On Education
THEME/S
ANNEXURE
TO KNOW ONESELF AND TO CONTROL ONESELF
(An Exploratory Draft Programme)
Classes I and II
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Art of bathing, art of cleaning the teeth, art of dressing, art of sitting and standing in right postures. Exercises in control of the senses: Control in regulating calls of nature, thirst and appetite; Control in speech; Control in behaviour; Control in movement and action.
Classes III and IV
Page 42
Directions to Teachers
(Classes I - IV)
Some practical hints that result from the application of methods of psychological and value-oriented development are suggested here:
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To recognize these reactions and to encourage them wisely and with a psychic feeling would be the first indispensable step. The best qualities to develop in children are: sincerity perseverance honesty peace straightforwardness calm cheerfulness self-control courage self-mastery disinterestedness truth patience harmony endurance liberty These qualities are taught infinitely better by examples than by beautiful speeches. The undesirable impulses and habits should not be treated harshly. The child should not be scolded. Particularly, care should be taken not to rebuke a child for a fault which one commits oneself. Children are very keen and clearsighted observers; they soon find out the educator's weaknesses and note them without pity. When a child makes a mistake, one must see that he confesses it to the teacher or the guardian spontaneously and frankly; and when he has confessed it he should be made to understand with kindness and affection what was wrong in the movement and that he should not repeat it. A fault confessed must be forgiven. The child should be encouraged to think of wrong impulses not as sins or offences but as symptoms of a curable disease alterable by a steady and a sustained effort of the will - falsehood being rejected and replaced by truth, fear by courage, selfishness by sacrifice, malice by love.
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Great care should be taken to see that unformed virtues are not rejected as faults. The wildness and recklessness of many young natures are only the overflowing of an excessive strength, greatness and nobility. An affection that is firm yet gentle, sees clearly, and a sufficiently practical knowledge will create bonds of trust that are indispensable for the educator to make the education of a child effective. When a child asks a question, he should not be answered by saying that it is stupid or foolish, or that the answer will not be understood by him. Curiosity cannot be postponed, and an effort must be made to answer questions truthfully and in such a way as to make the answer comprehensible to his mental capacity. The teacher should ensure that the child gradually begins to be aware of the psychological centre of his being, the psychic being, the inner seat of the highest truth of our existence. With that growing awareness, the child should be taught to concentrate on his presence and make it more and more a living fact. The child should be taught that whenever there is an inner uneasiness, he should not pass it off and try to forget it, but should attend to it, and try to find out by an inner observation the cause of the uneasiness, so that it can be removed by inner or other methods. It should be emphasized that if one has a sincere and steady aspiration, a persistent and dynamic will, one is sure to meet in one way or another, externally by study and instruction, internally by concentration, revelation or experience, the help one needs to reach the goal. Only one thing is absolutely indispensable, the will to discover and realize. This discovery and this realization should be Page 45
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the primary occupation of the being, the pearl of great price which one should acquire at any cost. Whatever one does, whatever one's occupation and activity, the will to find the truth of one's being and to unite with it must always be living, always present behind all one does, all that one thinks, all that one experiences.
All the above suggestions are to be implemented from day to day under various circumstances and in the context of living problems of the growth of children.
The role of the teacher is to put the child upon the right road to its own perfection and encourage it to follow it, watching, suggesting, helping, but not imposing or interfering. The best method of suggestion is by personal example, daily conversation and books read from day to day.
Class V
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Class VI
Page 48
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Class VII
Page 50
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Class VIII
Page 52
Class IX
Page 53
Class X
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Class XI
Page 57
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Class XII
Page 59
A brief study of the following topics:
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To discover within oneself the secret guide and teacher and to take up the charge of educating oneself progressively and integrally.
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Kireet Joshi
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