Theos-Talk Archives (June 1998 Message tt00522)

June  22 nd

Dear Kym:

I sure agree with all you write.  Isn't the matter of motive at
the bottom of it all?

I mean if the parent, or the teacher, and the educational system
has the best interest of the child (looking at it as an Immortal,
that has returned for a new "day" of living) at heart, those
factors will be aimed at reawakening the best qualities and
capacities latent in that child.

Is there not a danger of too much categorizing and putting all
through a kind of wringer so that nice little patties of
stylized, educated  products, with a certificate of graduation,
emerge ?  And then, there are those who have "been through the
system" and still emerge, and are very much: "themselves."

There is a need for some basic adapting to present situations,
and there is also a need (I think) of allowing the greatest
latitude (in harmless and constructive capacities and
relationships) for the development of individual talent.  (I mean
developing unselfish and tolerant ways of thinking and viewing
things.  Yet, always questioning for the causes and reasons.)

But, you know, I may be treading on my Sister's ground, as she is
the one who has run and operated a school in Bangalore, South
India since 1960.  Even as a little girl I recall she used to say
she wanted hundreds of children !  She got them !  Why don't you
address her ?

Best wishes,        Dal.

> Date: Sunday, June 21, 1998 3:29 PM
> From: "Kym Smith" <kymsmith@micron.net>
> Subject: On education

>Annette wrote:
>
>>Now the public education system is going through
>>massive downsizing which will hopefully spawn a private system
that is
>>affordable and all inclusive, that will in turn influence the
public
>>system.
>
>Dallas responded on the same subject:
>
>>Had I a child to bring up under such circumstances I
>>would use my own home (as you must  be doing) as a school= room
>>filling it with those items of the curriculum that give a well
>>rounded perspective to a developing child.  I take the view
that
>>children desire to be given a direction and a friendly
>>supervisionary overlook.  There is enough of bad problems in
the
>>schools today that I (and perhaps you) did not have to contend
>>with.  I know of several families where this has been
>>successfully practiced.
>
>I don't know about other countries, but in America there is a
great danger -
>and I use the term 'danger' (public dictionary definition)
purposely - in
>the growth of "private" schools.  Most private schools here are
run by those
>with a specific RELIGIOUS DOCTRINE.  Children are taught
reading, writing,
>and arithmetic - but they are also indoctrinated with religious
propaganda.
>Maybe that doesn't frighten some - but it certainly does me.
>
>Also, the terms "private" and "all-inclusive" seem a
contradiction in terms.
>Public schools play no favorites, all are welcome.  Private
schools pick and
>choose their students, take money away from the public schools,
and they
>crank out just those type people HPB raved against.  Sure, kids
learn
>academics in private school better due to less "distractions" -
but they
>risk learning to accept way too easily authority and prejudice.
>
>Home-schooling, at least here in my state, is done mostly by
religious
>fundamentalists.  They don't like the "liberal" or "tolerant"
viewpoints of
>the public schools.  They claim they want to keep their children
away from
>"bad influences."  I understand - but that fosters, again, the
"us vs. them"
>attitude.  Children, I believe, need to learn about all types of
people and
>all types of beliefs and how to cope with different situations.
Growing up
>with only people who agree with you or who want you to learn
narrowed ideas
>is hardly balanced.
>
>The public schools need more money - not less.  The public
schools need more
>parental participation and guidance - not less.  The public
schools need
>more students who are acquainted with "theosophical ideas"
(learned from
>home and brought to school so they can aid other students) - not
less.
>
>MAJOR POINT:  We have no right to demand that the schools teach
>"Theosophical ideas" - just like Christians have no right to
demand schools
>teach "Christian ideas."
>
>Sadly, it appears, in America, that the more affluent will
benefit from the
>growth of "private" schools and the less affluent will be
subject to even
>less now in the public schools.
>
>
>
>Kym
>
>
>