Sai Tips To Teachers

[Guest guest]

Hello everyOne,

 

Following is the e-version of "Sai Tips To Teachers",

a compilation of Swami's teachings/guidance to

teachers. The compilation was done by Mr. Kaushik

Narayan.

 

i've also attached a wordfile of the same for those

who would find reading from the attachment more

convenient.

 

Namaste,

 

 

 

 

SAI TIPS TO TEACHERS

 

THE DIVINE ASSURANCE

 

The profession of a teacher is the most responsible

one in every country. Of all professions, his is the

most noblest, the most difficult, the most important.

He has to cultivate in himself humility, compassion

and the spirit of loving service, much more than those

belonging to other professions, for he is an ideal and

example to his pupils.

 

As teachers, you have taken upon yourselves the task

of moulding and shaping the character of young ones.

This is your Sadhana. You don't have to do anything

else. This is the sanctifying feature of your life,

and you are certainly making your life a worthy

existence.

 

1. Swami, who all are ideal teachers?

 

Those good men and women who

Teach children how to act righteously

in the Future ahead of them,

And promote the spirit of

equality and affection

Are alone ideal teachers

 

The ignorant and the blind declare that a man, who

cannot earn a living, otherwise, becomes a teacher. On

the contrary, the teacher is really the one who

teaches others how to live.

 

2. In India, the teacher is known as Guru. What is the

correct meaning of the word?

 

Gukaaro Gunaatheetham, Rukaro Rupavarjitah

Gukaaro Andhakarascha Rukaro Thannivarah

 

Gu stands for Gunaatheetha (One who transcends for

three Gunas) and Ru for Rupavarjita (One who is

formless). Also, Gu means darkness, the darkness of

ignorance. Ru means to remove. Therefore, Guru is one

who dispels the darkness of ignorance.

 

3. Swami, why is the Guru hailed as Brahma, Vishnu and

Siva?

 

Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnuh

Gurur devo Maheswarah

Guru Sakshaath Parabrahma

Thasmai Sri Gurave Namah.

 

A teacher has to carry out the work of Brahma, Vishnu

and Siva; the Creator, Protector and Destroyer,

respectively. The Guru sows the seeds of virtue, of

wisdom, and of faith in the heart. He, is therefore,

Brahma, of the nature of the Creator. He cannot sit

back and silently watch the fate of the pupil, after

the first few lessons. He has to guide the pupil at

every step, foster and encourage good habits, sound

reasoning and valid emotions, and acts as Vishnu. The

Guru has also the duty cast on him, to watch every

step of the pupil, and warn him off, when he takes a

false step, or develops a bad habit, or entertains a

deleterious doubt. The Guru must be ever alert to

destroy the pests of vice and the weeds of sloth and

unsteadiness, acting as Maheswarah.

 

Also, the Brahma refers to Vaak (Word). The word

Vishnu means all-pervasive, referring to the

all-pervasive mind present in all beins. Maheswarah

refers to the seat of the heart. Guru Saakshaath Para

Brahma, means that the unity of speech, mind and heart

represents the Supreme Atma, which should be revered

as Guru.

 

4. What does the term Aacharya mean?

 

Those who practise and teach the same to others are

called Aacharyas. Aacharya is one who demonstrates

through practice.

 

5. Lord, why is the role of teachers so important?

 

Teaching is the noblest of all professions. It is also

the holiest Sadhana for self-realization. For, it

involves the cultivation of selfless Love and the

showering and sharing of that Love. The teacher moulds

the rising generation into self-confident,

self-reliant, Atma-conscious persons. He is the

architect of happy homes, prosperous communities and

peaceful nations. He has not only to equip himself

with knowledge and skills to inform and instruct, but

also the vision and insight, to inspire and transform.

Children absorb from teachers and elders habits and

manners, behaviour and beliefs, Therefore, a teacher

has to be constant example of the ideals he has to

implant in their hearts. He must excel in humility,

simplicity, morality and integrity, so that education

results in excellence. Such a teacher can be a beacon

of Truth, Love and Reverence. The children who grow

under his wise care will shine as Lamps of Love in

their homes, radiating courage, joy and hope. Let the

beacons never fade. Let the lamps be ever bright.

 

Good Teachers + Good Students = Good Nation

 

6. Bhagavan, what are the points that a teacher must

always keep in mind?

 

Do not imagine that your service to children is for

their sake. It is equally for your own sake.

 

You, who deal with children and their upbringing and

upliftment have to be aware of this preciousness and

of the need to express it in action.

 

Do not develop pride imagining the children to be in

need of your service. You need them as much as they

need you.

 

Resolve to sacrifice everything you have for the sake

of pure-hearted children who rely on you for guidance.

If a pupil has a vice, he alone suffers from it. But,

if a teacher has a vice, thousands are polluted.

 

Only a great teacher can mould a great student. You

can teach love to students, only through love.

 

You are dealing with tender children as their

teachers, guides and examples. You have to equip

yourselves for these roles by living the values that

distinguish man.

 

Human values cannot be learnt from teachers or text

books. Those who seek to impart values to students

must first practise themselves and se an example.

 

You must be vigiliant to prevent children from being

spoiled by the pest of injustice, violence, immorality

and falsehood.

 

Teachers are sculptors who shape the rocks into things

of beauty and significance, of utility and

inspiration. They study their pupils, their nature and

equipment, and decide on their roles in society, their

paths and the stages in their progress.

 

7. Swami, what are the Guru's duties to their pupils?

 

As teachers, you should not look forward to monetary

or material benefits and so you have ample

opportunities to make the child's heart and intellect

blossom through the rays of love. The Guru should

place before himself three duties to his pupils.

 

1. To develop in them joy of physical labour. Only

those who have gone through pain and suffering can

understand and sympathize with those who are in pain

and those who suffer.

2. To ensure physical health of the child so that it

can have a healthy mind.

3. To promote sharpness of intellect. Intelligence is

not to be measured or promoted by placing 'question

papers' before them and challenging them to write the

answers. What the pupil has learnt has to brighten or

modify his conduct or attitude.

 

8. Swami, kindly enlighten us regarding the duty and

discipline to be observed by teachers.

 

Duty is best discharged through discipline. Discipline

for teachers cannot be limited to punctuality and

adherance to the time table. Duty for them involves

intensive preparation, choosing the most effective

means of communication, and discovering how best to

instruct and inspire pupils under their care.

 

9. Should the teacher be in constant touch with the

parents?

 

Parents and teachers are the sculptors who have to

mould the shape and figure of the students for whom

they are responsible. Teachers should not be content

with merely teaching the children. They should contact

the parents and ascertain how the children are

behaving at home. Teachers must meet the parents of

their pupils at least once a month and warn them of

the evil consequences of fondling children over much.

 

10. How is teacher benefitted in teaching?

 

Teachers should regard their profession as one in

which they not only teach, but also continuously learn

more and more about the subject they have to deal

with. It should be like the battery in a car which

gets charged when the car is running. A good teacher

is a perpetual learner, for him, nature or Prakriti is

the teacher.

 

11. How should we behave before children?

 

Do not get angry or upset when the child does not

resond quickly or correctly. Repeat the instruction

again and again. Do not parade your weaknesses and

failings in the presence of the children. Do not

scandalize others or show off your rivalry with others

before them. This is the great spiritual practice to

desist from anger, hatred, pride or jealousy.

 

The teacher should not try to rule through easier

means of fear, for that is full of dangerous

consequences to the pupils. Try rather, the path of

Love.

 

12. What should we keep in mind when ridiculing,

reprimanding or punishing pupils?

 

When ridiculing, reprimanding or punishing pupils,

teachers must try to picture themselves in their

position and discover how they would have reacted to

the same, when they were pupils. Self-inquiry of this

kind will be very useful.

 

When you have to reprimand a child for some

misdemenour or delinquency, do not pounce all of a

sudden or terrorize by shouting. Instead, speak to

them, "If another child did the same to you or took

something belonging to you, or hit you, wouldn't you

feel hurt? When you do not like someone else to do

harm to you, in turn you too should refrain from doing

harm to others." Children will quickly understand and

feel sorry. They will resolve not to repeat such an

act or word again. They will yield to affectionate

advice.

 

Teachers should never curse their pupils, whatever the

provocation; they must always bless them. If they

swear like boors, the reduce themselves to the level

of a boor.

 

13. Swami, what when it becomes absolutely necessary

to use stern or harsh words and behaviour, in order to

correct children?

 

Even when you have to speak harshly to a child or

parent because all other means of bringing a point

home has failed, let your heart be soft, let it not be

hardened by prejudice or hatred. Although Love

inherently is soft and compassionate, in certain

situations it assumes a stern form. This is because

even out of Love, one has to sometimes use punishment.

The harsh words and the punishment are associated with

Love.

 

14. How to combine Love and Law effectively?

 

Teachers should cultivate love for their students.

They should treat children as their own. But they

should be cautious not to be too lenient. Discipline

should be enforced with love and understanding. Love

towards the students should be tempered with

discipline. Without discipline, the child's learning

will not progress properly. Love and Law - these again

go together. Today, man looks upon Love as one or the

guiding principles, but he forgets the fact that the

Law also has to give as to how best you can tap and

use your Love.

 

15. How should a teacher interact with his colleagues?

 

Teachers should speak to one another in loving terms

only. They should not indulge in mutual recrimination,

for the tender minds of children will be tarnished by

the slightest tinge of hatred that pollute the

atmosphere of love. Consult each person who is

involved in the task of unfolding, caressing and

caring. Let there be harmony in the office, the class

rooms, the dormitories, the dining room and the play

ground. The children will develop negative reactions

towards the teacher who slights the nanny or any other

employee or worker, like the cook or the gardener.

 

16. How should the temperament of the teacher like?

 

The teachers should also not lose their temper; they

should keep their emotions under control and not

exhibit depression, dejection or wavering of the will.

Always be cheerful and keep in your mind the fact that

you are engaged in the divine task of furthering the

unfolding of the petals of purity and piety in the

hearts of the children. More than all else, the

teacher must equip himself or herself with a calm and

quiet mind, prepared to meet all situations without

being ruffled by the buffeting of the environment.

When someone enquires whether you have a calm temper,

do not enraged! Some people get angrier and angrier

when they are asked this.

 

17. What is the role of educational institutions in

student development?

 

A school should not be considered to be just a common

place arrangement designed for teaching and learning.

It is the place where consciousness is aroused and

illumined, purified and strengthened, the place where

the seeds of discipline, duty and devotion are planted

and fostered into fruition. The primary school where

teachers accept children from the age of five, is the

very foundation, not only of all higher grades of

education, but even the advancement and progress of

mankind. The place where true teachers and students

are gathered should be filled with serene peace and

orderliness. Begin developing human values from the

primary school.

 

18. Swami, how to spiritualise routine education?

 

How does the earth rotate and why? How far is the sun

from earth and stars? How far do the rays of the sun

reach? To what distance can they travel in a minute?

By learning these facts, to what extent can man

profit? The more important items to study and watch

are: How broad is our heart? How much benefit has

society derived from you? How much are you aware of

your inner principle? What exactly is the purpose and

goal of this human existence?

 

The subjects that you teach in school may be

different, but though everyone, you can emphasise

human values. The human body is a vastly busy, well

organised chemical laboratory. When you hit the table,

the table too hits with equal force. Learn from this

that every action has to meet with reaction. While

teaching mathematics, you can explain the role of plus

and minus as affecting, even in life, the fate of man.

 

Do not turn them into experts in mathematics, unable

to add a simple domestic bill; scholars in geography

of America, but unable to direct a pilgrim who desires

to know in which direction Kasi lies; prodigies in

Algebra who are helpless when asked to define the area

of their own rooms; past masters in drill and

gymnastics, but all at sea when requested to sit in

the Padmasana posture; proficient in Botany, but

ignorant of the use of the common Tulsi plant found in

the courtyard of every Indian home. They can draw

realistic pictures of dogs and foxes, but their

handwriting remains as illegible scribble.

 

Consider every subject you teach as a means of

installing faith in God. When you teach physics, lead

the students into the magnificent mystery of

philosophy also. While teaching Botany, guide them

into the sublime secrets of the tree, and of the

Creator who has blessed them with it.

 

19. Swami, could you tell us some points that we ought

to teach our children, at the same time tend to

forget?

 

Do not instruct or instill in children magnificent

ideas and colossal thoughts. Teach them small,

practical ideas and simple modes of behaviour through

your own example and loving exposition.

 

The first task of teachers is the cultivation of

virtues within the hearts of the pupils.

 

While educating children, great attention has to be

paid to the cultivation of good conduct, good speech,

and good thought. You should teach it correctly, then

one feels, "Yes, it is right.", and one develops

confidence. Preaching must be based on practice. This

is important. We should not fear for anything.

 

Together with worldly education, you have to cultivate

the human values and undertake spiritual discipline.

 

Instruct children to revere their parents, this is the

first thing to do.

 

In cultivating human values, emphasis should also be

placed on avoiding wastage of money, food and time.

Even teachers are to be trained in this respect.

 

Tell them how they must forget the wrong done to them

by others and the good that they do to others. Make

them take up some positive taste and the negative

attitudes will fall off. Good habits will drive out

bad ones. You should keep the parents of the children

acquainted with the type of coaching you are giving to

children and also ask their advice.

 

Students have to be taught to use properly all the

talents and qualities given by God to them. Without

good qualities, life is worthless.

 

Teach your students that it is the same Aathma

(spirit) that dwells in all beings. You must ensure by

your conduct the esteem and respect of your students,

who are highly intelligent.

 

Teach your young pupils ideals of Bharat's great

sages, heroes and heroines who upheld the highest

virtues and set example to the world. They should be

taught to behave as ideal sons like Shravankumar. One

good son can redeem a whole family. Ekalavya

exmeplifies supreme devotion to the Guru. Prahlaada

should be held out as supreme example of total faith

in God. Teachers should instill such devotion to God

in the young.

 

Children should be taught to respect all religions. No

one should criticise the creed of others.

 

Students must be taught to love their mothers and

their motherland with deep devotion. Devotion to one's

country is one form of devotion to God. One who no

love for his mother, his motherland, his mother tongue

and his religion will be leading a meaningless life.

 

Teach your children the three P's: Purity, Patience

and Perseverance. Armed with these three qualities,

they can protect the nation better than any army or

atom bombs.

 

Students have to be taught the path of spirituality.

They have to acquire faith, which generate love.

Self-confidence is the basis and self-realization is

the roof.

 

20. What about the reading and writing habits of

children, Swami?

 

Unless training is given in reading aloud, mistakes

are bound to occur. Writing has also to be taught

well, for the knowledge the correct form of letter has

to be mastered by all. Or else, even here, a tiny slip

might change sublime idea into ridiculous jargon.

 

One point i have to emphasize is that you should be

careful, while handling some books being published for

school use by so-called scholars, at the present time.

The teacher should give only good books to the

children which inspire in them good and noble ideas.

You should wean them away from taking to reading all

trashy books which corrupt the minds.

 

21. Should we teach prayers to our children? What are

the points to be noted?

 

I suggest that you should have prayer as an important

item in the time table of the classes; for, through

prayer, you can draw unto yourselves the grace of God.

Teach children the habit of daily prayer, when they

rise from bed and when they lie down to sleep after

the day is over. Do so yourself. You will find that it

adds calm and contentment.

 

Let the children realize that prayer is universal and

that prayer in any language addressed to any Name

reaches the same God. Let them understand that God can

be invoked through a picture of an idol to fulfill

man's sincere desire, provided it is helpful to others

as well as to oneself.

 

Another point. You have to teach the equal validity of

all faiths. Teach them the quotations from the Bible,

the ideals of Christianity. So, too, use the sacred

texts of Zorastrianism, Buddhism, Islam, etc. to

acquaint them with the ideals aloft by those faiths.

 

When teaching the recitation of bhajans or poems of

hymns, you have to pay attention to the correct

pronunciation of each sound, the correct pronunciation

of each letter, for otherwise, the meaning is liable

to be wrapped out of recognition. Since words in

Indian languages get transformed when written or

pronounced in conjunction with other words, there is a

duty cast on you to teach how they are to be

separately recognized and identified.

 

22. Bhagavan, what is the relevance of story telling?

How should we go about with it?

 

You must examine every story or account that you place

before the children from the point of view of

individual faith and social harmony. Does this lead

the child to a better, more harmonious, a more

God-oriented life? This is the question you should ask

yourself.

What is not known to the children are the stories and

verses that embody our culture. That is why we must

teach these tenderhearted children the stories of

ideal people who lived in the past and the lives of

the persons from our Puranas and history. The teachers

must tell the children inspiring tales of our saints

and heroes and plant love for spiritual literature.

 

Tell the children what they cannot learn by

themselves, by observation, namely the stories of the

Ramayana, the Bhagavata and the Mahabharata. Tell them

also stories from the Bible, the Buddhist texts, the

Zend Avestha and the Quran. Select stories from the

scriptures of all faiths to interest the children in

the values of good life. Tell your pupils stories from

the scriptures of all religions, so that they can

realize that the saints and seers of all lands are

equally good and great. Do not talk about differences

between religions in the beginning, rather stress the

obvious similarities, so that the tender minds in your

charge are not shocked or confused. Do not belittle

any one religion or give predominance to another.

 

Some of you, I find, are over enthusiastic. You have

taught the children stories that are too long and made

the cream in the whole stuff. Do not tax their memory

over much. Short stories twenty to twenty five lines

long, will be the best. Don't make them best learn by

rote, for, what they learn under such pressure will

soon be forgotten. It will not transform the mind by

soaking into it. The incidents and the morals they

illustrate have to be imprinted in the heart. They

must learn not 'by heart', but for and through the

heart.

 

23. Bhagavan, what is true education?

 

The word education is derived from the Latin root

educate. What does it mean? It means to bring out what

is inside. What is that has to be brought out? Every

form of knowledge and capacity is latent in man. He in

endowed with all types of potentialities physical,

mental, spiritual and ethical. The true aim of

education is to make explicit the innate powers of

man.

 

These are of two types. One relates to the knowledge

of external things and the organ that manifests this

power is the head (brain). The organ that enables one

to bring out the inner knowledge is the heart. The

former relates to physical existence, while the latter

to higher learning or living in its true sense. Life

will become ideal only when both these types of

knowledge are made to manifest in harmony.

 

Vidya means Vid (light) and ya (that which gives). So

Vidya or education has to shed lifht and illumine the

dark spots in the mind and intellect.

 

Apart from bookish knowledge, one must have general

knowledge. Besides, one must attain knowledge of

discrimination, which helps one to distinguish between

good and bad, right and wrong. But above all, one

should attain practical knowledge, which comes only

after getting the knowledge of discrimination.

 

Shri Krishna declared: "Adhyaathma Vidya Vidyaanam"

(Among various kinds of knowledge, I am the Knowledge

of the spirit). Education is not the acquisition of

burdensome information regarding objects and men. It

is the awareness of the immortal spirit within, which

is the spring of joy, peace and courage.

 

24. Oh! Teacher of teachers! What does true education

aim at?

 

When one receives education that is

based on truth and eternal values,

He will be able to achieve liberation

Without having to go through

the process of submergence in Samsara

Therefore, come forward to get

the benefit of such education.

 

True education lies not in education, but

transformation of character and personality;

transformation of Head, Heart and Hands - a Head full

of great ideals, a Heart full of love and compassion

and Hands ever eager to serve and assuage pain.

 

What is necessary is not EHV (Education in Human

Values), but 3-HV (3H - Head, Heart, Hands and

V-Values) The hands should carry out what the heart

has approved the ideas emanating from the head.

 

"Vidya dadathi Vinayam" (Education confers humility).

Humility does not mean mere bending of head. Only an

attitude of mind free from egoism, ostentation and

attachment can be called humility. Education should

instill in the student fear and faith. Fear does not

mean timidity. It is fear of sin and faith in God that

have to be promoted.

 

Education is for life, not merely a living. Character

is the most precious gift of education. The sign of a

person who has had an education is good manners.

 

The end of education is character. And, character

consists of eagerness to renounce one's selfish greed.

The end of knowledge is wisdom. There is no use if

knowledge grows while desires multiply, it makes only

a hero in words and zero in action. Unless knowledge

is transformed into wisdom, and wisdom is expressed in

character, education is a wasteful process.

 

Education confers humility, endows one with the

authority to command; that will entitle one to

affluence. With the help of this affluence, charity

and compassion can be made fruitful, and by this

means, happiness in this world and peace in the next

can be won. Education must award self-confidence, the

courage to depend on one's strength. Education should

serve to enlarge the vision and broaden the outlook of

the people.

 

25. Who are all responsible for the deplorable state

of education today?

 

Who is responsible for the deplorable state of

education today, for the lack of discipline among

students and the absence of moral values among

educated persons? It is not correct to blame the

students. Teachers do not understand the needs and

impulses of students and the students, for their part

have no great regard for their teachers. The

management of the educational institution and the

educational administrators do not understand the

problems of the teachers or the real needs of the

students. Politicians use the situation for

interfering with the educational system. Conditions

arise in which the police have to intervene and

sometimes close the educational institutions. For such

a situation, the parents, the teachers, the

administration and the government are all to blame.

Each in responsible in some way for the malaise in the

system. All concerned have failed to recognize their

respective obligations.

 

26. What is government's role in the field of

education?

 

We find that every time there is a change in the

education ministry, the educational policy is changed

,with the result there is instability and uncertainty.

The main defects in the educational system remain

uncorrected. As a result, the students suffer. The

committees which the government appoints to bring in

due changes in the educational system usually turn

into come-for-ten committees. They come and prepare

reports that never see light.

 

To restore the supremacy of human values in all fields

of national life, an association should be set up by

leading scholars and educationalist in the country.

This association should have no links with the

government. It is only if it is autonomous and

completely independent that it can achieve its

objectives.

 

27. Swami, at present educational system differs from

state to state. Has education to be standardized?

 

Another problem relating to our education is the

difference in the system from state to state. These

differences make it difficult for parents who are

liable to transfer to get their wards admitted in the

respective classes in a different state. There should

be some uniformity in the system of education

throughout the country. Vice-Chancellors and

Principals of colleges should get together and device

a common system of higher education on the whole

country. They should ensure that examinations are

completed by April 20 and the results are announced by

second week of June so that all colleges can reopen

before the end of June. This will enable the students

to seek admission to any institution of their choice

anywhere in the country. It is essential to have a

common schedule of examinations for all states.

 

28. What is the relation between education and jobs?

 

The educational system we inherited from Macaulay's

days was designed to train students for filling

certain types of jobs primarily to provide an army of

clerks for the foreign administration. The link

between education and jobs have to be broken.

Education should be for life and not for a living. It

should prepare you for all the responsibilities of

citizenship.

 

 

29. How does involvement in Politics affect our system

of education?

 

There is a basic rule that should be observed by

students and teachers. They should totally eschew

politics. The students can enter politics, if they

choose, after completing their studies and starting

life of their own. I am not against politics or

politicians. Politics is an essential element in the

growth of a country. But what I urge is that one

should not venture into it in an immature adolescent

stage. When a student indulges in politics, he cannot

be good in his studies or in his politics. He will

only be wasting his precious life.

 

There is no room for teachers to indulge in politics.

Their sole duty is to take good care of the students

entrusted to their care and shape them into useful,

patriotic and worthy citizens, reflecting the

culture and traditions of the land. Teachers who take

to politics do so for their own selfish ends to

improve their position and influence. They are, in

fact, betraying their trust as teachers.

 

Unfortunately, teachers are not doing their part. They

have their own "Unions" and indulge in undesirable

activities, which are followed by students in their

turn.

 

30. How are student leaders to be chosen in

educational institutions?

 

What about elections to student bodies? We find that

these elections are conducted on the lines of Assembly

elections, involving considerable expenditure of

campaigning through posters, etc. Sometimes these

electoral battles have resulted in damage to property

and life. A great deal of energy and money is

frittered away on this wasteful exercise. It is no

doubt necessary to develop qualities of leadership

among students. But this should be done in a proper

way. Students after all remain in colleges for a brief

period. The Vice-Chancellors and Principals of

Colleges should sit together and devise methods to

instill in students a sense of discipline and to

promote good behaviour and keenness to pursue their

studies. There should be no elections, but only

selection. The Principal should select a student, who

is not only proficient in studies, but is also

exemplary in his behaviour and in rendering selfless

service to others, and make him the leader of

students. Elections are conducted for so-called

students union. What is the meaning of "Union"? It is

"coming together of all persons". But what we actually

see in students unions are only dissensions, disunity

and mutual rivalry.

 

31. What about education and money, Lord?

 

One reason for lack of discipline is the superior role

of money in educational institutions. They have become

business houses, temples of Lakshmi, the Goddess of

riches, instead of remaining temples of Saraswati, the

Goddess of learning.

There should be no link between money and education.

When you collect money from outsiders, you become

tools in their hands. When you provide education free,

you can control the students. Now we find that for a

seat in Medical College, one has to pay Rs 2 lakhs or

more. Parents who are anxious to give a medical

education for their children somehow raise the money.

When a student has gone through the medical course in

this way and sets up a practice, his first concern is

to earn money by whatever dubious means to recover the

amount spent on his education. He has to resort to

corrupt practices. Once this process starts, his

character is undermined.

 

32. What about spending money for sophisticated

equipments that facilitate education?

Excessive use of computers and calculators is fraught

with dangers. They make the students abjectly depend

on the machine, without relying on their abilities. It

must be realized that the human brain is the foremost

computer. We must train our children to make proper

and good use of their brains. It is not enough to

acquire expensive, sophisticated equipments for

education. We must know how to make full and effective

use of them. Only then will the money spent on them be

rewarding and justified.

 

33. Swami, is it true that today's education is not

causing much benefit to students?

 

Morality and character are confined to books

The hearts are filled with foul things

The hands are used for selfish purposes

This is the progress made in education today

One repays with harm the good done to him

One betrays the man that feeds him

Students mock at teachers

This is our progress.

 

What we are teaching and learning in schools of today

cannot be considered Real Education. Though our

present system of education is extolled as national

education, it is in fact anti-national.

Today's education is knocking off the "S" from "Skill"

with the result that the knowledge is "Killed" with

disastrous results for mankind.

Most people think that the purpose of education is to

acquire a degree, a qualification.

So what is this degree of B.A? B.A. + D (D stands for

degree) becomes

BAD, and if you more qualified, you become M.A + D =

MAD!

 

Modern education develops the intellect and imparts

skills, but does not promote good qualities in any

way. Education today does not impart to students the

capacity or grit to face the challenges of daily life.

The educational field has become a play ground of

ignorance

 

34. What is the plight of teaching today, Swami? What

remedy can you suggest?

 

Teaching has become a process of transmission from

head to head. Teachers teach with their head and

students listen to them with the head. Students go to

the examination hall with head load of information,

empty it out on the answer books, and return home

empty-headed. This kind of student may earn degrees,

but what good will these youth bring to the people

around? True teaching goes straight to the heart and

imprints itself permanently on the hearts of the

students.

 

By preparing students merely for answering certain

questions in examinations they are induced to

concentrate only on portions of a subject as a whole.

There is need for an inter disciplinary approach so

that the connection between one subject and another is

properly understood.

 

35. What is the plight of the teacher-student

relationship today? What all remedies can be

suggested?

 

Today, the educational process is denied to the

aspirant, if he fails to pay fees; the teacher too

feels that he has no duty to teach, if in a certain

month he is not paid the salary. Students pay for

being taught; teachers are paid for the teaching they

do. Money decides what is taught and how it is learnt.

 

"Pay and receive; be paid and give." This is the bond

between the teacher and the taught. "Love, reverence

and affection" have no place in the transaction. The

teacher and the pupil will both be immersed in joy

only when Love that does not calculate the reward

binds them together. A good teacher knows his pupils

better than their mothers do and cares even more.

Like wise, teachers should not be bound by

consideration of hours of work. When necessary, they

should be prepared to stay on for hours to remove the

doubts of students and help them to complete their

assignments. This is your duty.

 

36. What are the defects of the systems of examination

today?

 

In ancient times, examinations were held not as an

imposition on students, but for the development and

protection of the personality of students.

Examinations today have become a kind of punishment

for students.

Unlike present day examination which are primarily

memory tests, examinations in those days were morality

tests.

 

There are certain undesirable trends in our

examination and promotion system. One such is

promotion from first standard to tenth standard

without tests or examination. This demotivates the

students from learning.

 

The other is arbitrary fixing of a certain percentage

of marks as pass marks. If one gets 25% or 30% marks

in a subject, a student is supposed to have obtained

pass marks and he is promoted. This only means that

everyone has the licence to commit errors to the

extent of 70% to 75% as a student, how many more

mistakes will he commit when taking up a job? He may

commit even 100% mistakes and get away with it. "Look

up and aim high" should be the motto. Low aim is

actually a crime.

 

There is another undesirable practice now due to the

interference of extraneous persons. The Education

Minister gives some grace marks, the Chief Minister

gives his own quota of grace marks and the Education

Secretary gives some grace marks! With these quotas of

grace marks in prospect, which student will have

interest in his studies?

 

These very students would be the future leaders of the

nation. Therefore, there is a need of proper

evaluation system to maintain the standards of

education. Concessions and act of kindness can be

shown in any other fields, but not in education. This

can be achieved through strict discipline.

 

37. What are the points to be kept in mind while

conducting an examination?

 

In preparing question papers for examination, teachers

should observe certain rules. The questions should

related to what has been taught to the students. Very

often, question do not bear any relation to what the

student has been taught or to the prescribed syllabi.

This results in misbehaviour by the students. The

examiner should also know the answers for the

questions he prepares. Teachers often fail to complete

the syllabus within a prescribed period.

 

38. Swami, do examinations form the only method of

evaluating the students?

 

Far more important than the marks are the remarks the

students earn. Humility, reverence, compassion,

forbearance, sacrifice and self-control are the

qualities which reveal the outcome of true education.

 

39.What is the best reward for a teacher?

 

Look forward to no remuneration or reward, except the

joy on the faces of the children. The Vedas tell us:

"Not by acts, not by progeny, not by riches, only be

renunciation can Immortal Bliss can be achieved. So

renounce, renounce! Serve and give your knowledge,

your delight and your love gladly to the children.

Serve thus the society and people.

 

40. What should be the guiding determination of a Sai

teacher?

 

In spreading the message of these values to the world,

you should all co-operate with each other and act in

harmony. Proceed with courage and then propagate the

values. If anyone questions you, you should retort

confidently, "Yes, I have values". If anyone asks you

and you say, "I shall try", then the whole programme

fails. You should say that you are following values.

If you do not practice and anyone questions you, then

you have to feel bad about it. Every teacher must

examine himself: "I am teaching this; am i practising

it?"

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