A debate has started in India about that should we overload our kids with weight of heavy books and ask them gulp all the possible things which even adults can remember in one shot. The suggestions are that there should not be pass or fail system. The education should be given but no exams to be taken. We should try to find out what the child's interest is and then try to explore that area.
I am couple of months away from being a parent myself for the first time and this debate is making me also think about "Really what is the right way to educate our kid ?", "Can a child really know what is right for him/her ?". "Should parents interfere in selecting that path for kid ?".
We are living in a very competitive world where "Survival of the fittest" is the bottom line when it comes to careers. In such scenario will the hobby of kid will lead him/her to live a modest life ? Yes Bill Gates/Sachin Tendulker never completed their education, but is it realistic in comparing their achievements with each kid ?
These are not opinions but some questions for which answers are to be given.
US has always embraced such open/fun education from the past. But recently their are debates in the US that the kids are lagging behind as compared to other countries. Hence now the US wants to improve their education system by making them more competitive. Even the schools there will get the financial benefit from the US government if they promote such competitiveness amongst the students. On the contrary eastern countries wants to take the US route.
May be "very open" or "very strict" both environment will fail in the end. It will make way for the golden mean between the two, where the eduction will be real fun too and the students will be made competitive also to move ahead in their career lives.
So what will you do when you realize your kid wants to play cricket/soccer or some other arts like music/dance/painting/writing for his life ? Would you encourage him/her to do that or will you force him/her to choose the regular career paths like Engineer/Doctor/CA/MBA etc... ? Do post your thoughts on this.
1 comment:
I often myself ponder on the same question. And since I did my masters in the US I know the difference in Indian/US system of education. Parenting is a big portion of how the child will find a balance between education and experience for the future.
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