondicherry in south India. It draws its inspiration from the vision and work of the renowned Indian spiritual visionary, Sri Aurobindo. His spiritual collaborator, The Mother, founded the township on 28th February, 1968. It is proposed to be realized as the city of material and spiritual researches for the next stride of human evolution, the Supramental consciousness. In 1966 UNESCO commended it as a project of importance to the future of humanity, thereby giving their full encouragement. The city is designed for up to 50,000 inhabitants from around the world. Today its inhabitants number around 2,160 people, from some 45 countries. Architects and engineers from different countries have volunteered their services. The common goal of sustainable living has given rise to all sorts of environment-sensitive architecture which mingles flawlessly with the natural surrounding creating a harmonious mood in Auroville.
People from across the world meet each other, interact, exchange ideas and take in each other’s culture and heritage with a quest to discover the world. What better place to do that than here! The work in Auroville is not any compulsion to accept but a joyful means to express oneself and at the same time offer service to the whole group. Each resident is free to choose the work for which he has special aptitude, followed by the necessary training. There will be no employment and no beggars. Guiding principles help each person to develop self discipline in freedom; each nation plays its part in projects in which it specializes. Activities are multifarious like afforestation, organic agriculture, educational research, health care, ecological accounting research, genetic conservation, village development, building construction, information technology, and research on renewable energy, etc divided in the following four zones:
· The Industrial zone: This is for “green” industries. You can find here people working on a multitude of projects. They select the work according to their aspiration, like fashion and garment design, production of incenses, lighting fixtures, etc. to research on solar technology.
· The Cultural zone: They are like pavilions of different nationalities; say if you enter the Japanese pavilion, you will see marvelous Japanese garden, room for Tea ceremony, a lake with boat pier, Ikebana- the art of flower arranging, buildings of Japanese style, meditation house, library, museum and an exhibition hall for Japanese handicrafts. One will experience all that which represents the artistic sense and culture of Japan in a gracious way. There could be an all night theatre festival in the village; there could be a literary talk on Future Poetry or the Vedas or a music concert or any such creative event which can bring a smile on your face. What better way to spend life than the one where each evening is soaked in performances from different countries across the world.
· The Residential zone: It’s the largest of the four city zones comprising of houses spread in 189 hectares for all who work and live in Auroville. There can not be better place to spot a variety of innovative and green architecture than here.
· The International zone: It contains the Visitor’s Centre, shops for Auroville products and pavilions of various countries for exhibitions and information. It is the starting point for most visitors.
The green belt that surrounds Auroville is residence to those who have dedicated their lives to farming. Because of the efforts of the many “Green Belters”, the barren land of Auroville has now been transformed into green oasis. Here are some links you would like to go through, Centre for Scientific Research (CSR) (Energy from the Sun, Energy from biowaste, Energy from wind) CIRHU (Centre for International Research in Human Unity) Life Education Centre The Matrimandir soul of Auroville stands as the centre of the city and it is in the form of a geographical sphere covered with golden disks, symbolizing the birth of a new consciousness seeking to manifest. According to The Mother it is the symbol of the Divine‘s answer to man’s aspiration for perfection. Inside the globe is a circular meditation hall, with a pure crystal-glass globe suffuses a ray of electronically guided sunlight which falls on it through an opening at the apex of the dome. A beam of solar light always falls on the crystal and its reflection faintly light up the dark chamber. There are no images, no organised meditations, no flowers, no incense, or religious forms. Those who want to concentrate, stay there in silence trying to find one’s consciousness. The first impression the structure may evoke is the image of the New Consciousness breaking forth from Matter. The Divine Presence is signified in this Peace area by the timeless Banyan Tree standing majestically for more than 100 years and the Amphitheatre with the Urn of Human Unity that contains the soil of 121 nations and 23 Indian states, and a lake to help create a calm and serene atmosphere and serve as a groundwater recharge area. Unlike most of the establishments, Auroville maintains a unique culture of non-hierarchical society where decisions are taken in Residents Assembly Meetings where all Aurovillans can speak their mind and propose things which add value to the place. Involvement in party politics is ruled out in the city. Auroville Foundation is the in charge of assets and overall responsibility for ensuring that it attains its goals. Auroville has no ‘authorities’, but gives responsibility for certain key functions and services relating to the community
Conditions for living in Auroville:
1. To be convinced of the essential unity of mankind and to have the will to collaborate for the material realization of that unity.
2. To have the will to collaborate in all that furthers future realisations. The material conditions will be worked out as the realisation proceeds
Above all, what matters the most is the spirit of accepting challenges positively that may come up during the period of entry, keeping in mind that Auroville’s present state of development is far from perfect. Though the whole process is complex and challenging and the project is going through many hurdles, they dream the city to become completely artistic. Appreciating humanity’s historic yearning for peace, eliminating the undesirables who are holding up this brilliant evolution, Auroville is a place which belongs to humanity as a whole. (For more info on its unique work culture, health organizations, international university, legal body, go here.
With technology taking an edge over everything and the world getting flatter day by day, it’s predicted that we are slowly but consistently losing our cultural diversity. As universal declaration by UNESCO says “cultural diversity is as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature.” In this scenario have not you ever desired a place somewhere in the world that no country can claim as its property, where no compulsion of any facet of diversity become submissive to another, allowing each its exclusivity and all liberty, and yet recognizing the equality of status of each one? Where human relations would not be based solely upon competitions and conflict, where man would use all his fighting instinct to defeat the causes of his suffering and misery and to triumph over his limitations and inabilities. Where children grow and advance integrally without losing the essence of life. An international township where aesthetics in all forms, painting, sculpture, dance, music, literature will emerge to give life the consciousness in all its freedom, the opportunity to share the joys they bring would not be bounded solely by social or financial position. A collective experiment bestowed to human unity and international understanding for fairer, brighter and nobler life.
Sangeeta R. Goswami