Stable childhood is the most unique gift of the parents Pratyush Das08:22 0 comments

One of the purposes of education is to produce ‘employable’ graduates. To fulfill this objective of education, our colleges are offering a variety of courses. They look interesting, on the paper, but when one goes near them, one finds a big disconnect between what was promised and what is available. There are two recourses for the students: complete the course for the sake of a degree, or drop out and look for something that is more fulfilling. The second option is not easy to follow. One may drift endlessly in search of fulfillment. In most cases, we don’t know what our life’s purpose is. That is where the role of schools comes. Our schools are supposed to help us in identifying our talents, often hidden.

The other purpose of education is to give us, as Rabindranath Tagore said, “freedom from ignorance about the laws of the universe, and freedom from passion and prejudice in our communication with the human world”. The integral part of Tagore’s model of education was to build an intimate relationship with one’s culture, nature and teachers. Steve Jobs, another drop-out, was not sure how a college can help him to find out what he is looking for. “I couldn't see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure that out," Jobs recounted. Jobs was curious to know more about things that he found interesting. Although, Jobs dropped out of regular courses, he decided to take on something (calligraphy) he found interesting and fascinating.

William Damon, author of The Path to Purpose, says that persistent curiosity is essential for entrepreneurial achievement. If our schools can fulfill this much needed gap, it has achieved one of its greatest purposes. To fill the gap, there is a need to introduce and integrate subjects such as art, music, or emerging media technology in our curriculum. The problem is that our curriculum is so ‘structured’ and ‘filled’ that there is no scope for introducing anything. The irony is that the very subjects that are being marginalized, says Damon, are the ones that are foundation for promising opportunities in today's economy.

Making someone ‘employable’ is not the sole purpose of education and schools. Writes Alison Gopnik, author of The Philosophical Baby,  that there is nothing in human life as important and urgent as to raise the next generation. Most parents want their child to shape in a particular way, so that they become smarter and successful than others. But they generally forget that, as Gopnik says, there is no magic formula that makes the child smarter or happier or more successful as an adult than another.

We, the humans, are a privileged lot. We spend much longer childhood than any other primate. Our extended childhood has helped us in our evolutionary emergence, and has given us an opportunity to be more adaptable to our unpredictable environments. Our long protected childhood allows distinctive human cognitive achievements, says Gopnik. “I worry more and more about what will happen to the generations of children who don't have the uniquely human gift of a long, protected, stable childhood,” writes Gopnik.

The role of parents in shaping the future of their child can’t be overlooked. They are the most natural teachers. They are the safest caregivers. Care plays a significant role in one’s life. The most important thing the caregivers provide to the child is the assurance that they are safe in their custody. The feeling of safety gives the child courage to venture into the outside world. They learn to act in unpredictable and variable environments. They learn to create new environments.

Author: Purnendu Ghosh