The other day we were discussing a great topic - what is history - arts or science at blogcatalog only. Some people do think that we all need to know our history. I expressed my views that whatever it is - we should deal very carefully with History - that it should not be included at school level along with a few more subjects. History - should be treated as a research subject and always studied under professional supervision.
Coz history changes a man - A kid will play with any other kid as along as they don’t know history - a kid is always a kid - he is not an Arab kid or a Israeli kid or a Hindu kid or a Russian kid or a Black Kid or a Chinese kid - it is we who make them as such and change their perspective to life.
A kid should only have access to such lessons which teaches them to love each other, appreciate and respect nature and the gift of life, have compassion for all and scientific knowledge appropriate for that age.
I do not understand why the big thinkers, educationalists, psychologists, governments re-define the school subjects and eliminate anything which plants the seed of division in our mind - subjects like history (or shall we call it our-savage-past), religion etc. should be kept for higher studies only when we reach a level of maturity.
The other things which we need to eliminate from basic education is competition - as competition also divides people, draw groups and germinates the feeling of hate. It also provides fuel to some of our savage instincts. What is the need of classifying people either with grades or with other methods? If some people are doing good and some bad in any field, then there can two things - a. The system is wrong for someone or b. Someone is not suited for the system. Even in Nature everything comes in many hues and shades - while some plants are edible, some are good to look at while some comes to some other use.
We all have a purpose in life - its our job to find out what the kid wants and allow him to grow and prosper in that direction - we should not try and make him what we think is best for him - as our thoughts are also guided by our perspective and limitations. Whenever we think about a child education - our thought are mostly clogged by an imaginary future - which again is based on the outer world which influences our inner world our thoughts. We only survive to respond to this outer world in all spheres of our life.
- I want my child to be a software guy - as software is the future and they make good money.
- I want my child to a Insurance Agent as I have been an Agent all my life and have earned quite well.
- I want my child to be an Actress - as Glamour world will make her see Millions and I will have a bright future too. And so on and so forth.
In effect what we are doing is killing all possibilities in the process and psuhing them on a perpetual race which leads nowhere. The best we can do is show him all the windows so that he can decide from where he wants to look out. And to make it more effective it is necessary we re-think on subjects being taught at school with an open mind. But things are changing and changing for the better - as we find many more options now.
In the end of this Post - I would request everyone to take lessons from Nature - as all the acts of living and growing is present there in more ways than one. Nature never remembers the past. If it did then all the trees would remember - how we cut their branches, uproot them, burn them, pluck them for our hunger, pleasure, health, commerce, pleasure, benefits and even sometimes without a reason !
Neither the past nor the future holds any importance - its only the present where we all live. A good act done today gives a pleasant memory of the past and makes the future bright also.
Your comments about competition bring back memories for me. When my kids were little, I had them in a pre-school where there was a spirit of cooperation amongst all people and respect for the environment. My kids learned how to compost, plant gardens, recycle and to play with other kids from all over the world cooperatively. (And this was during a time when very few people knew about recycling.) No competitive games were allowed. Toy guns were banned and also action figures. No games were played where someone had to be the “bad guy.” It was a great environment for children. Then they started school and the competition began…Interesting and thought-provoking post.
Thanks for your inputs and sharing your thoughts - I really wish people to re think the education structure and method and incorporate things which contributes to creativity and where we nurture the basic qualities on how to become a good human being with love and compassion for all.
Love.
I had said that your blog’s purpose is very important.
Sparrow:
Thanks for opening up your comment box. This is much much easier.
There is a difference of opinion regarding history. I paste a quote here:
“Every child in America should be acquainted with his own country. He should read books that furnish him with ideas that will be useful to him in life and practice. As soon as he opens his lips, he should rehearse the history of his own country.” —Noah Webster
Regarding Barbara’s comment above about protecting one’s children from reality, I am reminded of Hermann Hesse’s book, “Siddhartha”.
There is sickness, there is poverty, there is aging and there is death in the world around us.
The shock of the experience all at one time and later in life can be too much for some to endure. Or, perhaps, it will be the experience that generates more Buddha’s.
These are the two extremes.
I have not resolved in my own mind which is the better course but perhaps if you continue writing you will ‘enlighten’ us.
Thank you.
I love your blog. Keep it going. Very inspirational and enlightning. read mine and tell me what you think. Thanks!
Latinamommy
Thank you!