Editor’s note – The author is a Chennai based educationalist who wishes to make contributions to a revolution in education and in this article, argues that the only way a revolution would take place in education system anywhere is if students awake, arise and act.
Author’s note – I am an educator in an alternative school in South India, Near Chennai. By education I am an electronics engineer and a MBA in Communication Management. I am determined to bring about a serious positive dent in world education system as I think that is the only thing that can make world a better place full of love, happiness and creativity. In this article I talk about who really can stir a revolution in education.
“Trying to liberate the oppressed without their active participation and critical reflection is to free them from one bondage and put them into another, it is to treat them as objects and thus doesn’t make true revolution.” - Paulo Friere (Pedagogy of the Oppressed)
Why has no revolution taken place in education despite the huge unrest among the majority? Not only in India, but around the world, people (right from politicians to film stars) are shouting and demanding for a major educational shift in attempts to stir a revolution in education system. But why has nothing much happened except for a little change here and a little improvement there?
It is because the key member of the entire revolution hasn’t participated actively. Who is this key member of education system, capable of stirring revolution? It is not teachers, parents, politicians, social workers, psychologists or corporate leaders. It is “THE STUDENTS” themselves, for it’s their life which is at stake.
All but students are trying to stir a revolution while the only ones who can really bring a revolution are students themselves. Right now, students are recipients of all so called educational reforms. Politicians and other experts are “doing the thinking” on behalf of them.
Figure #1: Current Setup of Educational Reforms - (Politicians, educationists, parents and industry decides the reforms; communicates it to Parents (who at least have decision power, hence active recipient of reforms) and finally it is imposed on inactive recipients – the students.)
No real revolution is ever possible unless students see the futility of current system and revolt against it. Unless the students themselves become aware of the holes in the current education system, unless they engage in critical reflection which must be followed by active demand for and participation in change, educational revolution would remain just another word in our social vocabulary.
History is full of examples of so many great thinkers who’ve shared so many radical ideas on education, who’ve really cared for education and children, who’ve really dedicated their lives to education but still they haven’t been able to bring about a real revolution in education.
A.S. Neil, for example carried out a real revolutionary idea of “free school” in education at his school – Summerhill. But the movement has never gained momentum in spite of it being considered quite a successful model. Just few schools here and there leveraged the benefit of label “Free school”, but no fundamental change ever happened.
Indian thinkers like Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananda and J Krisnamurti had radical ideas on education and each one of them was capable of stirring a real revolution to completely change the face of Indian education system but again nothing much happened.
Why? Because at no stage, did anyone ever bother about the key member of entire education system, who really matter the most , whose life is affected most by education – the students. Students have also been a silent spectator, allowing experiments to be carried on them.
Even today, in the name of alternative education numerous schools are doing whatever they think is right according to them and students still remain the silent rat in the laboratory.
Figure #1 : Setup of Educational Revolution - (To stir revolution Students must be the key and central participant while others (Politicians, teachers etc..) should support Students (if needed))
No revolution can be stirred without students. Students must actively engage and question current educational norms. They must stand up for themselves. They must stand against their parents and teachers, if need be. They must start thinking, exploring what kind of education they want. That doesn’t mean they alone can do it all. Given their limited exposure and young age, there are challenges. So, they can work with other agencies as well but remaining the central and main force of the revolution.
The author has a blog on education which can be visited here – www.RIPeducation.com
Please leave your comments and questions below for the author to respond