Educational Philosophies of Sri Aurobindo

By M.VIJAYALAKSHMI

Assistant Professor

SRI AUROBINDO1872 - 1950

BRIEF LIFE – SKETCH

• Sri Aurobindo – Born in Calcutta on 15th August in 1872

• At the age of 7 – went to England and live there for 14 years

• Latin, Greek, French, German, Italian and Spanish

• Brilliant and Passed I.C.S.• Returned to 1893 and joined Baroda College

as lecturer

• Cultural and literary activities• Learnt Sanskrit, Marathi, Gujarathi and

Bengali• Began Yoga in 1904• Spiritual experiences• In 1905 joined Political movement• Started the journal “Bandemataram’• Arrested in 1908, remained in a jail for a year• In 1910, went to Pondicherry and Started Sri

Aurobindo Ashram

• Spent the rest of his life in the Ashram doing Yoga sadhana, meditation for spiritual growth and development

• Aurobindo was transformed from a politician to a philosopher

• Preached to the world his philosophy of Dharam, spiritual growth, Brahamacharaya, Yoga and Educational ideology

• Died in 1950

PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

• Based on spiritual penance, practice of yoga and brahmacharya

• Main aid of a teacher is his conscience• Conscience has four stages namely – 1. Consciousness - Citta2. Mind - Manas3. Intelligence - Buddhi4. Knowledge - Supra-normal Faculties

• According to Sri Aurobindo, real education is that which provides a free and creativity, mental, moral and aesthetic sense finally leads to the development of his spiritual powers

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

• Medium of mother-tongue• Child centred• According to the mental aptitudes and

psychological needs of the child• Develop to the full the latent powers of the

child• Achieve the physical purification of child• Develop consciousness

• Train the senses of child• Develop the soul substance of an individual• Brahmacharya should be the basic

foundation of education• Subjects of education should be interesting• Develop all the faculties of child to make him

a complete man• There should be religious thing in education

otherwise it will spread corruption

CONCEPT OF EDUCATION

• Should be in accordance with the needs of our real modern life• Should create dynamic citizens –

to meet the real needs of modern complex life

AIMS OF EDUCATION

• Physical Development and Purity• Development of Senses• Mental Development• Development of Morality• Development of Conscience• Spiritual Development

CURRICULUM• Should be interesting• Should include all those subjects which

promote mental and spiritual development• Subjects of curriculum should be able to

motivate children• Should involve creativity of life and

constructive capacities• Should motivate children towards the

attainment of knowledge of the whole world

Subjects in the Curriculum for the different stages of education

PRIMARY STAGE SECONDARY STAGE UNIVERSITY STAGE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

MOTHER-TONGUEENGLISHFRENCHLITERATURENATIONAL HISTORYARTPAINTINGGENERAL SCIENCESOCIAL STUDIES ARITHMETIC

MOTHER-TONGUEENGLISHFRENCHARITHMETICARTCHEMISTRYPHYSICSBOTANYPHYSIOLOGYHEALTH EDUCATIONSOCIAL STUDIES

INDIAN AND WESTERN PHILOSOPHY ,HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION ,ENGLISH LITERATUREFRENCH LITERATURESOCIOLOGYPSYCHOLOGYHISTORY OF SCIENCECHEMISTRYPHYSICSBOTANY,INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND INTEGRATION.

ARTSPAINTINGPHOTOGRAPHYSEWINGSCULPTURAL DRAWING,TYPESHORTHAND COTTAGE INDUSTRIES,CARPENTARYMECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, NURSINGINDIAN AND EUROPEAN MUSIC,DRAMATIZATIONDANCING

METHODS OF TEACHING

• Freedom of child• Love and sympathy for the child• Education through mother-tongue• Education according to interests of the child• Education through self-experience• Emphasis of learning by doing• Education through co-operation• Education according to the Nature of child

PLACE OF CHILD

• Education should satisfy the needs and interests of a child and • Develop his personality according

to these powers to achieve full and complete development

PLACE OF TEACHER• Helper and guide• His business is to suggest• He only shows him how to perfect his

instruments of knowledge• Helps him and encourages him in the

process• He shows him how to acquire knowledge

that is within, where it lies and how it can be habituated to rise to the surface

ASHRAM SCHOOL

• In Pondicherry – Mother in 1943 opened the school for Aurobindo’s disciples

• From primary to High School and then to Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education in 1952

• 3 sections – Nursery, Middle and Higher and Advanced Centre

• Irrespective of race, religion, caste and nation• At present, 150 teachers and 750

students• Daily – prayer and meditation• Physical growth – simple nutritious food• Physical exercises and games • Vedas is blended with modern ideas of

unity• Provide integrated education

THANK YOU