Educational thoughts of Dr.S.Radhakrishnan

EDUCATIONAL THOUGHTS OF Dr.S.Radhakrishnan

Dr.S.Radhakrishnan was one of the greatest educationists in India. He not only enlightened India but also the whole world by his outstanding personality and intellect. He shines like a luminous star in the galaxy of intellectuals. He was a great son of India. His birthday is celebrated as the Teacher‟s day in India. He was the torch-bearer of the Indian education. His contribution to the field of education, philosophy, religion, culture, science etc. was immemorial. Dr. Radhakrishnan defines education as the instrument for social, economic and cultural change.

Aims of Education:

 · Development of Personality: A satisfactory system of education aims at a balanced growth of the individual and insists on knowledge and wisdom. It should train the intellect, and furthermore, wisdom can be gained by the study of literature, philosophy and religion that interpret the higher laws of the universe.The guiding motto of an education system should be the development of personality and faith, formation of character, cultivation of social, moral and spiritual values. In Radhakrishnan‟s opinion, the aim of all education is man-making.

 · Development of Character: According to Dr.S.Radhakrishnan, Character development is an important aim of education. Education for character building has been advocated by him. To him character of a man is the aggregate of the tendencies of his mind or the sum-total of the impressions created by his action and speech. Real character of a man can be judged from his common actions and not from his great performance. Dr.S.Radhakrishnan said, character is destiny and integrity of character is necessary in every walk of life. Education will be incomplete if it does not initiate in the child the values of love, truth, goodness and beauty. He felt that character building is key to all education.

 · Preservation, Enrichment and Transmission of Culture: Dr.S.Radhakrishnan defines culture as the transformation of one‟s being to produce sweetness of temper, sanity of mind and strength of spirit. He attached great importance to cultural aspect of education. Man has created his culture at a great cost of time and labour. A country enriched in culture is advanced in many respects. Education has to play a key role to preserve, enrich, transmit and modify the culture of a country. Education makes the culture fruitful.

 · Development of Spiritual Values: Dr.S.Radhakrishnan has given a right place to education for developing spiritual values among the people. He has attached great importance to spiritual education. He thinks that education which does not inculcate spiritual feelings in students is not true. Without a spiritual bent of mind, the physical and intellectual development of a person remains stunted.Education should develop human attitude and manly spirit through the refinement of heart and development of good habits.

 · Development of Vocational Efficiency: Dr.S.Radhakrishnan emphasized education for the development of vocation efficiency. This aim of education is to enable the child to attain certain skills in order to become economically self-sufficient. In order to enable him to become self reliant, education should aim at imparting vocational courses. 

 · National Integration : National Integration is an important aim of education. It is also one of the basic needs of India. Religious education, mass education programmes like social services, community living, and study of social services were emphasized for the development of nationalism.

· International Understanding: Dr.S.Radhakrishnan considered International Understanding as an important aim of education. He advocated for the creation of new world order, growth of world community and world citizenship. He emphasized education as a means for creating International Understanding and mutual cohesion among the people across the border.

· Development of Scientific Attitude: Aims of education should enable the child develop his talents to create, discover and invent something new, novel and useful. Science is to be used for productive work. We should develop spirit for inquiry and dedication in the pursuit of science and scholarship.

 · Radhakrishnan wants that realizing the aim of education is to bring nearer to God. In this aim one should study the various aspects of education.

 · Through education, Radhakrishnan wants to establish a classless society in order to bring equality between man and man. He wants that education should develop universal brotherhood.

· The most important aim of education is to help us to see the other world, the invisible and intangible world beyond space and time. Education has to give us a second birth, to help us to realize what we have already in us.

 · Education should enable one to imbibe attitude of simple living and high thinking

 · The true aim of education, according to the Indian sages, is second birth. We are born into the world of nature and necessity; we must be reborn into the world of spirit and freedom. In silence and meditation we discover the spirit in us, learn truth and love, acquire grace and strength by which we can implement our ideas.

Curriculum:

 · According to Dr.S.Radhakrishnan curriculum must be related to life. Radhakrishnan has defined his concept of curriculum in his university commission report published in 1949. He wants that a student should study a number of subjects such as: Languages, Literature, Social Studies (Geography, History, Economics etc.), Philosophy, ethics, theology, Morality, politics, civics, Science (Natural, Human etc.), Mathematics, Art/Music/Fine Arts, Vocation / Profession Subjects, Sports and Physical Education, Yoga, and Religion,.

· He suggested the study of three languages like Mother tongue / Regional Language, Federal Language Hindi and link language English. He has attached importance to the study of Sanskrit on the logic that the knowledge of Sanskrit is essential to understand indigenous culture and also the noble ideas described in Vedas and Upanisads, the Bhagavad Gita and other scriptures. He stressed the mother tongue as the medium of instruction at lower level and replacement of English from higher classes gradually by mother tongue

 · In order to expedite intellectual development Radhakrishnan has suggested the subjects like, History, Geography, Economic, Philosophy etc. The knowledge of the above subjects is essential for the students to use it for the development of society and the human race

· Radhakrishnan also suggested Religious and Spiritual education, Vocational courses, Women education and mass education in curriculum.

· In the curriculum for women education, he wants to include some subjects which may be particularly useful for their specific duties in life. For women education, he suggested the subjects like Literature, History, Science, Religion, ethics, Puranas, Housekeeping, Arts, Sewing, Domestic work, home science, child rearing, worship, meditation and studies inculcating ideal characters in the women. Education should make her familiar with the problems of home management and attainment of skills in meeting them. In his view, no society can progress satisfactorily with the backwardness of woman race 

· Dr. Radhakrishnan was an idealist. His curriculum is based on idealistic thoughts.

· Intellectual and moral activities which form base of Dr. Radhakrishnan's curriculum, poetry, art mathematics must be taught.

Methods of Teaching:

• Dr.S.Radhakrishnan advocated no fixed method of education for acquisition of knowledge. He is regarded as the greatest teacher in India. He emphasized on two things: One is What to Teach? And another one is How to Teach? What to Teach? refers to the content / Subject Knowledge and How to Teach? refers to methodology. A teacher must know these things. These things are equally importance for a teacher in order to make the teaching effective. He stressed the following methods of teaching such as: 
•  Observation
•  experiments
•  Discussion 
•  Learning by meditation
•  Text book method
•  Seminar
•  Tutorial system: Radhakrishnan introduced a tutorial system in Universities under his administration. This system brings teacher and taught closer to understand each other.
•  The relationship of nature and society
•  He viewed that teaching of moral values should be through real and living examples.
• He thinks that man through regular practice in the Yoga and Meditation may be helped in reaching his goal.
• He also accepts the importance of internal knowledge for experience in different subjects
•  Intuition is the source of knowledge, Self-knowledge is the source of knowledge, Reasoning is source of knowledge. Method of teaching cannot be lecture, cannot be demonstration. It can be question-answer and discussion. It should provide adequate opportunities to the students for conversation, debate, discussion and Exchange of opinions and thoughts with their teachers.
• He wants that student should come closer to society and nature to understand.

Discipline :

 Dr.S.Radhakrishnan believed that lack of self-control results in a deterioration of standards of scholarship, character and integrity. Yoga and spiritual activities are not possible without discipline. He believed in discipline that only would lead to self-realization. He stresses that the students should be trained to approach life‟s problems with fortitude, self-control and a sense of balance which the new conditions demand. There should be adequate provision for games and other corporate activities.

The Role of Teacher:

 Emphasizing the important of teacher, Radhakrishnan said, “Teacher is the corner stone of the arch of education”. Really, without quality and effective teacher the educational institution, curriculum, teaching aids, Educational planning etc. are meaningless.

 · Dr Radhakrishnanan views on an “ideal teacher” are contrary to many of the common teaching practices today. He warned against idolizing teachers as gurus and becoming a congregation of faith without openness of mind. He encouraged the students to question and criticize their teachers.

· According to Radhakrishnan a true teacher always helps us to think for ourselves in the new situations which arise. They try to widen our knowledge and help us to see clearly.

· He believed that, „A good teacher must know how to arouse the interest of the pupil in the field of study for which he is responsible. He must himself be a master in the field of study and be in touch with the latest developments in the subjects, he must himself be a fellow traveller in the exciting pursuit of knowledge‟.

· He says “A teacher who has attained the goal may help the aspiring soul. Truth was not only to be demonstrated but also communicated. It is relatively easy to demonstrate, a trust but it can be communicated only by one who has thought, willed and felt the truth. Only a teacher can give it with his concrete quality. He that has must be a proper teacher who embodies truth and tradition, only those who have the flame in then can stir the five in others”.

 · Teachers as Removers of Spiritual Blindness. Guru is the combination of two words- “Gu‟ means darkness and “ru‟ means to remove. In our country look upon teachers as “gurus‟, “acharyas‟: its indicate “achar‟ or conduct is exemplary is good. Teacher must love the good and detest the bad. “Andhakar‟ is not merely intellectual ignorance but spiritual blindness. Who is able to remove that kind of spiritual blindness is called a “guru‟.

·  Teachers-Reservoirs of New Spirit- Teachers are the reservoirs of this new spirit, the new spirit of adventure in the intellectual matters, in social matters, in political matters. If you do not have that spirit, you cannot communicate that spirit to the youth, who are entrusted to your care. Teacher must know what this country stands for and they must be able to communicate the vitality not merely instruction.

·  Teacher to Set Example- It is education, it is instruction, it is knowledge and it is also the example which the teacher give

The Relevance of Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan’s educational thoughts in Today’s India:

If we look into the present educational scenario of our country, we get lots of murky depiction of it. There are a few outstanding acne radiance sprinkled at this time. Radhakrishnan commanded an excellent vantage point from where he could see that the whole human business was moving towards a fatal destiny, and only education of the right sort could save it from a tragic finale. Dr. Radhakrishnan‟s contribution to education has been exclusive and exceptional. He has made a solid and splendid contribution to the modern India and world.

 · The present education in India suffers from the crisis in character and loss of moral values. In this regard, Radhakrishnan educational thought is very pertinent in order to develop character and moral values.

 · The report of the University Education Commission under Radhakrishnan's Chairmanship was, perhaps, his greatest contribution to education in free India. It covered a wide range of subjects, like falling academic standards, status and salaries of teachers, de-linking of jobs from degrees, religious education, medium of instruction, reservation of seats for the backward, among other things. 

 · His educational thoughts are the combination of idealistic, realistic, humanistic, and existentialistic philosophy. It will fulfill the modern aim of education i.e., all-round development of child.

· Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan strongly advocated for free and compulsory education for all the children of the country irrespective of caste, creed, gender and socio-economic status. All Committees and Commissions in India have accepted this educational ideal in the country.

· Radhakrishnan supported the idea of equal rights and opportunity for both men and women in the field of education.

 · India is a multi-racial, multi-lingual, multi-political and multi-cultural country which stands in Unity in Diversity. So he anticipated dynamic models of education in this milieu. It will help in solving various problems arise in recent time.

 · India being a developing country has made progress in many areas like agriculture, industry, transport, sciences and technology including the technology for space travel. To continue this progress, India needs educated citizens, the basic requirement of which is surely “Universal literacy” or “Universalization of Education”.Radhakrishnan advocated for inclusive education with special emphasis on changing the fates of women and the deprived sections of society through education.

 · The ideology of Dr.Radhakrishnan about the education for democracy is very germane.

· Radhakrishnan‟s thought of Self-development, Man making, Self- expression respectively are the three important educational attempts for individual and national development.

 · The educational thoughts of Dr. Radhakrishnan throw immense values in modern times. Dr. Radhakrishnan opined that only the right kind of education could solve many problems of the society and the country.

 · Dr. Radhakrishanan's thoughts have unquestionably brought out deep cognitive significance of the intuitional process and relevance in modern thought, both in India and the West.(Anand, V., 2011).

 · The universities must focus on teaching democratic principles like liberty fraternity, equality and social justice, and explained in detail as to how understanding on each of these principles impact society. He argued against the demarcation of universities on lines of discipline streams as any education is incomplete without the knowledge of all the three streams (1) Science and Technology (2) Social studies including History (3) Humanities including language and literature, fine arts, ethics, philosophy and religion.

 · Modern age is the age of science and technology. Students are very much interested to use it in various spheres of life. As a result the human qualities day by day discouraged. Without development of human qualities in children, education is meaningless. Radhakrishnan was of the opinion that, science helps us to build up our outer life, but another discipline is necessary to strengthen and refine the living spirit. Though we have made enormous progress in knowledge and scientific inventions, we are not above the level of past generations in ethical and spiritual life. 

 · Radhakrishnan emphasized spiritual education in India. Education in India should aim at fostering spiritual values, faith in God, good manners, honesty and fellow-feeling. This has great relevance for modern times particularly in this age of science and technology .

· Radhakrishnan laid emphasis on the development of vocational efficiency in the students. He suggested for introduction of agriculture as a subject in rural schools, opening of agriculture colleges and Rural Universities in the rural areas. Like Gandhi, he opined for vocational education along with general education. The present education system is unable to develop new enterprises and employment for the youth. In this context, Radhakrishnan's thought on vocational education is quite relevant and useful.

· According to Radhakrishnan national integration is an important aim of education. It is also one of the basic needs of India. Religious education, mass education programmes like social services, community living, and study of social services were emphasized for the development of nationalism. But at present education has a little impact on adult mind to tolerate and pay regards to other faiths and beliefs. In this connection, views of Radhakrishnan are very much relevant. 

· Radhakrishnan considered International Understanding as an important objective of education. He advocated for the creation of new world order, growth of world community and world citizenship. He emphasized education as a means for creating International understanding and mutual cohesion among the people across the border. It is essential to fight against various problems like terrorism, environmental pollution, poverty, unemployment and diseases from the world. 

Dr.S.Radhakrishnan's educational thoughts – concepts and functions of education, aims, curriculum, methods of teaching, discipline and the role of teacher are very relevant in the 21st century. Though Radhakrishanan is no more in the world but the volumes of work done and left with us will inspire the human civilization forever. There are very few men who have so deeply influenced the mortals in every nook and corner of the world and have so universally loved and respected as well. Every Indian will salute this great personality forever. His bequest can be doubted and debated upon by the contemporary critics, but his long-lasting impact cannot be wiped out from the mind of the modern man. Indeed, he will remain exponents of the modern Indian education. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan is a pioneer of the wholesome and boom of the educational philosophy and he flagged it on the heart of educational sphere.