Education and the New Learning

I have always learned that education paves the way of a better living and can refine one's thoughts. I have always known the difference between being educated and literate - educated beings understand where and what to say and do but all literate beings can't differentiate right and wrong.

Yesterday, 31st August 2010, I and parents have been on a 6 hour journey by car to my Aunt's place. On the way, in a place called Urang, we noticed a traffic jam. Frankly, I had been sleeping so awoke with a noise of honking horns and abusive language. I opened my eyes and with a sleepy head figured out that no vehicle ahead of us were moving nor were any cars coming from the other side. After trying to figure out a way to get rid of the jam I saw that a procession of school children, bearing huge banners, were holding a road blockade. I read the banner and found that their headmaster/principal was expelled from service and the students took out a procession demanding his return to work. My mom and I talked to the other people gathered and found out that their demand or cause was probably not unjust. Since I had not much knowledge about the entire event I kept shut and did not comment. However, after around 30 minutes when things were taking a turn towards rude and hostile behavior, I couldn't help say that "Stupidity and nonsense have limits". An elderly man, I guess a father of one of the students, talked to me and asked what I felt.

During that small conversation I told him that there will be no gains by harassing the general public or bringing the school fight to the roads. In reply he told me that these days some are taught such ways of expressing their intelligence. I then realized that somewhere the education system is faulting. However, since my mother had the Indian Army dependent card through my late brother, we were allowed to move ahead.

The students in the procession were from Class 7 to 10th. I have thinking since then that in my school life we were not so aggressive and never took our school issues to the public or at least not to the roads. It was never that we had no problems but we boycotted classes and took a procession out to the Head Sister's chamber. We used to sit out for entire day in the playground and still we were heard and never were we not respected or loved. I see the change now, students have become so 'political' in their thoughts and actions. Those young kids knew no respect, they had no regards for all the parents and grownups while using insulting and abusive words.

After coming back to Guwahati I have noticed 3 such events. Yesterday's procession blew my wits out. Where is education leading our youth of today? Is it teaching them to be not learning good but learning coercive power form? Is education today teaching the Indian youth not to respect others? Or is it teaching them to be truthful and respectable? How will they be respected if they can't understand how and when to respect whom?

I am neither saying all students and the entire youth population is worthless nor am I saying that I am a very good human being. I though hold myself quite highly educated because I still know how to respect others and at least try to solve an issue by discussion and logical argument not violence. It is time to do a bit of work in teaching our children or young ones about being truly educated and not just having high percentages in progress reports. Let us do one good deed for a better growth of our country.