Our Journey
When we began our school we were clear that if our work was to be free of fetters of fear, ambition, desperate need to prove ourselves and our kids, we needed to make education free for the children. So, even after 21 years, we are happy to say that our ever growing family believes in the work that Shikshayatan does, takes care of every expense of the school. Our children pay no fees whatsoever. Texts, stationery, art material, games materials, uniform, evening snacks / supervita, field trips – no child pays.
Every school must have a method and a philosophy and the methodology we wanted to adapt: Glenn Doman’s system of imparting knowledge and language teaching techniques. This was to be rooted in the education philosophy of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother of Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry. Philosophy taught us that every child comes with some great strength and a few challenges: our work was to foster the strengths and support the child’s endeavour to overcome the challenges. The methods we use have been made to aid children with challenges and the same methods used early with the bright ones make them brilliant. That our work is neither to push nor pull but walk with the children; that they will indicate what their inner inclinations are and we need to only make their paths easier by pulling away the stoppers. It is true synergy of the deep philosophies of ancient times to technological innovations of today, in helping make authentic beings for tomorrow.
To this, over the years, we have created our own text books, our own teaching materials and our own workbooks. They help us to bridge the wide gap of the world outside and the simple village. Holding their hands as they discover with wonder and joy the natural world of animals, plants, the earth, laws of physical sciences and the universe and the man made world of transport and communications; as they learn history and be inspired by human endeavours. By growing with children who have learning disabilities they also learn to be gentle and accommodating.
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