EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY OF JIDDU KRISHNAMURTI

 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”