"All humans are members of the same body Created from one essence"

"Human beings are members of a whole in creation of one essence and soul. If one member is afflicted with pain, other members uneasy will remain."

Monday 4 April 2011

Are Schools Better Off When Many Students Question Authority?

Questioning about a fact or a particular subject is basic human nature. Asking questions makes students extrovert as they do not hesitate in talking to anyone. 

When students ask questions, they clear their doubts about ideas, and provide an indirect help in the upliftment of schools. 

Asking questions is not only the human nature, but it is a human right! It was because of Einstein, who challenged the postulates of Newton's theory, that today scientists have been able to beget the string theory. Also, Galileo could ascertain the fact that the earth was round, because he challenged the orthodox beliefs existing at that time.

Countries like India and America were able to achieve independence, when people like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King questioned the high officials and authorites. Despite the ill treatment by the authorities they maintained their calm and composure, and never resorted to misdemeanor.

Indeed, questioning the authority helps in the overall upliftment of schools and societies. 

Questioning and resoning does reflect the acumen of students. That is why I have organized a Socratic Dialogue in the Middle School. Every Tuesday, we have a Socratic Dialogue in our classroom and teenagers understood that it is worth our while to talk about important subjects and about how we ought to live!

A Socratic Dialogue encourages students to reflect and think independently and critically. The Students self-confidence in their own thinking is enhanced and the search for truth in answer to a particular problem is undertaken in common.

The questions are drawn from ethics, politics, epistemology, mathematics, psychology, ....and are of a general nature. The endeavour of the students is to reach consensus as a means to deepen their investigation of the topic.

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