In this section we feature articles written by our teachers on various school-related issues.

Their scope will include:

• Mainstream curricular material;
• Enrichment material;
• Material suitable for slow learners, or those with some learning disability; and
• Krishnamurti’s views on education, and how they can find expression within a school context.

We briefly elaborate on these descriptions. Concerning the first item, the poor availability of well-written textbooks dealing with mainstream curricular material is well known, especially in certain subjects. We refer to books that are written in a lively and relevant manner, and which do not overwhelm the student with excessive detail and inappropriate exercises. Teachers therefore need to share good curricular resources in a wider forum.

Finding appropriate ways of teaching and nurturing students of exceptional ability, or students who are slow learners or have some kind of learning disability, continues to represent an area of great difficulty in the Indian context. School education today is largely addressed to the mythical “average” student. The needs of those who are gifted and who could do something much more than the regular syllabus are generally ignored, on the ground that they can “look after themselves.” Equally, teachers looking for material addressed to slow learners or first generation learners find that there is almost nothing suitable. It is clear that a great deal of work needs to be done in these two areas by the teacher community at large.

As regards Krishnamurti’s views on education, an important point to be emphasized is that though Krishnamurti spoke at length and over many decades to teachers, he never left any “blueprint” on how a school is to be run. Those familiar with his approach in religious and other matters will know that this was part of his teaching and therefore not an oversight.

This being so, issues of certain kinds are ever of relevance in a Krishnamurti school: issues concerning freedom, authority, relationship, and so on.

This forum will feature reflections by our teachers on these and related matters. Generally, there will be three to four such articles here at any given time.

Teachers are invited to use the material in any appropriate manner. Material may be downloaded freely, but should be acknowledged.

We invite comments from readers. Authors may be contacted by e-mail at the IDs given alongside the articles.

For further information contact: shailesh@rishivalley.org