Current education, with its constant focus on comparison and competition, inevitably leads children towards a state of unstable self-confidence. Children may appear confident but their confidence is easily shaken, for example by meeting someone they perceive as ‘better’. In this lonely state, cut off from their capacity to form mutually beneficial relationships, our children end up leading a deeply unnatural life.

There is an important distinction between sapeksh atmavishwas (relative self-confidence as described in the previous paragraph) and nirpeksh atmavishwas (absolute self-confidence). Nirpeksh atmavishwas comes from being able to see Reality as it is, from being able to think for ourselves. Absolute self-confidence means strong, grounded children who know how to live in harmony with other human beings and with nature.
The modern education system gives very little scope for it, but to build a strong India, we have to work towards having our children anchored in nirpeksh atmavishwas.
All children learn their mother tongues on their own and this complex task is achieved without any formal ‘teaching’. In spite of this common experience, we have all come to believe that ‘learning’ is a product of ‘teaching’.
Actually, teaching and learning lie in completely different categories. ‘Teaching’ is an external input based on logic (tark) and ‘learning’ is a process internal to the learner based on their own perception and realization (anubhav) on which the teacher has minimal control. This insight is one of the core principles of Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Education (see our book Learning To Learn). It is also found in the philosophy of ‘Active Learning’ that the Center for Teaching and Learning at Harvard University advocates today.
Neglecting this basic principle leads to two main problems:
Teaching/ learning becomes a burden for both teachers and students.
The children become dependent on the teachers/ books, are unable to develop their critical thinking skills and lose confidence in their ability to learn naturally. Basically, their leadership qualities are destroyed and they become followers.
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