Issues in Special Education . . . . . . UNIQUENESS . . . An inside look by an outsider :Issues in Special Education . . . . . . UNIQUENESS . . . An inside look by an outsider - Cdr. KK Varma IN (Retd)
Slide 2 :“ Every child is unique .... “
..... ..... ??
- Sales Gimmick?
- Intellectual indulgence?
- Too important to ignore!
“Every child is unique, but as he grows
he looses his unique individuality & develops
a “personality”, with many personae”
... ... ... KK Varma
Slide 3 :Each one of the infinite creations in the world, is born with a potential that is “unique” to it; i.e. -it can never be compared with the potential of any one else.
One remains “unique” at all times, till one’s death. Uniqueness is the Quality of an Individual,
It is NOT a collective phenomena.
Emphasis has to be on Child, Not on Society. Uniqueness
Slide 4 :Corrupt Education gives corrupt Society;
Corrupt Society gives corrupt Education. Vicious Circle
Slide 5 :“VIDYA DADAATI VINAYAM”
- Ramayana. Present Competition Based Uniqueness Based Leads to Jealousy Leads to Understanding Violence Acceptance of Self Humility Destruction Peace & Prosperity Education
Slide 6 :- As Education has increased, World Peace has diminished
- Regions with less Education are still more peaceful
Some-thing has to be
fundamentally wrong
with Education
Slide 7 :Education Converting “potential Energy”
into “Kinetic Energy” Energy Work Constructive Destructive
Slide 8 :The Child
By the time a child is 4 years old, he has already saturated 50% of his Learning Faculty
The child is always learning; - while in sleep; - even in the womb
He is innocent, un-corrupted & tender; - can be moulded in any shape
The moulding is done, partly by his inherited “tendencies”; - but, by-en-large, by the Environment.
Slide 9 :The Environment
Most of the time, formal teaching begins after the child is 4 years old. So, he is learning with ‘half’ of his learning capability, that too, under the ‘adverse’ influence of the other half.
Emphasis is on ‘memory’, which is mechanical & clings to the past; instead-of “intelligence”, which is organic, future-oriented, true expression of uniqueness.
Slide 10 :The Environment
“Competition” is encouraged, which is anti- uniqueness, & leads to the wrong path.
There is “mass-education”, with fixed syllabus, central examinations, etc. – like a Factory, in which only ‘random sampling’ is possible.
Wrong emphasis on the Quality ! – Best teachers are required right at the ‘foundation level’, where the ‘generation-encounter’ first takes place.
Slide 11 :Teachers’ Dilemma in present system
He has to depend on Society for sustenance, His loyalty, therefore, is naturally to the Society.
He is also a ‘parent’ & victim of “generation gap”
Slide 12 :- I Know
- I know More Generation Gap
Slide 13 :“Special Education”
“Special Education” in its present ‘restricted’ sense, refers to the education imparted to the “special” children, as special care is required - lest they develop “inferiority complex”, which leads to “competition”.
Label “special” is ugly, like “harijan” ! Education needs to be liberated from such labels.
"Education liberates”
.. .. .. Yoga Vashishtha.
Slide 14 :Two "legs” of Special Education
Courage (‘abhaya’)
Awareness ( ‘viveka’)
Slide 15 :“Courage”
Courage to face the “Un-known”, with-out Fear.
“Known” ties-up with the past; every-thing worth living for, (God, Love, Beauty, Truth), lies in the domain of the “Un-known”
“Freedom from fear is the first freedom”
... ... ... J. Krishnamurty
Slide 16 :“Awareness”
Truth can only be experienced by one's own self.
Sensitivity towards spontaneity of life.
Understanding the “right” from “wrong”
Right balance of the “heart” & the “mind”.
Slide 17 :The "Complimentary Circle" Courage alone is ‘blind’
Awareness alone is ‘lame’
Slide 18 :Teaching based on Uniqueness
Instead-of trying to become like some one else, the child should be made to understand what he is, - & how he can grow to the full potential of what he is.
It is not important “what I have’; what is important is, “how I make use of what I have”.
Not “what I do”; but “how I do” whatever I do.
Slide 19 :Teaching based on Uniqueness
Instead-of “doing better than others”; let me “better my-self”, from what I did yesterday, to what I do to-day.
This is the “rat race” in a different dimension al-together! – the ‘right’ direction...
... from ‘wrong’ to ‘righteousness’ ..
... from ‘darkness’ to ‘light’ ...
... from ‘mortality’ to ‘immortality’ ..
Slide 20 :Teachers’ role in Special Education
“The role of a teacher is that of a ‘mid-wife’ In deliverance of the true self in man”
... ... ... Socrates
Teaching is not only a profession, it is a creative activity, a noble service, a sacrifice – a great responsibility.
The teacher must realize his own uniqueness – he can inculcate only those qualities in his students, that he himself has.
Slide 21 :Education is a Two-way Process Education (Lat.) Ex. + Ducere
To draw out !!
In the Process of Learning,
Both, the Teacher & the Taught,
Bring Out Each Other’s Potential
Slide 22 :Problems in Special Education We should go-ahead if it gives us pleasure. Others will follow. Only in sorrow does no one come to share. Shall we wait for others to start treading on the new path, first? 3. Learning how to live, is more important. Earning a living is very important. 2. Wrong means can never lead to right results. How can I survive without stealing, telling lies, etc. when every one around, goes on doing it? 1. Direction Problem
Slide 23 :Summary
All Education based on Uniqueness, i.e. “learning the life”, of which, “earning the living”, is only a part; is Special Education.
Special Education is not new; it is the “Differential Instruction”, (DI), in the ‘generalized’ sense.
DI must be made available to ALL children.
It has to start early; right from the 'womb'.
Thank You ... .. :Thank You ... .. & Best of Luck! .... .... K K Varma