Srila Prabhupada calls modern education system a slaughterhouse in the very first chapter of the first canto of Srimad Bhagvatam. Why does a saint-like Srila Prabhupada calls Education system, which is considered sacred, a slaughterhouse? As Human beings, we must question what exactly the modern education system is destroying.
In the modern education system, the emphasis is on repeating rather than questioning. Keeping quiet is considered a virtue for kids and they are expected to not ask questions. But, Education starts with enquiry. We see that in Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagvatam, there is question and answers through which the knowledge is getting transferred.
In Vedic system, Students ask questions and Teachers answers the questions. But the modern education system is just the opposite. Here the teacher asks questions and students answer them. So, how can there be learning?
Quality of students is judged by the quality of questions and Quality of teacher is judges by the quality of answers. But in modern education system student is judges on the basis of answers which he mugs up. There is no place for questions of students in the modern education system. It simply makes him learn many things without knowing his basic interest. This kills the basic human spirit of enquiry. The person is judged by certificates he acquires. And it may not lead to satisfaction and learning.
Modern Education lacks a sense of enquiry, innovation, enterprising and innovation. The system is designed to create industrial workers. The system prepares students to follow and repeat orders. The system doesn’t want one to question the authorities and become dependent on the employer. The student is forced to wear uniform since childhood, do as instructed and repeat the same boring thing every day. So that we grow up and do the same thing in our office. So we produce industrial products and consume industrial products and thus the people who run the system continue to do so.
This creates a new caste system where you are divided based on your certificates and salary. Even these education institutes are graded and branded.
Chanakya Niti says that a student must be disciplined while in the modern education system student is pampered. The student must be trained to be disciplined, trained to control the senses, to be steady in happiness and distress so that they can become strong individuals. But modern education system creates a weak individual who just follow the order and not takes up the leadership role in society. The actual purpose of Education is meant to transfer culture to the new generation.
At a young age between 14 yrs to 20 yrs, the student must be trained to work hard otherwise they cannot take stress their whole life. Modern educations actually train one to become sense enjoyers. It is prestigious things in college to have a boyfriend/girlfriend, spending a lot of money on clothes and other objects of sense gratification. Such individuals can easily be controlled by his objects of sense gratification. This is the time where one should be trained to control the senses. Indiscipline is the biggest challenge for teachers in modern education.
Modern Education system is non-sequential and doesn’t take psychophysical nature into consideration. In the Vedic system, the child is pampered up to the age of 5 yrs. For the next 10 years, he should be disciplined. Students should be trained in when to get up when to sleep, what to eat, never to overeat etc. When the voice of the boy cracks, it is a sign of maturity. There is no provision for giving education to such students in modern education. After 16 years of age, the child should be considered as a friend by the father. Any act of discipline the child after that would fail and would lead to fighting in the family. The child should be treated as an adult now. Modern Education lacks this.
Gurukul Education is from 5 yrs – 10 yrs max. up to 12 yrs. After 10 yrs of age, physical and practical skills must be provided. But Modern education forces students to sit and scribble on table & chair.
Every student is different and needs separate training. But everyone is forced to fit in the same system. Modern Education doesn’t take into consideration the growing age of the child and forcibly extends the childhood of the student.
Reported by HG Rama Lakshman das