NATUREism...

கல்வி என்பது சில புத்தகங்களை வாசித்து, சில தேர்வுகளில் தேர்ச்சிபெறுவதுடன் முடிந்து விடுவது இல்லை. அது நம் பிறப்பிலிருந்து இறப்பு வரை வாழ்க்கை முழுவதும் நிகழும் ஒரு தொடர் நிகழ்வு. – ஜிட்டு கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தி   கல்வி என்பது என்ன? அது எவ்வாறு இருக்க வேண்டும்?  கல்வி என்பது சமூக முன்னேற்றதிற்கான கருவி. பள்ளிகள் சமூகத்தின் முன்னேற்றத்திற்கு முக்கிய பங்காற்றியுள்ளது. முன்னேற்றம் என்பது ‘தற்பொழுது உள்ள நிலைகளைக் கடந்து, யாரோ ஒருவர் வகுத்த வேறு ஒரு மேம்பட்ட நிலையை அடைவது’ என்ற கண்ணோட்டம் ஒன்று உள்ளது. இந்த கண்ணோட்டத்தினால் மேலோங்கி நிற்கும் கருத்து, ‘சமூகத்தில் தற்பொழுது உள்ள நிலையில் எதுவுமே கற்கவோ பகுத்தாயவோ ஆவணப்படுத்தவோ மேம்படுத்தவோ தேவை இல்லை’. இதனால் கல்வியின்  உள்ளடக்கம் தற்போதைய  சமூக நிலைகளுக்கு அப்பாற்பட்டு இருக்க அன்றாட வாழ்க்கை சம்பவங்களும் நடைமுறைகளும் புறக்கணிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. இவ்வாறு கல்வி என்பது கற்பவர்களின் அன்றாட வாழ்வோடு தொடர்பற்று இருக்கின்றன. மனிதர்களின் பரிணாம வளர்ச்சியைப் போல, இந்த கல்வியும் அதனைச் செயல்படுத்தும் கருவிகளும் பரிணாம வளர்ச்சி அடைய வேண்டும். சமீபக் காலங்களில் க

“Sir, I told you there are owls in this school campus,” a student exclaimed after having caught sight of this beautiful bird standing idle on one of the branches of a badam tree just outside the school campus. --- Spotted Owlet We were doing a count of all the birds on campus, or what we called the Campus Bird Count , in one of the government schools in Puducherry with primary school students. Initially, there was a discussion amongst the students about the birds they were familiar with and where they had seen them. Students were very enthusiastic and were sharing their encounters, “I have seen many parrots on the tree.” “I have seen peacocks on the farm” “Crows are everywhere” “I have seen pigeons on the electric cable” “I have seen owls in the school” “Owls?”  I was surprised and checked with the teacher. “Though I have not seen it myself, I've heard people say that there are owls here within the campus,” the teacher said. “Don’t worry sir, I will

“Sir, there is it. It is pink in colour and beautiful,” thrilled a bunch of little girls. Looked like they have guessed something as their eyes were glint with eagerness. Teacher were showing them Pond Heron, beautifully camouflaged along the bunch of water hyacinth leaves. With a hunched neck, it looked still as rock beside the leaves. Girls had a tough time spotting the bird but after spotting the bird they looked confused. They couldn’t relate it with an actual bird as it stood there like a statuette. Once they looked convinced, they came with this observation where they claimed to have spotted another pond heron. Teacher had a closer look as it is not very far from them; may be 15-20 feet away. Taking a step forward, he bends. His eyes frowned and seem to have lost the high-spiritedness. Yet he tried to keep up his spirits for the sake of the children. “Wonderful observation. It is pink but not pond heron for sure. Why can’t you have a closer look and observe its f

“Sir, it went in,” said a group of little girls with a glint of excitement shone on their faces. They were standing on the bank of Bahour lake, one of the beautiful lakes in Puducherry; one of the largest. They were observing birds. Two little grebes parting ways “Oh yeah! Just check and tell me when it comes back,” replied the teacher, who organized a nature walk for the school children. Children carefully screened the surface of the lake for a few seconds. “There it is!” Little angels jumped out in excitement. “It came out in different place.  Looks like it swims very fast inside the water,” they added cheerfully. “Wonderful. Can we play a game the next time?” The teacher tried to lighten up the mood. The girls looked engrossed into the bird. They didn’t know the name of the bird yet. It looked dark and tiny from the distance. Little grebe takes a dip “It went in! It went in!” They gave out a loud outcry.  “Alright! The time starts now.” Teacher