Subscribe to Desicritics
Are We Teaching Students to Learn?
Alex M Thomas
Educating a child has become an art. There are institutions and centres which give professional advice educating one's child. Parents try to provide the best education possible. But, in the midst of all this frenzy, are the students really being taught to learn?
The education system has lost its sheen. It has become too rigid and monotonous. It churns out students who can reproduce what has been taught, but how many of them really know to gain knowledge and skills independently?
Marks, ranks, grades are all that is of concern to most the teachers and parents. The students eventually begin to think that only these are important. The spirit of inquiry and of thought is absent among most of the students.
Moreover, these days' students are taught in accordance with the syllabus. Most of the syllabi in the colleges are outdated. These strict and rigid syllabi act as a dent in the course of teaching; as the parents complain of teachers over burdening the students with topics outside the syllabus.
"Schools, and universities, are surely places where the young are educated, where their knowledge is increased, and not places where they are required mechanically to answer questions. The imparting of knowledge is a little different from a kind of drill, from precision marching in parades. That is a skill in its own right but it is not the same thing as the process of learning, of expanding a child's knowledge." Bhaskar Ghose posits so, in his article titled 'Determining excellence' in Frontline.
This is a grave concern to students as it alters their very course of life. It is very saddening to see this happen to millions of children throughout India.
The over emphasis on marks and ranks ought to go, so that the student feels more at ease. And supplementing this with more practical applications of various subjects will instill the spirit of thought in the students' mind. More of science and art exhibitions can be conducted, which will motivate students to think. Initiating discussions and debates on various topics taught in the classroom would help the students to advance their realm of knowledge.
Anupallavi
URL
February 12, 2007
03:39 PM
Alex,
Good to see someone tackle the education system and its short falls. But what I miss is a compare-contrast against an alternative approach and assess the relative merits. Ironic that I am digging right into compare, grade and rank :) ..
The lack of a rigid framework has been attributed to USA now being hailed "Dropout Nation ". Scores of articles have examined "What's wrong with America's High schools". Many researchers opine that nearly 1 out of 3 public high school students won't graduate. For Latinos and African Americans, the rate approaches an alarming 50%. In a country where the onus is on individuality, independence and free-will, the schools are not able to deliver students to colleges -- leave alone whether they apply their thought or just regurgitate what's taught.
The lack of onus on rigor and non-insistence on excellence in public schools have lead to wide disparity between public and private schools. It is not just in the school system. Young kids start out aiming to be cheerleaders and quaterbacks. Studious lot is branded geeks and shunned. Thomas L. Friedman recounted how at a Parent Teacher's meeting the American parents complained of Tommy's homework being too much and how he had a tough time juggling it with Karate and Soccer, while their Chinese and Indian counterparts were disappointed with their wards not being challenged enough and wanted more rigor in assignments. Indian Americans are one of the most successful ethnic groups in America and not all of them are from the cream of Indian colleges.
To assume young kids can decide for themselves or need sweeping freedom is fraught with problems. They need love, guidance and a good framework. A recent Time article argued why a packed schedule is the way to go for tweens. The ranking and the rat race, though harsh, are much needed. It teaches kids the realities of life. Sooner or later they will be competing and it is just a preparation for it. Coming from a country of a billion plus each, Indian and American professionals are attributed with some of the shortest learning curves in USA. They need to. Else there is plenty in the wings to pull him/her down. Just a passing grade in engineering will yield no luck in the job markets in India, while on the contrary, a high school drop out in America can make a decent living flipping burgers...
The Indian system, devoid of freedom and not particularly kindling scientific temper, does do a decent job for most parts. It instills rigor, emphasizes diligence and rewards it. People who graduate from Urban Indian colleges may not know the latest in IT, but can pick it up over a weekend. I'm sure a lot of people will disagree, but it is foolish to expect our institutions to teach everything. If it imparts basic knowledge, prepares a person to face the challenges of life and be open to learning, it has done it's job.
We in India most certainly do not have a very good system. It is dated, it is harsh, it is riled with rankings and strict board exams. But, it works. Ask the scores of studies that are examining why Urban India and Urban China are making inroads in eduaction where Urban America is failing...
Add your comment