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Random thoughts on my schooling
Random thoughts on my schooling
Editor's note - The author reflects back to his days of schooling and talks about how today he is bringing forth the imaginary classroom that he wished he was in when he was a child.
Author's note - I work as a Gandhi Fellow in Kaivalya Education Foundation. Based in Brihanmumbai and functioning as headmaster Sahyogi (Coach) for School Excellence Programme (SEP) in Municipal Schools of the city. Here, I'm sharing some random thoughts about my schooling and also explain what I'm doing.
I was reading Mother’s (Sri Aurobindo's spiritual partner) article on education. It was beautiful. I was thinking if I was taught that way, life would have been a little better. I’m happy that I’m being de-conditioned; unlearning lot of things, just to be myself. Even at times feel like getting lost somewhere. Krishnamurthi’s beautiful words, his views on education soothe the wounded heart. He also takes the similar line. Individual being should be the focus, but our present system has lost the foresight. For our system it is important that our child completes his homework, submit assignments on time, clear tests and examinations. That is all our school life is about.
At times I feel like writing a letter to my school Principal, who was leading one of the city’s best institutions. The school had a very dark side. Violence! Students were punished physically and mentally. How can we combat violence in society by providing fearful environment in the childhood? I was never excited to go to school. Competing-worst of all human emotions was “the virtue”. I can’t convict all my teachers. Still their jolly presence made no sense. As there was no space for being onesef. Jose Marti says that the teacher should not be instructor but a conversationalist. But in my school they were information indoctrinators.
At times I feel like writing a letter to my school Principal, who was leading one of the city’s best institutions. The school had a very dark side. Violence! Students were punished physically and mentally. How can we combat violence in society by providing fearful environment in the childhood? I was never excited to go to school. Competing-worst of all human emotions was “the virtue”. I can’t convict all my teachers. Still their jolly presence made no sense. As there was no space for being onesef. Jose Marti says that the teacher should not be instructor but a conversationalist. But in my school they were information indoctrinators.
Once my zonal leader asked me the reason of joining the fellowship apart from “Gandhi”. Without thinking I just said that I wanted to bring my imaginary classroom to the real world. During my Learning Quality induction & Village immersion, I was able to achieve some success. When the kids used to draw on the walls, my thoughts board the wings of imagination. I was able to visualize their colorful future. When Shakti Singh, who looked like a pretty girl, constructed a temple of sand, I saw him as an upcoming architect of a distant non-violent India. These days I’m visiting the schools of Mumbai. Kids here too have similar aspirations- the way I had. I’m just struggling with myself-so that I can be a part of their beautiful future.
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Oct 17, 2011
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