Are we educating our children?

Sometimes, we as parents and educators are so busy trying to provide the children with answers that the children lose the art of asking and approaching questions.

The focus of any successful teaching strategy MUST be to impart a sense of wonder, and adventure to everyday learning. Everyday learning should be a habit that the children enjoy not a task that they need to complete, forcibly.

The basic academic skills that are often talked of are the result of extremely loving nurturing teachers. Much more than student motivation, this requires a dedicated teacher. I would, thus probably put more importance on self learning ability.

On our recent trip to Rishikesh, we were taken aback by two things- on the road to Rishikesh. UP is FULL of educational institutions- schools and colleges and universities. Every second building that you see on the highway is a University. It has the well known premier institutions like the Regional Engineering College and the IIT Roorkie as well many many lesser known institutions that dot the landscape so densely that you can barely see the land. AND... yet... you have a population that can barely read, knows and shows little civic sense, is living from day to day in a rut they appear to have created for themselves with these numerous degree possibilities!

Will the University of XYZ equip them to deal with the new situations life will inevitably throw at them? Will a certificate or a piece of paper make sure they know how to LIVE?

Tough questions these, for educators and for us as citizens.

We need more teaching strategies like the ones Amir seems to be promoting in his recent flick- Three Idiots. As well as one that I am currently experiencing- Kumon. More on this a little later! It is we who have to make sure we make the children ABLE to SEEK and look for questions as much as look for answers!