Education without distortions

One of the pedagogical models that fascinated me while doing B.Ed. was Benjamin Bloom’s taxonomy. The model presents three domains all of which should get due attention from the education system. They are cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains of learning and refer respectively to mental skills, development of right attitudes and creation of a value system, and physical skills.

The present education system in India is heavily loaded in favour of the first. A lot of knowledge is imparted to students. Certain skills are developed too in the laboratories and playgrounds. When it comes to the affective domain, a lot more remains to be done. This is the most major drawback of the system, I think.

If due attention is paid to the affective domain, our students will move out of the schools with a well-developed value system of their own. The way hatred is spread through the social media and other platforms is a clear indication of failure in this regard. Anyone with a clear value system of his own will not be swayed by the false information that is bombarding us from every corner today.

A well-developed affective domain enables one to discriminate between good and evil, to choose the good and act on it, and enhance the welfare of humanity in general.

India is passing through a historical phase when much of the past history is being rewritten with motives that are often suspect. There is a clear political agenda which attracts a sizeable section of the country’s population. The greatest irony, perhaps, is that such a large number of people – a very large number indeed – are supposedly feeling insecure in the country on account of considerably smaller communities.

Obviously there is something seriously wrong with the system if such large numbers of people are feeling insecure which in turn gives rise to violence and strife. We cannot expect the system to correct itself in the given environment because the very creators of the system are responsible for the distortions of truths as well as minds. I think teachers can play a vital role here. Let there be more noble teachers who will help form healthy attitudes and values in their students.

PS. Written for In(di)spire Edition 235: #EducationSystem