Spirit of competition.

It was a bright and sunny winter morning. We were strolling in the Garden, basking ourselves in floating golden rays when we noticed those toddlers. About ten of them. They were hardly more than 5 years in age. Their faces bright. Their eyes curious with all the new adventure of a strange place. A Garden with green grass and trees that were touching the sky. Flowers blooming around to inform arrival of springs. They were part of a group. They were lead by two young ladies who appeared to be their teachers or instructors. They were from some nearby play school. First they were made to sit in two parallel lanes very wide apart so as to create resemblance of an audience with an arena between them. Soon two kids were picked up to race in the middle. And the race begun. One would feel the joy of winning and other the disgrace of loser. The life begin with its worst side. Could it not wait a little longer? Few more years, perhaps.

Training toddlers.

Above incident generated a curiosity and after some research the only conclusion which could be reached was that all present day schools owe its ancestry to army training schools.
In India the earliest known education institution was Gurukul. Young children aged about 10 years were sent to jungle where the family guru or teacher would teach them the art of fighting with and without weapons besides other things like morality, religion and language etc. till the age of 25. But this arrangement was for Princes and elite only. Common man was not permitted. Read the story of Eklavya for that.

Martial law.

In China the ancient Martial Arts schools vouch for the fact that these were earliest known education institutions.
In ancient civilisations like Roman and Greek, the earliest known mass training was for wars strategy only. Fine arts like philosophy, writing or craft were matters of personal learning rather individual skills.

Training for living and co-existence.

The present day schools are nothing less than military schools. They tell everything about fight and strength. About chasing and winning. About team spirit for selfish win. There is not even a whisper about LIVING and CO-EXISTENCE. At best some lessons of morality and charity are added to make curriculum less cruel but overall the education only creates good soldiers for Corporations to fight their marketing wars if the students survive the violence in schools and on the street.

Students’ violence.

The surprise is that in this scenario people are wondering about causes of violence. Shoot out in schools or by students is more of a routine. One student killing another over mundane things like facebook posting is reality not just news. It also reflect the stress from competition.

A society which has defined individuality as right to snatch from weak, can not live in peace. It has to live with the painful consequences.

Just another lazy thought on lazy Sunday.