EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY OF JIDDU KRISHNAMURTI (1895- 1986)
Krishnamurti
was born on 11 May 1895 in Madanapalle in Andhra Pradesh,
He
established the Rishi Valley Education Centre, an institution in 1928. At the
age of 15,
Krishnamurti
accompanied Miss Annie Besant to England in 1911.
Like
his father, he also became a member of the Theosophical Society.
In
1912, he wrote a book entitled
‘Education as Service‘ in which he described the life of an ideal school
where love rules and inspires, and students grow into noble adolescents under
the fostering care of teachers.
Krishnamurti
is truly a free thinker, therefore, refused to fit himself into any belief,
creed or system or to become a system himself.
His
message to mankind was, ‘first understand the purpose of our existence, the
purpose of our life, and understand what we were thriving for. Then utilize
everything, to strengthen us. Finding out what you love to do is one of the
most difficult things. That is part of education.’
He
was very critical of the contemporary educational system its aims, processes,
and content.
Basic Principles
Krishnamurti considers the prevalent education system
faulty or not right, his educational philosophy is popularly known as ‘Right
Education’ or ‘Right Kind of Education’. Krishnamurti discusses the right
environment, about right functions of education, the right curriculum, the right
methods of teaching, the right teachers and the right school which collectively
makes Krishnamurti’s Right Education. He reflects his educational thought in
many of his books which ‘Education and Significance of Life’, ‘On Education’,
‘Life Ahead’ and Letters to the School (Vol.1 & Vol. 2) are foremost
ü Concept
of compartmentalization
ü Ability
to live together
ü Concept
of life-oriented education
ü Preference
for humanities over science
ü Teachers
as a light
Curriculum
Krishnamurti has presented an integrated
curriculum to ensure the complete or holistic development of the child. He is
very much concerned about the environment therefore he advocated the study of the
environment with other subjects. In his educational institute ‘environmental
studies’ has its existence as a separate subject. He also recommended various
other activities along with other subjects – arts & crafts, dance &
music, dramatic & debates, swimming, sports, athletics, gardening, yoga etc.
Methods of Teaching
Krishnamurti has not suggested any specific
method rather he entrusted this responsibility to the teachers to make their
method according to the need as he believes that teaching is not a technique;
it is the way of life. He said, “There is no need to follow any method”
Discipline
Krishnamurti
avoids using the word discipline as it is laden with all kinds of meanings
conformity, imitation, obedience etc. He often used order instead of discipline.
According to him, “Discipline means to learn, not to conform, not to suppress,
not to imitate the pattern
Teacher
Krishnamurti has the view that we need
integrated educators as only this kind of educator can develop integrated
individuals. Defining the role of a teacher he says, “A teacher is not merely a
giver of information; he points the way to wisdom, to truth
Student/Child
According
to Krishnamurti students and teachers, both learn together. Therefore, the
student should be treated as an equal partner.
School
“A school is a place where one learns about
the totality, the wholeness of life. Academic excellence is necessary, but a
school includes much more than that. It is a place where both the teacher and
the student explore, not only the outer world, the world of knowledge but also
their own thinking, their own behaviour”
