Dec. 21, 2024
Aligning Education With the Future
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter XVI Body, pp. 125-126 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/12/19/aligning-education-with-the-future/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are all available on the YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@santoshkrinsky871
More information about Sri Aurobindo can be found at www.aurobindo.net
The US editions and links to e-book editions of Sri Aurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:06,000
Some years ago, some parents in
the USA had an interesting
2
00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:09,480
conversation with their local
elementary school administrator.
3
00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:14,360
They were concerned about the
type of education their children
4
00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:17,840
would receive, so they set up a
meeting to interview the
5
00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:21,920
administrator with the idea that
they were prepared to undertake
6
00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:26,120
home schooling but did not feel
competent themselves to teach
7
00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:26,760
some of.
The more.
8
00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:31,800
Technical Subjects such as
mathematics or science, nor the
9
00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:35,000
character forming subjects such
as art or music.
10
00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:39,200
They were also concerned about
the question of socialization of
11
00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,880
the children.
If they were too isolated, the
12
00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:45,280
Seminole question they.
Asked was.
13
00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:48,480
Whether the administrator could
realistically affirm?
14
00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:51,160
That the.
School was teaching the future
15
00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:56,240
rather than the past in terms of
preparing the children for life
16
00:00:56,240 --> 00:01:00,680
in the modern world.
The administrator admitted that
17
00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:04,519
their entire curriculum was
based in the past and.
18
00:01:04,519 --> 00:01:07,280
Realistically, they.
Were not actually preparing
19
00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:10,760
children for the world that
everyone could see was taking
20
00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:14,600
shape for the future.
As a result of that
21
00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:18,760
conversation, the parents and
the school developed a new model
22
00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:22,400
where the students would be
homeschooled but would be
23
00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:24,880
scheduled into.
Specific classes that the.
24
00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:27,520
School could provide.
Without formal.
25
00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:31,560
Enrollment and without
graduating from the school, the
26
00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:35,640
children received the benefit of
both aspects, while the school
27
00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:39,320
had the opportunity to observe
students who were clearly.
28
00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:41,240
Awake.
Motivated.
29
00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:44,040
To learn and forward-looking in
the way they.
30
00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:46,960
Dealt.
With issues, everyone felt that
31
00:01:46,960 --> 00:01:49,800
the program thus devised was a
step forward.
32
00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:56,720
Our educational systems and even
parental expectations are set to
33
00:01:56,720 --> 00:02:00,760
make children fit in.
To society and thus.
34
00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:03,720
We inculcate.
The habits and world view
35
00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,000
prevalent at the.
Time which?
36
00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:08,080
Automatically act.
As an.
37
00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:12,240
Impediment to the process of
development and evolutionary
38
00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:15,320
change.
We expect children to be what
39
00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:19,480
their parents have been, and
anything new or different meets
40
00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:24,040
with resistance, both from the
society and from the parents who
41
00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:26,800
are afraid of the child
potentially failing in the
42
00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:28,840
society.
Or being.
43
00:02:28,920 --> 00:02:33,840
Different and thus not accepted.
Children carry.
44
00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:37,680
These expectations into their
youth and later into their adult
45
00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:41,680
life.
In many cases, dreams and ideas
46
00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:45,680
they had get pushed aside and
they take on duties and
47
00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:50,120
relationships as expected and
suffer from depression.
48
00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:54,120
Boredom.
And a sense of purposelessness.
49
00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:59,560
Instead of moving the entire
society forward, we are fixated
50
00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:04,280
on maintaining the status quo,
regardless of its limitations,
51
00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:10,880
drawbacks, and obvious failures.
Today we see a new generation of
52
00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:13,960
children being born who clearly
have a different vision and
53
00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:16,720
purpose.
Even at a very early age.
54
00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:20,920
One is reminded of Sri Ro
Bindo's vision in Savitri, a
55
00:03:20,920 --> 00:03:26,440
legend and a symbol quote.
I saw the omnipotence flaming
56
00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:31,560
pioneers over the heavenly verge
which turns towards life, come
57
00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:36,640
crowding down the amber stairs
of birth, forerunners of a
58
00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:39,640
divine multitude out of the
path.
59
00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:43,280
So the morning star, they came
into the little room of mortal
60
00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:47,040
life.
I saw them cross the twilight of
61
00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:52,000
an age, the sun eyed children of
a marvellous dawn, the great
62
00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,680
creators with wide brows of.
Calm the.
63
00:03:55,680 --> 00:04:00,640
Massive barrier Breakers of the
world and wrestlers with destiny
64
00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:04,680
in her lists of will, the
labourers in the quarries of the
65
00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:10,200
gods, the messengers of the
incommunicable, the architects
66
00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:15,680
of immortality.
And he goes on their tread.
67
00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:20,279
One day shall change the
suffering earth, and justify the
68
00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:23,880
light on nature's face.
End Quote.
69
00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:30,360
Savitri, a legend and assemble
book 3 can't of four pages 343
70
00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:35,040
to 344.
The mother writes quote.
71
00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:38,760
This is what it should be
instead of making children
72
00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:43,280
ordinary with that dull, vulgar
common sense which becomes an
73
00:04:43,280 --> 00:04:45,880
inveterate habit and.
When something.
74
00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:49,120
Is going well.
Immediately brings up in the
75
00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:51,520
being the idea.
Oh, that.
76
00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:56,200
Won't last when somebody is kind
the impression oh, he will
77
00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:59,640
change when one is capable of.
Doing something?
78
00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:03,200
Oh, tomorrow I won't be able to
do it so well.
79
00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:07,080
This is like an acid A.
Destructive acid.
80
00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:09,760
In the being which takes away.
Hope.
81
00:05:10,280 --> 00:05:16,880
Certitude, confidence in future
possibilities when a child is
82
00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:18,160
full.
Of enthusiasm?
83
00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:19,800
Never.
Throw cold water on it.
84
00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:23,320
Never tell him.
You know, life is not like that.
85
00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:28,320
You should always encourage him,
tell him yes, at present things
86
00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:31,040
are not always like that, they
seem ugly.
87
00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:35,640
But behind this there is a
beauty that is trying to realize
88
00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:38,560
itself.
This is what you should love and
89
00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:41,440
draw towards you.
This is what you should make the
90
00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:44,200
object of your dreams, of your
ambitions.
91
00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:47,440
And if you do this when you are
very.
92
00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:50,560
Small you.
Have much less difficulty than
93
00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:55,160
if later on you have to undo.
Undo all the bad effects of a
94
00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:58,760
bad education.
Undo that kind of dull and
95
00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:02,200
vulgar common sense.
Which means that you expect
96
00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:03,600
nothing.
Good from life.
97
00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:05,600
Which makes it.
Insipid.
98
00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:09,000
Boring.
And contradicts all the hopes,
99
00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:12,000
all the so-called illusions of
beauty.
100
00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:18,040
On the contrary, you must tell a
child, or yourself if you are no
101
00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:22,680
longer quite a baby, everything
in me that seems unreal,
102
00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:28,000
impossible, illusory, that is
what is true.
103
00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:34,400
That is what I must cultivate.
When you have these aspirations,
104
00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:39,640
oh not to be always limited by
some incapacity, all the time
105
00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:44,160
held back by some bad will, you
must cultivate within you this
106
00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:50,600
certified certitude that that is
what is essentially true and
107
00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:55,080
that is what must be realized.
End Quote.
108
00:06:55,960 --> 00:07:00,560
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
Mother Powers within, Chapter
109
00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:05,200
16, Body, pages 125 to 126.
00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:06,000
Some years ago, some parents in
the USA had an interesting
2
00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:09,480
conversation with their local
elementary school administrator.
3
00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:14,360
They were concerned about the
type of education their children
4
00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:17,840
would receive, so they set up a
meeting to interview the
5
00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:21,920
administrator with the idea that
they were prepared to undertake
6
00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:26,120
home schooling but did not feel
competent themselves to teach
7
00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:26,760
some of.
The more.
8
00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:31,800
Technical Subjects such as
mathematics or science, nor the
9
00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:35,000
character forming subjects such
as art or music.
10
00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:39,200
They were also concerned about
the question of socialization of
11
00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,880
the children.
If they were too isolated, the
12
00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:45,280
Seminole question they.
Asked was.
13
00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:48,480
Whether the administrator could
realistically affirm?
14
00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:51,160
That the.
School was teaching the future
15
00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:56,240
rather than the past in terms of
preparing the children for life
16
00:00:56,240 --> 00:01:00,680
in the modern world.
The administrator admitted that
17
00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:04,519
their entire curriculum was
based in the past and.
18
00:01:04,519 --> 00:01:07,280
Realistically, they.
Were not actually preparing
19
00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:10,760
children for the world that
everyone could see was taking
20
00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:14,600
shape for the future.
As a result of that
21
00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:18,760
conversation, the parents and
the school developed a new model
22
00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:22,400
where the students would be
homeschooled but would be
23
00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:24,880
scheduled into.
Specific classes that the.
24
00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:27,520
School could provide.
Without formal.
25
00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:31,560
Enrollment and without
graduating from the school, the
26
00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:35,640
children received the benefit of
both aspects, while the school
27
00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:39,320
had the opportunity to observe
students who were clearly.
28
00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:41,240
Awake.
Motivated.
29
00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:44,040
To learn and forward-looking in
the way they.
30
00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:46,960
Dealt.
With issues, everyone felt that
31
00:01:46,960 --> 00:01:49,800
the program thus devised was a
step forward.
32
00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:56,720
Our educational systems and even
parental expectations are set to
33
00:01:56,720 --> 00:02:00,760
make children fit in.
To society and thus.
34
00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:03,720
We inculcate.
The habits and world view
35
00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,000
prevalent at the.
Time which?
36
00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:08,080
Automatically act.
As an.
37
00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:12,240
Impediment to the process of
development and evolutionary
38
00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:15,320
change.
We expect children to be what
39
00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:19,480
their parents have been, and
anything new or different meets
40
00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:24,040
with resistance, both from the
society and from the parents who
41
00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:26,800
are afraid of the child
potentially failing in the
42
00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:28,840
society.
Or being.
43
00:02:28,920 --> 00:02:33,840
Different and thus not accepted.
Children carry.
44
00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:37,680
These expectations into their
youth and later into their adult
45
00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:41,680
life.
In many cases, dreams and ideas
46
00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:45,680
they had get pushed aside and
they take on duties and
47
00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:50,120
relationships as expected and
suffer from depression.
48
00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:54,120
Boredom.
And a sense of purposelessness.
49
00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:59,560
Instead of moving the entire
society forward, we are fixated
50
00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:04,280
on maintaining the status quo,
regardless of its limitations,
51
00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:10,880
drawbacks, and obvious failures.
Today we see a new generation of
52
00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:13,960
children being born who clearly
have a different vision and
53
00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:16,720
purpose.
Even at a very early age.
54
00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:20,920
One is reminded of Sri Ro
Bindo's vision in Savitri, a
55
00:03:20,920 --> 00:03:26,440
legend and a symbol quote.
I saw the omnipotence flaming
56
00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:31,560
pioneers over the heavenly verge
which turns towards life, come
57
00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:36,640
crowding down the amber stairs
of birth, forerunners of a
58
00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:39,640
divine multitude out of the
path.
59
00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:43,280
So the morning star, they came
into the little room of mortal
60
00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:47,040
life.
I saw them cross the twilight of
61
00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:52,000
an age, the sun eyed children of
a marvellous dawn, the great
62
00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,680
creators with wide brows of.
Calm the.
63
00:03:55,680 --> 00:04:00,640
Massive barrier Breakers of the
world and wrestlers with destiny
64
00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:04,680
in her lists of will, the
labourers in the quarries of the
65
00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:10,200
gods, the messengers of the
incommunicable, the architects
66
00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:15,680
of immortality.
And he goes on their tread.
67
00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:20,279
One day shall change the
suffering earth, and justify the
68
00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:23,880
light on nature's face.
End Quote.
69
00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:30,360
Savitri, a legend and assemble
book 3 can't of four pages 343
70
00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:35,040
to 344.
The mother writes quote.
71
00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:38,760
This is what it should be
instead of making children
72
00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:43,280
ordinary with that dull, vulgar
common sense which becomes an
73
00:04:43,280 --> 00:04:45,880
inveterate habit and.
When something.
74
00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:49,120
Is going well.
Immediately brings up in the
75
00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:51,520
being the idea.
Oh, that.
76
00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:56,200
Won't last when somebody is kind
the impression oh, he will
77
00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:59,640
change when one is capable of.
Doing something?
78
00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:03,200
Oh, tomorrow I won't be able to
do it so well.
79
00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:07,080
This is like an acid A.
Destructive acid.
80
00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:09,760
In the being which takes away.
Hope.
81
00:05:10,280 --> 00:05:16,880
Certitude, confidence in future
possibilities when a child is
82
00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:18,160
full.
Of enthusiasm?
83
00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:19,800
Never.
Throw cold water on it.
84
00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:23,320
Never tell him.
You know, life is not like that.
85
00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:28,320
You should always encourage him,
tell him yes, at present things
86
00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:31,040
are not always like that, they
seem ugly.
87
00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:35,640
But behind this there is a
beauty that is trying to realize
88
00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:38,560
itself.
This is what you should love and
89
00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:41,440
draw towards you.
This is what you should make the
90
00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:44,200
object of your dreams, of your
ambitions.
91
00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:47,440
And if you do this when you are
very.
92
00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:50,560
Small you.
Have much less difficulty than
93
00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:55,160
if later on you have to undo.
Undo all the bad effects of a
94
00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:58,760
bad education.
Undo that kind of dull and
95
00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:02,200
vulgar common sense.
Which means that you expect
96
00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:03,600
nothing.
Good from life.
97
00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:05,600
Which makes it.
Insipid.
98
00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:09,000
Boring.
And contradicts all the hopes,
99
00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:12,000
all the so-called illusions of
beauty.
100
00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:18,040
On the contrary, you must tell a
child, or yourself if you are no
101
00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:22,680
longer quite a baby, everything
in me that seems unreal,
102
00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:28,000
impossible, illusory, that is
what is true.
103
00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:34,400
That is what I must cultivate.
When you have these aspirations,
104
00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:39,640
oh not to be always limited by
some incapacity, all the time
105
00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:44,160
held back by some bad will, you
must cultivate within you this
106
00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:50,600
certified certitude that that is
what is essentially true and
107
00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:55,080
that is what must be realized.
End Quote.
108
00:06:55,960 --> 00:07:00,560
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
Mother Powers within, Chapter
109
00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:05,200
16, Body, pages 125 to 126.