Guest guest Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 "Mohan Guptaa4India\"" Some views on Education and timing of Introducing English in SchoolsMon, 9 Aug 2004 02:38:30 -0400 Some views on Education and timing of Introducing English in Schools Recently Rajasthan education minister, Ghanshyam Tiwari introduced English from grade 1 in Rajasthan schools. Lots of people showed interest in this topic and many people have strong views on the subject. Some views are given below. <krishan.kb (AT) verizon (DOT) net>;When should school children start learning English? - This is a national issue that needs public debate I am not sure if the Minister for Education in Rajasthan Ghanshyam Tiwari has RSS approval on this issue - of introducing English in the first grade rather than sixth grade. He could have done it on his own for electoral benefit. He is going around the villagers, instead of academics, educators and nationalists with a systemic (holistic) approach. Mr. Vajpayee went on his own without care for majority community interests, and so Mr. Tiwari may be doing, without even realizing that it may not be in the best interests of the children. I am not aware if RSS or BJP have an open (or any) policy on this issue or on education in general - like the Swadeshi Jagran Manch on economic issues. May be this discussion, will draw their attention. BJP/ RSS seem unprepared on many national issues - that was evident from the BJP performance, when in power. Now that they are relieved of the burden of governance, they can seriously look at these problems. Off hand, my own opinion for this case in Rajasthan, I think that young kids learn Hindi for at last two years, then may be learn Sanskrit as additional language during next two years - script being the same it may not be too much of a burden. Then from 5th grade leave Sanskrit out (or make it optional) and start with English, in addition to Hindi. I recollect that Himachal Pradesh wanted to start English from first grade, but do not know if it was implemented. If English could be taught from the first grade as an additional language, the case for Sanskrit from third grade should not look absurd. Being a topic of national importance, I suggest that a small group of people, may be just two or three focus on this important topic, investigate this further and contact leaders in RSS and VHP and the Rajasthan state Govt. with reasoned and logical views and pursue it till it gets resolved. Some one may also have to contact concerned persons, academicians and politicians in India to know the situation on this issue to come up with an alternative plan for implementation. An open letter to the Chief Minister of Rajasthan may be helpful (copies to RSS, VHP, BJP). These open letters, once made public are likely to get more attention. This could be a useful NRI contribution. I am myself busy with Hindu temples issue - freeing them from Govt. control and to be managed by autonomous bodies, as in the case of Muslim and Christian religious institutions. We are focused on this and have been working on this issue since July 2003. The issue is now getting attention by VHP, and many Hindu activists. We hope to succeed some day, in the not too distant future. We have sent some open letters to Chief Ministers and Sonia Gandhi on the temple issue - since she is President of Congress, which controls Governments in some states that have nationalized temples. A similar approach is suggested. Krishan Bhatnagar, Maryland, (301) 572-7339 ======= Dorothy K. Gordon The issue is very clear in educational terms. People learn better in their own languages and this affects their grasp of concepts through theeducational system. If the object is to give individuals mastery of a foreign language it is not necessary to introduce it from Grade 1. The new language can be introduced in the third or fourth year after children have mastered basic innumeracy and literacy skills in their primary language. The important thing is to be clear on the methodology for teaching the new language and to have the support materials and qualified teachers in place. Introducing English at Grade 1 means that every teacher that teaches at that level should have adequate English skills to respond to that challenge. It is not clear to me that this is currently the case in Rajasthan.It may be more difficult for the children going through this experiment to speak good English than those who have English introduced later intheir educational careers but by good teachers.There is much more that can be said on the cultural and ideological issues but let me stick here to the critical issue of learning.Dorothy K. GordonDirector-General, AITI-KACEPMB State House, AccraPhone: 679542-44Fax 679549www.aiti-kace.com.gh Dorothy Gordon" <director-general (AT) aiti-kace (DOT) com.gh> ======= "Satish Jha" <satish.jha > I believe this subject is worth debating.When there was murmurs about Sanskrit being supported by the BJP led governments, we had issues with that. When Murli Manohar Joshi wanted our culture as the foundation of all education, we ridiculed him. When Tamilnadu wanted Hindi to be removed because there were some zealots trying to impose it, we had a nationwide agitation and derailed the nationalization of Hindi in any real sense by years, passing the buck on to what has become Bollywood. And we continue to see things with the eyes of ideology rather than universal progress.However, from what little I have been able to observe regarding languages, it appears that languages love to be in bed with prosperity. How many of us really speak our mother tongue or the national language at home in case we have had an opportunity to become officers (as in IAS etc), managers (as in any reasonably sized organization), international academic, successful lawyers, doctors, architects, CAs or any other professional career in a metropolitan environment?What is seen to divide India- the part that is fast being termed as "India Shining" and the "Bharat-waiting!”? Why is it that the Bimarustates of India are also the ones that are the least equipped with any spread of English- as in Bihar, UP, Uttaranchal, MP, Rajasthan,and Haryana etc? What impact does the universalisation of a global language have on the culture and aspirations of the people? I believe Rajasthan education minister may have just triggered something that may expand the horizons of the students of Rajasthan and better prepare them to understand the world as they grow up. They may even become better informed citizens- if not better citizens per se, they may become better decision makers even if they do not make all decisions right, they may become better equipped to articulate their viewpoints in an increasingly globalising world even if they may not win the world.Do we still see colonization where globalization is a dominant force? Do we discern and differentiate between what was and what is becoming the dominant force in changing our lives on the planet. A language that better prepares us is what we need to learn. What keeps us blindfolded or blocks our vision in any which way, what keeps us cocooned, from appreciating other cultures etc will only hinderprogress.==========Hindus are intoxicated in Slavery and Blind to facts When I mail any article then usually I get lot of response. Sometimes people raise some silly questions, which does not make any sense and show their complete mental bankruptcy and extremely poor intelligence. In my article Ill affects of retaining and propagating English in Bharat, some body asked me a question that if Sanskrit is such a great language then how come it is not a world language. The simple answer is that colonizers want to destroy the culture, language, and civilization of the conquered people. Muslims destroyed many libraries and temples of learning. British destroyed Bharatiya education system. When Sanskrit teaching was stopped and Sanskrit institutions were closed down, then many people fought and agitated for the survival of Sanskrit language. Realizing the importance of Sanskrit, even some English people also supported in saving Sanskrit language. Due to help of some English people, continuation of teaching of Sanskrit was saved to a small extent in Kolkotta. Like struggle for independence of Bharat, there has been struggle for saving the teaching of Sanskrit in Bharat. Books are available which describe the struggle for saving Sanskrit from destruction by British people. These books have been mentioned by Truth magazine. These facts might not be well known to public to a great extent. Sanskrit is such a great language that western scholars after studying the major languages of the world proved that Sanskrit is the only language, which is most perfect language from, compute point of view. It is just the colonizers tendency to prove that even their garbage is better than the gold of conquered people. Even the Christians accept now days that Christian religion has got many flaws, even they convert non – Christian people to Christians saying that it is the only true and most perfect religion. Another person said that I did not mention the name of Munshi Prem Chand and many other famous Hindi writers in my article. This person did not realize that I was not writing article about Hindi authors. I was just trying to make a point that even obscure English authors of western world are well known in Bharat than Hindi authors. Hindus have slavery not only in their blood and bones but this slavery has converted them into animals. Many Bharatiya are no more than equivalent of dogs of English people. The sad fact is Bharatiya mental slave people have started enjoying their slavery and their animal type behavior. They have no desire to become free from mental slavery and become human beings again. These people forward thousand arguments in support of their slavery. If some body mentions their slavery, then they curse the people who tell them that they are mentally slave people and they should become free from slavery. Till people realize they are mentally slave, till then they would stay in animal state and would keep cursing persons who tell them to become free again. ======== Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhattathiri Posted November 25, 2007 Report Share Posted November 25, 2007 The Holy Gita is the essence of the Vedas, Upanishads. It is a universal scripture applicable to people of all temperaments and for all times. It is a book with sublime thoughts and practical instructions on Yoga, Devotion, Vedanta and Action. It is profound in thought and sublime in heights of vision. It brings peace and solace to souls that are afflicted by the three fires of mortal existence, namely, afflictions caused by one's own body (disease etc), those caused by beings around one ( e.g. wild animals, snakes etc.), and those caused by the gods (natural disasters, earth-quakes, floods etc). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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