Inspiration and not Information

“Knowledge is power, and education is the key to acquiring knowledge.” This famous quote, which I have cherished, underscores the importance of education in one’s life. However, do we ever give much thought to education in terms of its core targets or values? There comes a certain point in life when we become more concerned about education and begin researching the school system and methods of teaching.

For many of us, this moment arrives when we become parents. I, too, started focusing more on education and teaching methods only after becoming a parent. My encounter with education, or rather my confrontation with it, began a few years ago when I encountered some issues with my daughter’s schooling. This ignited a burning question within me: ‘Why do I need to send my child to school? Am I not competent enough to teach my child? Don’t we have all the information and techniques available in the digital world at the tap of a finger? Is school the only option for my child to socialise?’ Though I never deviated from the path of regular schooling, I always had these questions reverberating in my mind.

Recently, on February 24th, I attended the seminar titled ‘Celebrating Anandalakshmy – Conversations on Education,’ which not only enlightened me but also rekindled a spark to find answers to my questions. The first speaker, Mr. Gautama, shed light on a very innovative concept called ‘POO’, which stands for imagining or thinking of a process, eliminating its central or integral part. For example, if we consider a restaurant, what is its integral part? It’s a place to serve, tables, chairs. Now, what if we can imagine a restaurant without a place to eat, without tables, chairs, and culinary items? Mr. Gautama emphasised one point: that whatever can be contained within a formula or a pattern, technology will do it, especially now that we have all the information and tools available through the internet, almost free of cost. There are machines and robots that can perform tasks more accurately, precisely, and elaborately than any human can perceive.

Then, what is it that makes classrooms essential? He called it ‘Reverse Process of Omission (POO)’, which involves finding the centrepiece of the process to bring children back to classrooms. I could see more clarity in the question than ever before. Perceiving a problem, solves half of it. I now have the right question, and Ms VR Devika, who followed him, showed me the right perspective of the noble profession of teaching. She remarked with much emotion on how fortunate she feels to be a teacher and to be with. I could see the conviction in her eyes, which evidenced her love for her profession. I am sure the teachers who watched, felt proud, and students would have been inspired to become like her. Now I know, it is not the information she brought to the table that made the difference, but rather her persona and vibrance that made all the difference, and I could feel it.

Finally, Ms. Aruna Rathnam took the stage and presented the other side of the story, a perspective that many outsiders like myself could never fully relate to – the challenges and pressures thrust upon teachers and their unique perspectives. Her insights helped me come to terms with some of the bitterness I had harboured toward teachers, and I felt a sense of remorse about it.

Coming back to the initial question, ‘Why do we need to go to school? Is it solely for information?’ No, it’s for inspiration, that we need classrooms. No matter how much information a robot can provide, it cannot instil a sense of attachment or belonging; instead, it may foster addiction to information.

Teachers need not solely concentrate on the individual needs of each student for training, rather, they should prioritise cultivating their integrity, knowledge, and empathy which can inspire their students and ignite the spark within them. Teachers should not only impart academic knowledge but also instill valuable life skills and a love for learning that extends beyond the classroom. Reasons are more important than the resources, If they have a reason to study, then they will find all the resources.

The seminar served as an eye-opener for me, allowing me to recognize the profound potential of teachers and education. I believe that the opportunity to attend such seminars should be extended to all stakeholders, including parents, children, teachers, and everyone involved, in order to enrich their ideas and enhance the quality of education.