Page 44 - EducationWorld June 2022_Neat

Cover Story

failure, because it has over-empha-
sised technique”. In another lecture
delivered in Ojai, California, he ob-
served: “It is becoming more and
more important in a world that is de-
structive that there should be a place,
an oasis, where one can learn a way
of living that is whole, sane and intel-
ligent. Surely, school is a place where
one learns about the wholeness of
life. Academic excellence is absolutely
necessary, but a school includes much
more than that. It is a place where the
teacher and taught explore not only
the world of knowledge, but also their
own behaviour. Freedom from con-
ditioning begins with this awareness.
It is only in such freedom that true
learning can take place.” Shailesh Shirali: teachings of enduring relevance
A LTHOUGH REVOLUTION and happy, this Earth is ours. It is menting JK’s education ideals in their

ARY in the context of
our Earth, not somebody else’s; it is
classrooms and beyond. Therefore, a
primary-secondary edu-
KFI schools is that their leaders and
not belong exclusively to powerful
cation in post-indepen- not only the rich man’s Earth, it does notable characteristic and feature of
dence India where cramming, drilling rulers, to nobles of the land, but it is teachers genuinely believe that JK’s
and private tuitions have become nor- our Earth, yours and mine. We are no- self-development and environment
mative for children from early child- bodies, yet we also live on this Earth conservation prescription can save
hood, Krishnamurti’s conceptualisa- and we all have to live together. It is the world.
tion of schools as stress-free, joyous the world of the poor as well as of the “Krishnamurti’s education philos-
learning institutions wasn’t entirely rich, of the unlettered as well as of the ophy and teachings have never been
novel. There is evidence that India’s learned; it is our world, and I think it as relevant as they are today. Despite
ancient guruk uls were such institu- is very important to feel this and to all the evidence adduced by eminent
tions. Moreover, coterminously, the love the Earth, not just occasionally on scientists researching climate change
venerable British mathematician- a peaceful morning, but all the time,” and environment destruction, people
philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872- said JK in 1964, a message that was a worldwide are not prepared to reduce
1970) also propagated the benefits of recurrent theme of his public lectures excessive consumerism. Despite two
joyful learning, and like JK promoted and voluminous writings. World Wars and numerous lesser
the alternative Beacon Hill School in A beneficial fallout of this educa- wars, violence is still used to settle
1927. However because of its ultra- tion philosophy centred around joyful, disputes. The only hope seems to be
liberal curriculum and lax discipline, stress free learning and Wordsworthi- education: working with young people
Beacon Hill proved to be a failed ex- an love of Nature and Mother Earth is not already burdened with old ideas
periment — unlike RVS, which has that KFI schools, study and research and theories and free of over attach-
successfully implemented JK’s phi- centres across the country and abroad, ment to consumerism. This in turn
losophy and precepts for almost a have attracted highly learned educa- requires educators interested in dis-
century — and was wound up in 1943. tors and scholars committed to imple- covering the purpose of education
Moreover, Krishnamurti’s prescient and who aspire to discover goodness,
advocacy and integration of love and Coterminously, the venerable simplicity and the beauty of life,” says
respect for Nature and environment D r. S h a il e s h S h ira l i, a science and
conservation into school curriculums British mathematician- maths alum of Delhi University, IIM-
differentiates him from other philoso- philosopher Bertrand Russell Ahmedabad, University of Texas and
phers and seers. former professor at the University
“Whether we call ourselves com- (1872-1970) promoted the of New Brunswick (Canada), former
munists or capitalists, Hindus or revolutionary alternative principal of the top-ranked Rishi Val-
Buddhists, Muslims or Christians, ley School (1992-2004) and currently
whether we are blind, lame, or well Beacon Hill School in 1927 director of KFI’s Sahyadri Education

44 EDUCATIONWORLD JUNE 2022