Opinion
Evolution of Learning Environments – How Educationists would build Indian School of Future Part 9
Read on for amazing insights into the vision of building the school of the future…
Ep. 1 | Ep. 2 | Ep. 3 | Ep. 4 | Ep. 5 | Ep. 6 | Ep. 7 | Ep. 8 | Ep. 9 | Ep. 10 | Ep. 11 | Ep. 12 | Ep. 13 | Ep. 14
We were keen to feature views of School Leaders and Educators on 'The Evolution of Learning Environments: Building the Indian School of the Future'. The excitement was palpable. Educationists across the country were preparing to gather at the ScooNews EdBrainstorm with Professor Sugata Mitra on April 2 in Mumbai. In preparation for this exercise to discuss the building the Indian School of the Future, ScooNews invited key delegates at the EdBrainstorm to share their vision on the Evolution of Learning Environments. The result was a smorgasbord of ideas and beliefs, a melange of thoughts and concepts, lively agreements and livelier arguments!
The complete story featured in our April 2018 issue, we are reproducing this online as a series of articles to make it comfortable and easier for our online readers, read the 9th episode for some more amazing insights into the vision of building the school of the future…
Teaching learners to live life with purpose
In ancient times, schools began to impart knowledge about Vedas, occupation, herbal medicines, etc. Later Gurukul systems, in the times of two great epics of India; Mahabharta and Ramayana focused on various rules of life mainly Karma and Dharma. The basic objective of education was to teach how to live one’s life with purpose, pleasure, duty and liberation. With growing times, it was believed that childhood stage is for learning and schools were developed as ‘places of learning’ and slowly schools started emphasizing mainly on reading and writing.
School and education systems have evolved to a great extent. With a variety of new initiatives in the education system across the globe, there are still differences in opinion about the purpose of schools. Some believe that a school’s basic objective is to train children to get good jobs, some feel schools need to cater to the interest of children and educate them accordingly, while some schools say that they believe in educating children with special needs. All round development of children is the underlined purpose for schools today.
Broadly, today’s schools are a factory to condition children in their formative stage. Education begins as early as three years old and every student has an almost similar curriculum and evaluation system; which has its own pros and cons. But this system has surely helped a lot in the growth of new technology and inventions. We have knowledge at our fingertips and soon robots in our service will be a common trend!
When we look back at ancient times, the purpose of schools was to learn about the purpose, pleasure, duty and liberation of one’s life. Somewhere this purpose is lost in today’s schools and life is made mechanical and materialistic.
As the Sanskrit shloka says… “SaVidyaYaVimuktaye!”
This means the purpose of education is the liberation of life!
The main purpose of schools should be to teach learners to live their life with a purpose, perform their duties satisfactorily and finally liberation. Though it sounds philosophical, future schools need to highlight on this aspect of learning. When we look around, we witness comparison, envy, jealousy, anger, sadness and discontentment. We are not able to distinguish between our needs and wants. We are consistently destroying nature and harmony in life cycles. If this continues, it may lead to the destruction of the entire universe. We need to take efforts to bring a positive change in this scenario. It’s time for human beings to become human! Schools can impact the minds and hearts of the upcoming generation and make a paradigm shift.
The seeds sown today will give fruits tomorrow. If future schools start taking this balance of life into consideration, there are great rays of hope for all of humanity. Tomorrow’s schools can focus on the Guru and Shishya learning the real aspects of education together, and aim for true liberation from this materialistic world!
About the author:
Manisha Arondekar is the Principal, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan International School, Borivali.
Ep. 1 | Ep. 2 | Ep. 3 | Ep. 4 | Ep. 5 | Ep. 6 | Ep. 7 | Ep. 8 | Ep. 9 | Ep. 10 | Ep. 11 | Ep. 12 | Ep. 13 | Ep. 14