Page 1 - 2.Lesson Notes-The Agenda for a National Education-181208080411
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SAI International School
                                                       Session-2020-21
                                                           Class- VIII
                                                       Subject- History
                                     Civilising the “Native”, Educating the Nation
                                 Sub Topic : The Agenda for a National Education
                                                             NOTES


               The Agenda for a
               National                  •  Some Indians impressed with the development in Europe felt that
               Education                     western education would help to modernize India.
                                         •  Huge capital was invested on education; to establish more schools,
                                             colleges & universities.
                                         •  Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore reacted against
                                             western education.


                                     English Education has enslaved us:

                                         •  Mahatma Gandhi urged that colonial education created a sense of
                                             inferiority in the minds of Indians. It was sinful and it enslaved
                                             Indians, it cast an evil spell on them. Moreover, it destroyed the
                                             pride Indians had in their own culture.
                                         •  Mahatma Gandhi wanted an education that could help Indians to
                                             recover their sense or dignity and self-respect.
                                         •  According to Mahatma Gandhi, Indian languages ought to be
                                             medium of teaching and the means to develop a person’s mind and
                                             soul.
                                         •  Mahatma Gandhi on Western education said, ” Focused on reading
                                             & writing rather than oral knowledge; value textbooks rather than
                                             practical knowledge”.






               Tagore’s ‘Abode       Tagore’s  ‘Abode of Peace’ :
               of Peace’
                                         •  Rabindranath Tagore started Shantiniketan in 1901.
                                         •  Tagore as a child hated going to school as he described school as a
                                             prison. He said he could never do what he felt like doing in school.
                                         •  He wanted to set up schools where children were happy, where
                                             they could be free and creative, where the child was able to explore
                                             their own thoughts and desires. He felt that childhood ought to be a
                                             time of self-learning.
                                         •  He emphasized the need to teach Science and technology at
                                             Shantiniketan along with art, music and dance.
                                         •  According to him, creative learning be encouraged only within a
                                             natural environment and hence set up his school 100 kilometers
                                             away from Calcutta in a rural setting. He saw it as an “abode of
                                             peace” (shantiniketan), where living in harmony with nature,
                                             children could cultivate their natural creativity.
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