Joyous and self-learning through integral education

The Hans India always tries to explore mines of knowledge and encourages alternative education for happy learning. In this journey THI interviewed a dynamic personality Dr Chhalamayi Reddy, who initiated a project on alternative education in the light of mother and Sri Aurobindo at Champak Hills, Jangaon. 

Dr (Mrs) Chhalamayi Reddy was a student of Sri Aurobindo International Center of Education, Puducherry until 1977. She graduated from Ohio University, USA in 1984. She received her Ph D in 1991 from the Department of English, Pondicherry University, where she completed her thesis on Sri Aurobindo’s critique of poetry, based on his The Future Poetry.

Chhalamayi Reddy has been the founder-director of ‘New Creation A Free Progress School’, Champak Hills Jangaon, which runs under the aegis of Institute of Human Study of which she is one of the Trust members. She has conducted workshops on Integral Education in various places and has written several articles on the same subject.

She is currently in the process of orienting and training the teachers of her school and other interested schools in the vision of Integral Education.

Q. What do you mean by education? What kind of education is necessary for this generation?
A.  Love for learning. transformational education, which enables them to know themselves.

Q. What is your vision and mission of your school?
A. To provide an environment of joyous learning through the practice of Integral Education. To facilitate every child to his/her ‘calling’ in life 
by discovering his/her self.

Q. What you really mean by New Creation? Is it creating a new generation or a new method of teaching?
A. New Creation – a free progress school is a school which provides for joyous learning facilitating the child for ‘self learning’ through the practice of Integral Education. The new method will make way for a new generation.  

Q. What are the activities taken up by the children to develop themselves in 360 degree?
A. The vision of Integral Education itself ensures the development of all aspects of the human being; namely:
(a) The Psychic (psychological)
(b) The Spiritual (inner wisdom)
(c) The Physical
(d) The Vital or Emotional 
(e) The Intellectual or Academic 
The curriculum is designed to include activities which are related to the aspects above.

Q. What is free progress? How do you inculcate discipline when the culture is free in the environment?
A. Free progress implies that the student needs to take up the responsibilities of learning. Freedom to learn entails self discipline. Without self discipline learning is not possible. Free progress means free to progress and not free from discipline.    

Q. What is the teaching methodology in your school?  
A. Teaching methodology is to provide learning experience through projects, tasks, activities, community work, self reflective diary and free choice activity within the framework of Integral Education. We develop various life skills for lifelong learning and development.

Q. What criteria do you follow to assess a new admission?
A. Parents need to understand and be in sync with the vision of the school. The child needs to be at the minimum level of learning of the grade.

Q. What is the minimum qualification or skill needed for the teachers to work in a free progress school?
A. Be a Graduate in Education with the willingness to relearn the process of learning.

Q. Why is academics not given more importance than sports?
A. It is given equal importance as good physical health is the basis of overall wellness. Children’s character as well as intellect can be best molded in the play field.

Q. Is English compulsory for medium of instruction as we don’t notice this in English medium schools?
A. English is the medium of instruction. The learning of Indian languages is not undermined by this.   

Q. How do you differentiate freedom and discipline?
A. True freedom can be enjoyed only through discipline. Freedom is  misunderstand as fanciful wishes or irresponsible behavior. Freedom is given to exercise choice and be responsible for it. 

Q.In this current society we come across teachers harassing students ? 
What awareness classes do you insist to the children to resist from these barbarous acts?
A. Children are free to voice their problems and concerns without fear.

Q. What are the facilities provided for the boarders compared to other schools?
A. The boarders are treated with love and care and guided in inculcating values.

Q. Hygiene and Sanitation has been given importance worldwide, how do you maintain both?
A. It is important for us too. We provide it in the best possible means.

Q. Do you think the current education systems is in the right direction?
A. Depends what we mean by current education system. If it refers to the ‘Concept Schools’ practice where scoring marks is the most important or only aim then it is a mere ‘business’. But it is a happy fact that many    schools have a holistic development of the child as their aim.  

Q. What is your suggestion for a parent in choosing right school for their kids?
A. The parent needs to select a school with a vision and mission aligned to their concept of education.