3S) Internship Draft Pilot Proposal (2-10-2017) Bharghava Shyam

 Draft Proposal for internship on

“Arts {Authentic/Aesthetic} Education”

 In The Valley School (KFI), Bangalore

Name: A.N. Bharghava Shyam

Admission Number: MAE15007

Mentor: Amman Madan

Module using: Internship Module

Topic selected for internship: Internship on Arts {Authentic/Aesthetic} Education.

Site:  The valley school, Bangalore.

Introduction {Bach ground}

Based on my understanding “Art means the aesthetic and authentic experiences which has lots of imagination, 3H coordination’s (Head, Heart & Hand coordination) activities, Creative expressions, Mental Representation, Self-Identity, to mingle with others and self through the different means like dramatizing activities (Adding experiences into the life), bracketing (Feeling every second as a new life).

Art education means adding authentic experiences into life in an aesthetic manner to complete the responsibilities in life. (Art education = Self-Faithful education).  Arts means mostly not copying or imitating the others & things. It means the changing and transforming the things/self in an organic way. That organic (Psychological) changes will enhance your life.

{In mechanical world if you lose anything, not a thing will not affect you (but you feel affected) e.g. If lost we lost our phone, our life will not reverse, but we feel disturb/reverse & when we get new phone we will forget about old phone after some time. But in organic world if we lose something that affect us a lot e.g. If I lose my hands I feel disturbed/reversed, If I get artificial hand also I not feel happy, I feel I lack really something called hand}

Authentic/Aesthetic experiences are first hand (True) experiences, which is to be created by personal experiences. Abstract knowledge (Copied/text book knowledge) is important, but knowledge getting through experience very much important.

Aesthetic manner is way to learn the education without any imitation from others, aesthetic helps (inspires) in following your own imaginations, expressions, etc.

Education means a process for self-realization to emancipate ourselves from all meddles. Education is a process of getting hope (without frustration & greed) in life lead a blissful life by enjoying self through authentic/aesthetic experiences.

Rationale for this internship:

I am very much interested in doing an internship with Art {Aesthetic/authentic} Education. I studied (Learning) about different ideologies of "Rousseau, Rabindranath Tagore, Aurbindo, Gandhi, John Dewy and Jiddu Krishna Murthy” on education in my two courses “Curriculum Studies” & Teacher and Curriculum. I am very much fascinated by these aesthetic and authentic ideologies on education when I experienced and understood (Anubhuti) the beauty of that aesthetic/art knowledge through literature and lectures (Discourses) I felt fascinated. Now I want to experience (Anubhavam) that art {aesthetic/authentic} education through this opportunity of internship.

By this internship I want to feel aesthetic/authentic/artistic rendering of experience of this art {authentic/aesthetic} education.

Conceptual frame work:

Social animals (Humans) are more cunning than other animals, we are mostly changing according to temporary profits and we are trying to make the children to learn the false things (abstract knowledge) is good. Learning abstract knowledge is good, but it’s not only the good.

Learning abstract knowledge is might not be empirical knowledge for child, because they learn this abstract knowledge for external benefits sake (to get marks that’s all, not to learn the subject). If you asks me to tell ohm law now, I can’t say know.

If you remember this abstract knowledge, then you/me can get external benefits only, which are ever changing based on the availability of resources, according to profit. E.g. in olden days engineering has more value, now it lost its value because of over production and this gives competition and frustration to human kind. Here nothing is in your hand, most of the things are on society we can’t change society singly.

Knowledge by bodily & mental experiences gives is real knowledge for children. Empirical knowledge they can remember for life time. E.g. If you learn cycle, swimming, etc. you will not forget easily in life. If you by heart the knowledge. If you acquire this knowledge then you not get frustration from society, but you may get frustrated, by developing self you can overcome it. This education is completely in your hand, you can mould in a better way. 

Through the arts {Aesthetic/Authentic} education also we can teach science, history, language, arts, etc. We can teach history through narratives, language through expressing the talking & thoughts, science can teach by observation. The science subject is primarily based on observation, so we need to provide an environment to child to observe the things to acquire science subject

Ex. explaining the photosynthesis as theory (it is the 1st hand experience of some scholar, not to child, so they can easily forget that theory) learning the theory is important, after experience (after their observation of photosynthesis from own experience) if we introduce theory then they can learn about that. Here in most of the schools they are focusing on abstract knowledge than empirical knowledge.

Review of literature/discourses:

John Dewey says that now a day’s symbols/map (abstract/theory knowledge) are acting as a substitute for the direct experiences (E.g. Showing Bangalore map to child as a substitute for Bangalore visit). Through sugar coating, familiarity (Repeating effects) & contrast (Reward & Punishment) effect. We are making the child to believe that, this symbols are powerful/respectful things than experiences. He also says how we can history, science, art in authentic/aesthetic manner. History can be taught in the form of narratives, science can be taught through the empirical observation of nature and human, etc. and children are natural artists arts can be taught by developing his/her own innate abilities. After all this experiences if you introduce map/symbols, then the map/symbols will guide child in learning more effectively. (Dewey, 1902)

Aurobindo is saying about authentic education in “Human mind” perspective. In Human mind there is natural tendency to learn, there is no need to impose the knowledge for knowledge sake on children. Eyes will see, ears will hear, heart will beat without any permission from you and others, like that brain also seeks knowledge naturally without any permission from you/others. There is no need to force knowledge on mind. Mind has his/her own consolidated growth and responsibilities. Human Mind has four ultimate powers, which are traditionally calling as “Antahah Karana”. “This Antahah Karana (Power of Mind) has four thing

1)      Manas – Sensory data- Translating of collected data/actions to mind

2)      Bhuddi- Memory- To record everything in the mind

3)      Chitta- Intellect- Real instrument to think.

4)      Aham- Ego- Process of I Making in the mind (We make universal self- I)

If we develop these child innate things, then there is “Nothing can be taught” (Aurobindo, 2003)

Jean Jacques Rousseau says that the source of child (Humans) learning is from nature, man (Human) and things (Experiences). But these 3 things contradict with other for the most of the time became of man’s hypocrisy (Dualities). Children are naturally good, adults are meddle and destroying their innate goodness. We need to protect the child innate goodness from this hypocrisy and unnecessary knowledge. Children are naturally good learners, observers, investigators, artists, etc. we (adults) need to develop their innate characters instead of destroying it. They need to know their personal capacities. They can learn naturally nature promotes them don’t act as a meddle for their development. Rousseau explained how children from nature by making an imaginary role Emile. He complete his education through experiences. (Rousseau, 1911) 

Mahatma Gandhi in his Nai-thalim says that, this westernisation made us helpless (Helpless- made us to depend on literacy training itself) & godless (Godless- characterless). This westernisation is made of discontent (Discontent- Civilization), without any remedy for that civilization. Now civilization became a disease. Civilization made us to depend on resources, instead of self and humans. Later resources production might be less, but self and humans have unlimited, creative knowledge about self (Bio-graphics), This Nai-thalim help us to discover the self-realization through “Swaraj”. Swaraj means literally self-rule. This Swaraj rest in 3 principles that are Swadesh, Sarvodaya & Satyagraha.

1) Swadesh: It is spirit in us which restrict us (our psyche) to immediate surroundings for service. It is a near and far helping process to ultimate human kind.

2) Sarvodaya: It means welfare/upliftment of all, through Ahimsa (Non-Violence). Ahimsa means looking for the truth of others (whole universe). We need voluntary suffering for attaining the Sarvodaya.

3) Satyagraha: It means grasping/asking the truth of the situation and being. For grasping the truth with self-suffering.

This Swaraj is a process of willing ness to suffer our self, giving profit to others. Nai-thalim consists bodily activities which consists of 3H (Heart, head & hand) coordination. Swaraj helps in character building, than literacy training. Learning through authentic experiences (Gandhi, 1937)

Rabindranath Tagore talks mainly about “Freedom” in education through Freedom of will, freedom of heart & freedom of mind. Tagore is saying that modern institutions are like cages/prisons to trap on the net of westernization. The institutions are treating children as mini-adults and forcedly implementing the abstract knowledge when though they are ready. In his institutions are like nests, openness, they make an environment by that the children will study based on their interest.

Children are like flowers they want openness, surprises. But adult mind is a ripen fruit it is closed, flower will surely will become fruit gradually, when you force flower to become fruit, the flower will die. Here child innate characteristics observance, questioning are flowers are dying because of this closed institutions.

His freedom principles (Freedom of Mind/Heart/Will) are developing the child for emancipation.

1)      Freedom of mind: It is the ability to arrive at independent decision

2)      Freedom of will: It helps in making authentic goals and aspirations

3)      Freedom of Heart: It helps in becoming creative in your relations than world.

For this we need to make an environment with openness, it makes children very active. It makes children’s learning minimum from textbooks and maximum from nature. For this adults need to be constant conscious while doing their works. (Tagore)

He says western enlightenment was focusing on the material things, and our indigenous enlightenment is focusing on emancipation.

All literature is saying that child needs empirical knowledge to learn education than abstract knowledge, this art {aesthetic/authentic} education gives only experiences to child instead of abstract knowledge. Then the children can learn more effectively with hope in life.

Objectives of this arts {aesthetic/authentic} education internship:

1) To observe the institution how it’s helping the child in knowing about their self, how its helping in self-realization process with hope.

2) Know how institutions are managing the social plane with phenomenal plane. (I am interested in managing both planes)

3) To know how art {Aesthetic/authentic} education helping child in learning. (To feel the Artistic, aesthetic & authentic education which I studied in my programme).

4) To expose and experience myself into the new kind of educational system (I was frustrated with my old education system)

5) To support them in which way they feel comfortable.

6) To explore my innate capabilities of self to teach arts education.

Hypothesis of arts education internship:

By this internship I might feel aesthetic/authentic/artistic rendering of experience.

Internship Methodology:

Design of internship:

My internship is mostly based to do observation, feel and reflect the different experiences this kind of educational system. I want to help them in an appropriate way which they and me are comfortable.

Internship site:

Most probably in Bangalore The valley school. The reason behind this my objectives & this school structure are slightly similar.

Tools and techniques of arts education internship:

Tools & techniques for this internship is observations, reflections, helping the student by becoming the student.

Limitations of arts {Aesthetic/authentic} education internship:

Being completely in aesthetic, authentic, artistic education is not possible in any school right now, so I can’t experience (Anubuthi) completely in the school. 

References:

Aurobindo. (2003). Early Cultural Writings (Journals).

Dewey, J. (1902). The Child and the curriculum. In J. Dewey, The Child and the curriculum.

Gandhi, M. (1937). Towards New Education. In B. Kumarapa, Towards New Education .

Rousseau, J. J. (1911). Emile or Education.

Tagore. (n.d.). Thoughts of Education. In Tagore.

Tagore, Thoughts of education, school master, the spirit of freedom.

Kaustuv, R. (2016-2017). Lectures & Discourses.