Kali Nali - School for Alternative Education

Abstract

Acquiring knowledge, pursuing self-discovery, enlightenment... education has been defined in a number of ways. However, none of them mention anything about the stress of examination and marks, the pressure of studying multiple subjects and rote-learning. The Indian education system isoften accused of being an exercise in the latter. No child must be named a failure. The popular quote ‘Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid’ is a mirror to education system of India. Be it the parent or children, one must be aware of their true potential in their respective interests. There are many example across the globe where people have tried to re-model the education system and emphasised towards holistic development of children from primary education itself. That the environment influences human beings, is a truism stated time and again by those who hold interest in the relationship between the two. The environment influences us and determines our mood.2 Children in a way are quick learners, they learn and imitate their immediate surroundings, people or objects. My perception being that surrounding and built environment effects the most in children than any other cohesive elements. Food, cloth and shelter being the basic needs for human survival, ‘shelter’ is being emphasised or of greater importance here.