Mitra P Uprety:

Today civilisation is measured mainly by the standard of scientific advancement in the production of better technologies. This definition is giving rise to a ruthless culture of violence, drugs, environmental rape and radical fundamentalism. Sooner or later, if civilisation is to survive, the longstanding values like respect, restraint and responsibility must be properly embraced by the scientific world. History shows that societies adhering to these values have best balanced themselves through thick and thin. The relationship between the natural laws governing a society and their social values is symbiotic.

In modern times, families, and social and religious structures are breaking down under the strain of rapid change and competition. This has been brought about by population growth, technology and shift in traditional values. The result is that children as well as adults are losing their emotional and psychological reference points. At such a time, the school could play the much-needed coordinating role. In many ways, schools represent the diversified mix-up of society. Bold but benign innovative steps in education are the need of the hour. Education is already losing its face in the ‘undeclared war’ against the media, a technological by-product. With the proliferation of IT, informal education will further undermine formal education.

The main strength of English boarding schools is the English language and science. However, they do not give adequate attention to national culture and values. Only respect for one’s own culture can bring one to the grassroots of the country’s ethos. It gives moral strength and self-confidence. The strength of cultural values could enhance the quality of these boarding schools. Also, management is misdirected when those in authority take no responsibility. The responsibility of teachers is to run a school, not just to produce finished products called students with the stamp of the school’s label on them.

What would be the state of education with high technologies coming to aid like teaching through computers and TV then? The authorities would be within easy reach of most students through cosmic nets. An abundance of information at finger tips. Would all this create a mass of unemployed teachers? I think not. These technological teaching aids are just “better organised books”, not teachers in person. The role of the teacher will increase as society moves into a more complex hi-tech cultural era.

Lastly, value-orientation should be given to students at schools. No country can afford to neglect this any longer. It is high time we introduced an interactive holistic course on these subjects in some schools, to begin with. Development can bring about real peace and prosperity only when technology, environment, population and culture are in harmony.

A school is an important place, a mini-world, the future world. John F Kennedy has aptly said in his book “A Profile

in Courage” that more important than the victory on the battlefield is the victory in the classrooms. Let us remember that the three ‘R’s of basic learning — reading, ‘riting, ‘rithmetic — are the vital limbs of education. But at the same time, let us not forget that the three ‘R’s of time-honoured values — respect, restraint, responsibility — are the living spirit of civilisation.