EDU505 Handouts

EDU505

EDU505 · Lecture 1 · Defining Education · Topic 1 · Defining Education · Origin

The term “Education” has been derived from two Latin words: ‘Educare’ (Educere) and ‘Educatum’.

Educare (Educere)

to train or mould - indicates the development of the latent faculties of the child. (moulding is a directional act – is objective oriented) (latent: hidden, concealed, undeveloped)
‘Educare’ basically means to bring up, to lead out, to draw out, or propulsion from inward to outward.

Educatum

denotes the act of teaching
throws light on the principles and practices of teaching

The Education Process

• A combination of ‘Educatum’ and ‘Educere’ is what is known as “Education”
• It is the process of the educator helping the child explore and develop his or her latent faculties.
• According to Oxford dictionary: The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university

EDU505

Topic 2 · Definitions · (Western Perspective)

• Plato: Education develops in the body and soul of the pupil all the beauty and all the perfection he is capable of.

• Aristotle

Education is the creation of sound mind in a sound body. It develops man’s faculty specially his mind so that he may be able to enjoy the contemplation of supreme truth, goodness and beauty.

• Rousseau

Education is a child’s development from within.

• Froebel

Education is enfoldment of what is already enfolded in the germ. It is the process through which the child makes the internal-external.

• Pestalozzi

Education is the harmonious and progressive development of all the innate powers and faculties of man-physical, intellectual and moral.

It is evident in these definitions that for these Western philosophers, education is mostly about developing one’s mental faculties.

Topic 3 · Definitions · (Eastern Perspective)

Education is a contextual process, in which context and environment are very important factors. Therefore, let us view some of the definitions of education from various eastern philosophers and educationists in order to give a general idea of what it implies in the subcontinent.

• Swami Vivekananda Education is the manifestation of perfection already in man. Like fire in a piece of flint, knowledge exists in the mind. Suggestion is the friction; which brings it out.
• Mahatma Gandhi By education I mean an all-round drawing out of the best in child and man’s body, mind and spirit.

EDU505

• Rabindranath Tagore The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence.

• Rigveda

Education is something which makes a man self-reliant and selfless.

• Upanishada

Education is that whose end product is salvation.

• Radhakrishnan

Education according to Indian tradition is not merely a means of earning a living; nor is it only a nursery of thought or a school for citizenship. It is initiation into the life of spirit and training of human souls in the pursuit of truth and the practice of virtue (morality, honesty, goodness).

These definitions, in comparison with the definitions of the Western philosophers, show how education is not only about knowledge for the people of the subcontinent, but are also about spiritual enlightenment and living a virtuous life.

Topic 4 · Education in the Subcontinent · Siksha (Shiksha)

In Hindi, the term “Siksha” has come from Sanskrit word “Shash” – which means: to discipline, to control, to order, to direct, to rule, etc. (very different from Western values which inculcate democratic beliefs and principles).

• Education, in the traditional sense, means controlling or disciplining the behaviour of an individual.
• There is a difference between defining education in the West and in the East because of the differing views about the aims of life.
• Philosophers like Plato and Aristotle were concerned with the education of the aristocracy who had enough leisure and means not to be concerned with the everyday chores (tasks, errands, responsibilities) of life.
• Gandhi, Tagore and the other Eastern philosophers on the other hand were concerned with the education of the masses, the underprivileged.