The other day I was watching a video of Krishnamurthy about education as a whole. As I watched the video and then listened to the subsequent discussion, certain questions raised up in my mind. What exactly do you mean by wholesome education? Does it mean that let the child do what it wants and we need not worry about finances in this absolutely materialistic world? Can you really educate a child? The answers are not so simple.
Stating that wholesome education does not only mean studies but also encompasses within it morality, value system and so on and so forth is by no means the end of discussion. This whole topic is subjective. I mean if we as parents believe in something, we tend to advise or tell our child to follow that pattern. It may not be right for some other person. So do you think the other person is going to incorporate the first person's beliefs and follow them? The answer is a "NO". What may be values for person one may not be so for person two. Moreover, in our zeal to teach our child we tend to forget that they are also individuals. They may have their own thoughts which can be markedly different from ours (from my experience with my child). So ideals and thoughts that are bible to me may not be even relevant to the child. Then what is wholesome education and how do I implement it?
This is purely a subjective viewpoint (mine actually). I feel living in society, we have to adhere to some fundamental norms which would define value systems. Practicing it before preaching is an absolute must. Now we all lead two lives : one is the public life which is what we show people the kind of person we are and which others accept us to be (whether they believe that we are truly that or not is another matter totally) and the second is the private life which we actually are (the true self). Public life is a domain which we can talk and preach and claim to follow the life that society sees us in. The private life is the one which is our conscience - something to which we cannot lie. Because no matter what and where, howsoever we try to escape we cannot cheat our conscience. It will blatantly tell us what we really are something which we can't escape even if we close our eyes. Only when these two lives merge - I mean when they not only think alike but also act alike will we have clarity of thought. Once we are clear in our thoughts and actions, we can go to the next step of teaching our children the basic tenets of life. Whether they listen and follow is another matter. Again we cannot impose anything on anyone even if it's our child. We can at most guide them; what they do is their self.
Again as I stated earlier, in this world living a life of idealism and utopia cannot simply do. We have to teach our children to be independent and the importance of money as well. But I may add on to say that making money should not be the only criterion. Happiness is not defined by wealth. I know a number of wealthy people who are unhappy. You have to live in this society in such a manner that it does not clash with value systems and at the same time, it does overbear on the basic necessities of life. Only then would you have complete peace of mind.
Stating that wholesome education does not only mean studies but also encompasses within it morality, value system and so on and so forth is by no means the end of discussion. This whole topic is subjective. I mean if we as parents believe in something, we tend to advise or tell our child to follow that pattern. It may not be right for some other person. So do you think the other person is going to incorporate the first person's beliefs and follow them? The answer is a "NO". What may be values for person one may not be so for person two. Moreover, in our zeal to teach our child we tend to forget that they are also individuals. They may have their own thoughts which can be markedly different from ours (from my experience with my child). So ideals and thoughts that are bible to me may not be even relevant to the child. Then what is wholesome education and how do I implement it?
This is purely a subjective viewpoint (mine actually). I feel living in society, we have to adhere to some fundamental norms which would define value systems. Practicing it before preaching is an absolute must. Now we all lead two lives : one is the public life which is what we show people the kind of person we are and which others accept us to be (whether they believe that we are truly that or not is another matter totally) and the second is the private life which we actually are (the true self). Public life is a domain which we can talk and preach and claim to follow the life that society sees us in. The private life is the one which is our conscience - something to which we cannot lie. Because no matter what and where, howsoever we try to escape we cannot cheat our conscience. It will blatantly tell us what we really are something which we can't escape even if we close our eyes. Only when these two lives merge - I mean when they not only think alike but also act alike will we have clarity of thought. Once we are clear in our thoughts and actions, we can go to the next step of teaching our children the basic tenets of life. Whether they listen and follow is another matter. Again we cannot impose anything on anyone even if it's our child. We can at most guide them; what they do is their self.
Again as I stated earlier, in this world living a life of idealism and utopia cannot simply do. We have to teach our children to be independent and the importance of money as well. But I may add on to say that making money should not be the only criterion. Happiness is not defined by wealth. I know a number of wealthy people who are unhappy. You have to live in this society in such a manner that it does not clash with value systems and at the same time, it does overbear on the basic necessities of life. Only then would you have complete peace of mind.
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