Education as dialectic: children in dialogue with a community member
I had the opportunity of translating this very interesting diary entry of a teacher from Bodh Shiksha Samiti’s Bodhshala (in Jaipur) when I undertook an in-depth documentation of Bodh’s work last year (2006). This classroom transaction shows us the possibilities of an education that encourages rational thinking and enquiry…
“Today, there were 19 children in the ‘Badal’ group (ages 8-10 years) of the Guru Teg Bahadur Basti Bodhshala. The topic for discussion was identified by the children themselves. Four days back, we had all felt the tremors of an earthquake. The children had begun discussing this event in the Badal group. They also discussed their experiences of the tremor with me. I observed them following assertions being made in conversations with each other:
1. ‘The earth rests on one horn of a cow. When this horn gets tired, the cow shifts the earth on to the second horn. That is when the earth starts shaking…’
2. The earth rests on the hood of a snake. When the snake starts swaying and hissing, the earth shakes…’
There must have been many more such imaginative examples generated by the children in their numerous conversations.
That year, the Bodhshala was regularly inviting parents and community representatives to take part in its activities. We had two objectives. One, we wanted them to become familiar with what was happening in the Bodhshalas. Two, we wanted them to share their knowledge, understanding and experiences with children. Bodh believes this to be important.
It was Diler Singh’s turn at the Bodhshala today.
I could see that the children became happy when they saw Diler Singh walk in. He was a calm and soft looking person, and the children liked him very much. They were waiting to discuss with him the question ‘What does the earth rest on?’ They had already decided on this before he came. Once he was seated and settled, they placed for him the question: ‘Please tell us, what does the earth rest or stand on?’
Diler Singh pondered for a while. Instead of responding with an answer, he asked another question: ‘What makes you all think that the earth is standing or resting on something?’ Promptly, the children shared with him their experiences of the tremor, and the questions that arose from that experience.
He then said, ‘Look here! This whole thing is a miracle of nature. Your ideas that the earth rests on the horn of a cow or the hood of a snake are all wrong. In reality, the earth rests on a pillar on which is inscribed the name of Lord Ram…When there is much sin on the earth, Lord Ram becomes angry. Then the pillar shakes and so does the earth…’ Barely had he finished speaking, when a barrage of questions was hurled at him by the children even as the group lapsed into chaos.
One child asked: ‘Have you seen God?’
Another child jumped into the fray: ‘What is this Miracle of Nature?’
A third challenged him: ‘How can you prove that the earth does not rest on the horn of a cow?’
Diler Singh was shaken and disturbed. I was not used to seeing him this way. He normally came across as a calm human being. I fell silent. As the volley of questions subsided and as silence set in, a soft voice persisted: ‘Have you seen that pillar of Lord Ram?’ The group again became restive and chaotic. In that din, I could hear Diler Singh’s angry voice: ‘What kind of education is this? You have given the children such a long rope…without any proper discussion they ask all sorts of questions. They do not listen silently, to understand the reality…’ Thus, he raved and ranted.
I tried to collect my wits and regain my confidence following his outburst. Suddenly, the children sensed that something was amiss. As I cautiously looked at them, I could make out that they were all looking guilty, as if they had owned up for a crime they had committed. I tried to reassure them with a smile which was meant to say, ‘Don’t worry, it is not your mistake.’
Diler Singh eventually calmed down and asked me, ‘Why are you keeping silent? You are not saying anything to me or the children.’ His question made me feel at ease. I then decided to continue this process and suggested that everyone could take a piece of paper and draw a picture of the earth and the object on which it rested, as they imagined it. Diler Singh too participated in this exercise. As he started drawing, I noticed that he had a difficulty of balancing the earth on the pillar of Lord Ram…coupled with this frustration, and his curiosity to find out what the children were drawing, he started looking around.
As the minutes passed, I could sense that something seemed to have happened inside him. Something seemed to have changed in him for ever. Resignedly, he said, ‘This is very difficult….I learnt today that talking about something is so easy. So is accepting what someone says, without asking any questions. To prove things, however, is far more difficult. I’m beginning to see that it is not alright if we accept anything without first understanding it. Before this, I used to think that only those children are ‘good’, who learn well, who silently listen to what is being taught and give answers when asked, based on what they have been told.’
There was no need for me to explain any further. The children and I continued to discuss the question. ‘What does the earth rest on…?’
[Translated from the notes of Kusum, then Bodhshala teacher (1992)]
Giri
January 2006
Jaipur
I had the opportunity of translating this very interesting diary entry of a teacher from Bodh Shiksha Samiti’s Bodhshala (in Jaipur) when I undertook an in-depth documentation of Bodh’s work last year (2006). This classroom transaction shows us the possibilities of an education that encourages rational thinking and enquiry…
“Today, there were 19 children in the ‘Badal’ group (ages 8-10 years) of the Guru Teg Bahadur Basti Bodhshala. The topic for discussion was identified by the children themselves. Four days back, we had all felt the tremors of an earthquake. The children had begun discussing this event in the Badal group. They also discussed their experiences of the tremor with me. I observed them following assertions being made in conversations with each other:
1. ‘The earth rests on one horn of a cow. When this horn gets tired, the cow shifts the earth on to the second horn. That is when the earth starts shaking…’
2. The earth rests on the hood of a snake. When the snake starts swaying and hissing, the earth shakes…’
There must have been many more such imaginative examples generated by the children in their numerous conversations.
That year, the Bodhshala was regularly inviting parents and community representatives to take part in its activities. We had two objectives. One, we wanted them to become familiar with what was happening in the Bodhshalas. Two, we wanted them to share their knowledge, understanding and experiences with children. Bodh believes this to be important.
It was Diler Singh’s turn at the Bodhshala today.
I could see that the children became happy when they saw Diler Singh walk in. He was a calm and soft looking person, and the children liked him very much. They were waiting to discuss with him the question ‘What does the earth rest on?’ They had already decided on this before he came. Once he was seated and settled, they placed for him the question: ‘Please tell us, what does the earth rest or stand on?’
Diler Singh pondered for a while. Instead of responding with an answer, he asked another question: ‘What makes you all think that the earth is standing or resting on something?’ Promptly, the children shared with him their experiences of the tremor, and the questions that arose from that experience.
He then said, ‘Look here! This whole thing is a miracle of nature. Your ideas that the earth rests on the horn of a cow or the hood of a snake are all wrong. In reality, the earth rests on a pillar on which is inscribed the name of Lord Ram…When there is much sin on the earth, Lord Ram becomes angry. Then the pillar shakes and so does the earth…’ Barely had he finished speaking, when a barrage of questions was hurled at him by the children even as the group lapsed into chaos.
One child asked: ‘Have you seen God?’
Another child jumped into the fray: ‘What is this Miracle of Nature?’
A third challenged him: ‘How can you prove that the earth does not rest on the horn of a cow?’
Diler Singh was shaken and disturbed. I was not used to seeing him this way. He normally came across as a calm human being. I fell silent. As the volley of questions subsided and as silence set in, a soft voice persisted: ‘Have you seen that pillar of Lord Ram?’ The group again became restive and chaotic. In that din, I could hear Diler Singh’s angry voice: ‘What kind of education is this? You have given the children such a long rope…without any proper discussion they ask all sorts of questions. They do not listen silently, to understand the reality…’ Thus, he raved and ranted.
I tried to collect my wits and regain my confidence following his outburst. Suddenly, the children sensed that something was amiss. As I cautiously looked at them, I could make out that they were all looking guilty, as if they had owned up for a crime they had committed. I tried to reassure them with a smile which was meant to say, ‘Don’t worry, it is not your mistake.’
Diler Singh eventually calmed down and asked me, ‘Why are you keeping silent? You are not saying anything to me or the children.’ His question made me feel at ease. I then decided to continue this process and suggested that everyone could take a piece of paper and draw a picture of the earth and the object on which it rested, as they imagined it. Diler Singh too participated in this exercise. As he started drawing, I noticed that he had a difficulty of balancing the earth on the pillar of Lord Ram…coupled with this frustration, and his curiosity to find out what the children were drawing, he started looking around.
As the minutes passed, I could sense that something seemed to have happened inside him. Something seemed to have changed in him for ever. Resignedly, he said, ‘This is very difficult….I learnt today that talking about something is so easy. So is accepting what someone says, without asking any questions. To prove things, however, is far more difficult. I’m beginning to see that it is not alright if we accept anything without first understanding it. Before this, I used to think that only those children are ‘good’, who learn well, who silently listen to what is being taught and give answers when asked, based on what they have been told.’
There was no need for me to explain any further. The children and I continued to discuss the question. ‘What does the earth rest on…?’
[Translated from the notes of Kusum, then Bodhshala teacher (1992)]
Giri
January 2006
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