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Griha Shiksha Digest Issue 7 Week-7 Feb 12-18, 2020
Griha Shiksha Digest Issue 7 Week-7 Feb 12-18, 2020
Education is a parenting topic that's as divisive as it gets for many reasons, least of all being that there are so
many options now. In addition to public and private schools, there are charter schools, Montessori schools,
Waldorf schools, and of course, there's also homeschooling.
Advocates for public schools have long-voiced their grievances with parents who make the decision to home-
school their children ("they're not professional educators"; "their homes aren't equipped for learning"; "their
children aren't getting the social benefits of a public setting"), but when it comes down to it, there are some
incredibly successful, smart people who were homeschooled -- and who can argue with that?
In this issue we cover a few stories of parents who opted to Home-School their parents. Please do write to us
with your views.
Edutorial Team,
Griha Shiksha Digest
Do you have an idea which can help the self-learners? Do you want to share case study of your home?
Share your knowledge with others and promote yourself too, by writing to ‘Griha Shiksha Digest’. Win
prizes in Quiz contests. Form Home-Schooling Communities. Enjoy benefits of discounts etc.
Please note the following points while making your submissions:
Articles must be original, in electronic version, 500 words or less. If you are using material from external
sources, please acknowledge them. Articles should be in MS word, single spaced, with easily readable
font, preferably Arial size 12. Photos should be of high resolution.
Please send your submissions to sunilsolar@yahoo.co.in or on WhatsApp no. 7739802112 There are no
deadlines for submissions. You may submit articles anytime. We reserve the right to edit, rewrite or reject
any article.
Contents
1. Creating Self-Learning Path for Our Children
We, are a couple based out of Hyderabad and parents of two kids: a 3-year-old son Chandramouli and a 3
month old daughter Tripura. We are IT professionals working in Hyderabad.
What made me think homeschooling was the best option as contrary to what I thought?
………...Continued on page 4
Griha Shiksha Digest Page-3 Issue-7, February 12-18,2020
3. Observing conventional school going kids:
I could see my niece, who is very playful and cheerful girl, would become a mechanical doll as soon as she
steps in school campus. Her body language, tone to false humbleness is clearly visible. Why such paradigm
shifts in the behavior? I believe she is not going to attend classes that were taught by aliens. I could see her
behavior changes drastically till she is in school. We have given one activity to my son and her and observed
the approach to the activity. My niece did more like a robot with specific step by step instructions than my
son. Even in my community, I could see other kids who always behave differently to their original self.
Even though one studies in conventional school of repute, there is no guarantee that kids will learn inter-
personal skills. Whatever is not taught in schools can’t be taught in schools really.
Though, I really can’t debate on this topic, I would like to talk on behalf of my kids. Why my kid has to learn
about complex abstract mathematical problems when he wants to become a singer. Why my kid has to spend
nearly 10 hours in controlled environment when he has the ability and time to explore and learn more about
the surroundings and practical implementation of science concepts.
Another thing I observed is that almost all the kids feel that a burden got removed from their shoulders after
returning from school as if they have achieved something that day.
Advantages of self-learning:
Kids can learn at their own pace without feeling peer pressure and get bullied mercilessly by teachers and
fellow classmates.
If a particular concept is not understood, they can learn that in various ways which is not possible with regular
schooling given their homework and other busy calendar such as exams.
We can teach them business studies/economics/fine arts as one formal subject from childhood itself instead
of by-hearting chemistry formulae which are really not required, at least in my case as IT professional.
You can better manage money which you pay as fees to schools. They really don’t respect the money you
are spending for your kids. That same money can be utilized to on tours and buying books/tools of his inter-
est.
We can spend as a family together and we can see how our children are growing. We will have more family
time.
There are several other advantages of Self-Learning , the only disadvantage is that children need a space
outside home where they can meet other children for outdoor activities and hands-on /practical learning.
This disadvantage is addressed by either having a community of Self-learners or an independent centre like
“Griha Shiksha” Centre at Bhopal. So, we decided to visit their centre.
…………..Continued on page-5
Griha Shiksha Digest Page-4 Issue-7, February 12-18,2020
Visit to Griha Shiksha Kendra (GSK), Bhopal:
After realizing the pressing need of homeschooling, we decid-
ed to visit Griha Shiksha Kendra in Bhopal. We planned to
stay for a week, so that we could understand the concept
thoroughly. The experience was really worth time. We could
do our office work and parallelly see our kid learning by ob-
serving and enjoying what he learns. It was a great experi-
ence spending time with family which would never be possi-
ble with regular schooling.
…………..Continued on page-6
Griha Shiksha Digest Page-5 Issue-7, February 12-18,2020
Studying of books of his interest in the library - He enjoyed reading variety of books like Panchatantra,
how to make friends, good habits.
Pictorial charts – given a chart with various flags of
countries, we asked the kid to identify the flags with star
symbol, with + sign etc., which he could be able to do at
ease. He enjoyed going through the charts of his interest
and identified many objects from the charts of animals,
shapes, colors, alphabets, numbers, flowers etc.
…………...Continued on page-7
Bhopal Tour:
Visit to Regional Science Center:
Though its way beyond of my son’s age,
it’s worth visiting this center near Griha
Shiksha. He really enjoyed the fun aspect
of science. After all science is fun.
NIOS center: visited regional NIOS cen-
ter to know the process involved with
Open Basic Education of NIOS.
Manav Sangrahaalay: Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya lies in a prehistoric landscape with evi-
dences of prehistoric human settlement in its premises at Bhopal- the capital city of Madhya Pradesh. Cover-
ing an area of about 200 acres of undulating terrain in the Shamla Hills, it is one of the largest and leading
Anthropological Museums in India. We got to know old and traditional scientific techniques like sugar cane
crusher, oil pressing machine, irrigation. It was a treat to eyes seeing various states’ art and culture.
…………...Continued on page-9
After staying in Griha Shiksha Kendra for a week and learning many things,
couldn’t help but write few words about Sunil Sir. He is a very humble and
hospitable person. His enthusiasm and spirit to bring some positive changes
in society is very contagious.
At first we were not sure whether our kid would be much interested in stay-
ing here. But Sunil Sir is so accommodating and caring that within no time
my son bonded with him very well and learnt many things in fun way.
As a parent, my main intention to go with home schooling is to select the subjects that are of interest to the
child without working on grammar rules of language which we never use. Also, the practical/hands-on expo-
sure in regular schooling is almost nil in most of the schools. From the experience of people around me and
myself, I could conclude that the concepts which are being taught in mother tongue will be more concrete.
rather struggling in to form the sentences in the examination in English.
I observed that the original playful character of the kids will be suppressed for nearly 4-5 hours per day in
school and again for 4-5 hours per day by parents after returning from school. Kids sleep 8-10 hours on aver-
age. So in total out of 24 hours, they are getting manipulated to express themselves. Where are we heading?
Aren’t we destroying their beautiful childhood and bright future? Forceful induction of discipline is not good
and we are already seeing around how the current generation is handling the situations and especially the
failures. We always talk about freedom of expression but never in the case of children. We are actually abus-
ing our children - Not outsiders or strangers.
As a member in interview panel in my organization, I hold interviews for many pass-outs and I’m really sad-
dened to see the lack of communication skills, confidence, and lack of knowledge about simple concepts. I
wonder what has the 16-years long period of formal education taught them.
…………...Continued on Page-11
Griha Shiksha Digest Page-10 Issue-7-February 12-18,2020
Our search for the best school inadvertently led us to Facebook. While we asked opinions and reviews, we
came across the term 'Alternative School' and through that, we stumbled across 'Home Schooling'
The concept itself was new, scary yet exciting. Though we got a lot of information from the internet, we did
not yet know anyone who homeschooled their kids. We reached out and found a big, engaging and encourag-
ing homeschooling community in Bangalore. While we got our doubts cleared and concerns addressed, we
saw that our kids were happy. They got enough time and attention from both parents. The things other kids
learned in school, our kids learned at home, while traveling, visiting friends and relatives, etc. Learning was
not limited by time or place.
This whole experience of bonding with a community with similar life goals gave us the confidence and desire
to learn more, do more, not just for our kids, for us as a family. We enjoyed the slow life we had. We wanted
to cherish our children's childhood. The best way we found was to move out of the city.
So we cleared our debts, minimized our possessions, rented out the apartment and moved to a friend's off-
grid farm. No electricity, limited internet, unlimited nature time and lots of books, fresh food, traditional cook-
ing techniques, and an eco-friendly life gave us and our kids a renewed appreciation for a slow, simplistic and
natural life and helped us strengthen our decision to not send our kids to school.
We regularly ask our kids if they want to attend school and they say they enjoy their home school.
…………...Continued on Page-12
Griha Shiksha Digest Page-11 Issue-7-February 12-18,2020
We do not have fixed times/days to study. Nor do we follow any syllabus or set guidelines. Every day is differ-
ent and learning happens according to the mood and curiosity of each child.
Our kids are now almost seven. Every day we are pleased
with our decision to homeschool them. It has helped us
improve our health, build relationships, travel more, live
slow and enjoy every moment of life.
https://www.quora.com/How-do-these-self-learned-people-learn-by-themselves
How I started home schooling: founding stories of mothers who home school their children
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02671522.2017.1420815?journalCode=rred20
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/homeschooling-smartest-way-to-teach-kids-a7652796.html
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/family/story/faces-homeschooling-families-approaches-50740799
I can think of four examples they are : Eklavya, Ashtawakr ,Abhimanyu, Nachiketa
Eklavya : his story is known to most as illustrated in Mahabharata that after Guru. Dronacharya refused to
teach him, he created a statue of Dronacharya and tought himself archery and art of Warfare.
Ashtawakr : he is one of the most famous sages and philosopher of ancient India and his philosophy is articu-
lated in a seminal literature known as Astawakr Gita, he is also claimed to teach King Dashrath how to attain
Moksha in such a time it takes him to climb his. Horse.
It is said while he was in the womb of his mother his father used to recite Vedas to his mother, one day he
spoke from womb and admonished his father on wrong pronunciation which enraged his father that he cursed
his unborn child to be born with 8 deformities hence ashta + Vakr = 8+ deformities.
Now if you think you will find absurdity of the story an unborn baby speaking from the womb, a father cursing ,
a curse which gives him 8 deformities the fact would have been he was a special child born with deformities
who most of the sages would have denied to take in as a student so he self learned the philosophy and once
he became renound philosopher this story of his birth was invented.
Abhimanyu : it is said while his mother Subhadra was pregnant with him, Krishna her brother used to teach
her philosophy of war and warfare and one day while he was speaking about how to break out of chakravahyu
she slept hence unborn Abhimanyu could not learn how to break out of chakravahyu hence was killed inside
one created by Dronacharya .
Again the story is absurd a unborn baby learning philosophy of war inside the womb of his mother, I feel he
self-learned war and warfare by watching different General's of Krishna's army but could not get time to learn
how to break out of chakravahyu from the most learned General's IE. Krishna, his father Arjun and Guru.
Dronacharya but once he was killed a story was created to give an Aura to his martyrdom
Nachiketa : in his story it is said once his father was conducting an YAGNA after which he gave cows as
Dakshina( donations ) to the Brahmins but Nachiketa found out that his father was donating cows which were
old, sick and were not giving milk and kept all heathy milk giving cows back , he pointed this to his father and
said such donations will not get you results which you are looking for by doing this YAGNA and donations.
This enraged his father who said that he will do another YAGNA and invoke Yama Lord of death and donate
his son Nachiketa to him. It is said that then Nachiketa consulted different philosophers who suggested that
he study all Ved Vedanga IE philosophy and engage Yama in duscussion/ debate while he is taking Na-
chiketa to Yamlok after accepting him as donation from his father and if he can defeat Yama in this discussion
or debate , Yama will be happy and give him boon so in a boon ask asy Yama to release him from the clutch-
es of death.
It is said the same happened and Yama released him from clutches of death. This is again story of self learn-
ing which is present without camaflouging it ; by inventing stories of learning in Womb or putting a statue etc it
is pure unadulterated story of Self Learning.
Griha Shiksha
(Sustainable Education At Home)
The Right to Education is a fundamental right of children and so is the RIGHT EDUCATION. Every Child is
unique and special. Hence, the right education can not be imparted through the present system of
mass/factory schooling. Considering several shortcomings of the present education system, parents and chil-
dren are opting for alternate methods which ensures the Right Education while giving freedom to the children
to pursue their passion.
Alternate education systems are characterized by a non-competitive, multilingual and experiential learning
environment; a broader curriculum that is more locally adapted; a more continuous and qualitative non–
comparative assessment; a pace of learning that is determined by a child's capacity.
Home schooling is one of the ways to provide the right education. Home-schooling is a blanket term used to
include education choices where a child does not go to school. While most of the time this means that parents
assume responsibility for the child’s education in a home environment, it can also mean parents who travel a
lot with children as a source of learning, or special tutors engaged to teach specific subjects or even parent
cooperatives and intentional communities that collectively educate a group of children.
Millions of children are now getting right education through the concepts of Home-schooling and their num-
bers are growing at a much faster rate than before due to technological advancements.
We have developed a unique Curriculum Framework for all age groups based on the concepts of 5Ps of Sus-
tainable Development i.e. Prosperity, People, Planet , Partnership and Peace. This will ensure that the
knowledge is connected to Nature and People. This will also ensure that the learning is child specific and em-
powers them to lead a happy, healthy and purposeful life.
We shall do so by demonstrating practical ways to live sustainable life style and building commitment to dem-
ocratic values of equality, justice, secularism and freedom. To provide for practical and interactive learning
experiences, a demonstration centre named as “Activities & Facilitation Centre for Self-Learners” has been
established at Bhopal.
To start similar centre at your place, Please contact 7739802112
Sustainable Education
At Home