rural colleges

[Guest guest]

Mother Gunamani wrote:

 

> I have an idea of a school made like small village. First of all a piece

> of

>land, now we the students and the teachers have to develop it. To develop

>it

>we will need skills. The first good thing about this is, that it gives us

>a

>real goal and meaning with our activities of learning and a measureable

>and

>real scene for us to see and feel and experience our progress.

 

Very interesting thoughts. I would suggest that there should be

two kinds of VAD colleges - one for kids and another for adults.

Education for kids would include full school programme, together

with learning about social sciences, religious practice, studing

how to become a responsible and independent person, etc. For

adults there should be different approach.

 

> All that which are normally there in a school, could very well be

> connected

>with practice and while developing the project the students could also

>become teachers themselves by writing books or making films or other

>medias

>about for etc. building a house, making a good compost, a garden, a

>windmill

>and so on.

 

I guess that after studing a while, kids should be divided into

different groups in according with their propensities and

revealed qualities, to become specialized in their field

of knowledge. In any case, there should be individual approach

by teachers for any child.

 

> Similarly as the village gets build there will be a need for

>rules/governement. One could let the students try different methods and

>study and write about the results. One could practise different methods

>of

>defense/sports and also train in strategy and practical survival.

>Call it gymnastics if you want, but now with a goal. History would be a

>natural part of the information in that subject since most of it concerns

>wars. A part of it would also be how to help others with wounds, broken

>legs, first aid and so on. How to put out a fire. Rescue someone drowning

>and so on.

 

Looks like a scouts camp. I think a government will be worried

about such kind school, 'cause it may look like you're training them

for guerilla warcraft. :-) Future ksatriyas should be trained

differently from future vaisyas, so these subjects should be

given to them in different quantities and in a different degree.

 

> In building different houses of different materials, both math, fysics

> and practical abilities would be needed, included naturally would be

> also Geography since, people build differently depending on their

> climatic circumstances.

 

Yes, there can be not only division on 4 varnas, but also

many subdivisions with many professions. But then we need

really qualified teachers, which will be not so easy to find.

 

> Making a garden is the best way of learning biology.

> And what will we do with the flowers and fruits of our labour?

>Deity-worship. Sewing clothes, making jewellery, singing and praying.

 

I don't think that all male students will be interested in learning

how to sew clothes. Maybe only some of them. :-)

 

> The poor kids destroy their backs and lungs and looses their vitality

> by having to sit still at a table all day long for 10 years or more. Why

> not go back to learning by both theory/practice and experience?

 

It's a little bit difficult to realize in modern urban circumstances,

but this is definitely a great approach in education close to nature

and in rural place.

 

>I think it is a very good idea and I wish you all good luck. It is very

>much my dream of a school. Naturally the students will find their

>interests and become experts in some fields as times goes by and they

>grew older.

 

This is certainly a good idea, but we have to put it in practice,

and if you will try to make by your own, it will take years and years.

So may Krishna give you resources and help of other people in this

great project.

 

Hope this finds you in good health,

Oleg

 

.... An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.