IVAN ILLICH (1926-2002), RISHI VALLEY SCHOOL, KANAVU

IVAN ILLICH (1926-2002)

Ivan Illich (1926-2002) austrian philosopher and social critic. His famous book is “Deschooling Society” (1971). It is a critical discourse on education as practiced in modern economics. The contributions of illich in education is real world examples of the ineffectual nature of institutionalized education, Illich posited self-directed education, supported by intentional social relations, in fluid, informal arrangement. The major contributions of Ivan Illich:- De schooling society tools for conviality, energy and equality, toward a history of needs, The celebration of awareness.

Educational views of Illich

          De schooling society advocated for radical changes in the education system, including the disestablishment of traditional schools and the development of more informal learning webs. The major reflections on education are the following:

v Universal education through schooling is not feasible

v Learning happens informally

v Give oppurtunities to choose what they learn and when they learn.

v Learning happens casually

v Education has no aims. The highest good in education is that of individual achievement.

v Institutionalization of education has made learning more productive.

Deschooling

          Deschooling means “abolistion of schools”. It believes that a school or institution can not produce the best education for students. Base on deschooling pupil learn better by themselves outside of an institutional environment, When they wish to learn, as they do in areas of common interest such as clubs and society. Individual learn equality good even without school and such schools are necessarily needed to accomplish the goals of education, are called deschooling movement.

Illich contributions to Education

v Against cumpulsory schooling in which curriculum is obligatory and certificate - oriented.

v His argument for the creation of convivial rather than manipulative institutions has lead to more flexiblility in the institutional set up of schools and they become more democratic.

v His ideas of learning web, skill exchanges, peer-matching considered as convivial alteratives to institutionalsed education.

RISHI VALLEY SCHOOL

                   Rishi Valley education centre - Chittoor District - Andhra Pradesh, India

          The founder of rishi valley school - J.Krish Namurthi. Rishi valley school has 360 students and sixty highly qualified members. It is one of the leading residential school in India. Rishi valley school provides a distinctive educational environment. It is the one of the leading residential school in india. Rishi valley school provides a distinctive education that enables learners to grow not only intellectual capacities but also in other dimensions of their being.

          The junior and middle school, with around 190 students from classes 4 to 8, provides flexible curriculum free from the pressure of examinations.

          The Senior school with 160 students from classes 9 to 12, It is affiliated to the ICSE and ISC Examination boards. Rishivalley school provide for the development of the asthetic, moral and emotional dimensions of the student. Rishi valley school would grow into self aware, sensitive and responsible human beings.

          The aim of the school is to equip the child with excellent technological profficiency. so that the student have more efficient in the modern world and also to create the right climate and environment so that the child may develop fully as a complete human being. The intention of the school, in other words, is to awaken the intelligence and the generosity of spirit in students so that they are able to meet an increasingly complex world without losing their humanity.

          Goals of the educational philosophy of Rishi valley school are :-

v To educate students so that they are able to explore both the world and their inner being

v To inculcate a love for nature and respect for all forms of life.

v To create an atmosphere of affection order and freedom without fear.

Based on this philosophy teachers create an atmosphere of space, freedom care and Security in which students are helped to enlarge their horizons and grow.

KANAVU

          Literally kanavu means “Dream” had been a dream project of writer K.J.Baby when he started the school about 17 years age. It is a unconventional school which attracted international attention is situated in Cheengodu Hills in Nadvayal Village, about 11 km from kalpatta. K.J.Baby exclusively meant for educating adivasi children and cultivating a sense of pride in them. The unconventional teaching methods include training in traditional performances and musics and martial art training. Many scholars and academician visit the school to know more about the innovative methods used in imparting knowledge to tribal trining communicaties.

          The School against the conventional practices like classroom and syllabus. Tribal folksong and rituals were incorporated in the training and this helped to reinforce a sense of identity in the community. Self reliance also taught here.

          At the same time the children also encouraged to attend competative exam students are encousaged to observe surroundings and scientific awareness is also inculcated. The school follows the gurukal  system in which the teachers live with the students.

          Kanavu has been identified as aexperiment in callural formation and learning. All the students of kanavu have a reputation of being good performers of folk dances and songs and self-reliance and self pride in them stand in testimany of the success of the institution.

FOLK SCHOOL

Nikolai frederic severin grundtvig regarded as the founder of the folk high school recieved inspiration for the concept from the english boarding school but on popular education and enlightment. The languages and history of the fatherland its constitution and main industries(farming) along with folk songs should be the guiding principles for an education based on a cristian frame work                                                            

The first folk school was established in1844 in rodding in denmark. The teaching took place from november to march because did farm work the rest of the year.kold,s goal was for student to return to school regularly in the winter to continue their education. In the begining only young man could attend the courses but in the 1861 young women also gained access to folk high school when teaching began being offered from may to july. The men still only attended during winter.

          One of the main concept still to be found at the folk high school today is “lifelong learning”. The school should educate for life.they should shed light on basic question surrounding life of people both as individual and as member as society.folk high schools should not hold exams because the education and enlightment was a sufficiant reward.a folk high school becomes what it is because of the individuals of which it is made

Sujitha M V

Natural Science